Sri Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya - Audio Review

Movie: Sri Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya ( 2013 )

Music: Naga Srivatsa

Director: JK Bharavi

Producer: Jayasri Devi

Cast: Kowsic, Nagarjuna, Mohan Babu, Sri Hari, Kamalini Mukherjee

Lyrics: JK Bharavi

Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya is the foremost Guru of the world who propagated Advaita Siddanta. During his short life of 32 years, the achievement He made leaves people awe struck. His knowledge is immense and his works are unlimited as it takes many lives for a normal person to understand his works at basic level, imagine how he wrote those many commentaries, stotrams, slokas and many more.  It is said he completely mastered all Vedas at the age of 8. His childhood is fascinating as is his life. Born in Kerala to Sivaguru and Aryamba, lost his father at an early age. It is believed that when his parents didnt have kids, they did pooja and Lord Siva appeared in dreams and asked them whether they would need many children with no or little intelligence yet long life or one children having short age but will be a great philosopher. Sankara was born when his parents chose later. He forced his mother to let him to become sanyasi when he went to river and crocodile will not leave until he takes sanyasam. His another story about kanakadhara Stotram where a lady who has nothing at home to offer Sankara other than amla fruit. Then impressed Sankara sings Kanakadhara Stotram and a rain of golden amla fruits astonishes the lady. Sankara wanders whole India widely spreading Advaitam, completing his works as per his Guru's orders and eventually establishes four maths.

It is very difficult understand his life and works, then to make it in a presentable mode to whom it will be very difficult to understand and who expect commerical elements in a movie. An earlier attempt to convert His life into movie critically successful, but it didnt reach audience as it was made in Sanskrit. Another attempt now to make this movie is commendable, but the success of the movie depends on how many are inspired by Adi Sankara rather than the money it collects. Such is the greatness of the works of Adi Sankaracharya.

Latest attempt by JK Bharavi who is the main person behind Raghavendra Rao/Nagarujana devotional movies creates lots of doubts as the earlier movies lacks spiritual depth. He is known in the industry who possesses the capability for making such movies. But this movie will be extremely challenge for him as it is not easy as Sankara to write in simple slokas with immense meaning. The adding of commercial elements as seen in posters, trailers doesnt show any where close to the initially made movie in Sanskrit with Sarvadaman Banerjee as Sankara was immense drama got many national awards, was critically acclaimed.

Then comes the Music Director Naga Srivatsa and singers. Didnt hear before about Naga Srivatsa. Its my fault that I am not hearing much music lately, we all know the reason. Have to listen to the album to see how he did. Lets see how the songs are.

1. Nithya Anandakaree

S.P. Balasubramanyam

This song is taken various stotrams, slokas written by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. 

Starts with first stanza Nithyaananda kari,Varaa abhya karee,Soundarya rathnaakaree, which is from Sri Annapurna Ashtakam. Sri Annapurna Ashtakam is written by Adi Shankaracharya to praise and invoke the grace of Mother Goddess Annapurneswari who is the presiding deity of Varanasi ( kasi puradheswari). She is the Mother who graces food to everybody.

Then jaagratswapna sushuptishu sphutataraa yaa sam vidujjrimbhatae is from Manisha Panchakam, again the first verse. It is said that Manisha Panchakam brings in front the complete essence of Advaita Vedanta. Sankaracharya wrote Manisha panchakam is a strange way. When he was traveling to temple after taking bath, a chandala ( low caste ) with four dogs comes on his way, then as per those days custom, the chandala needs to give way, but he asks who should give the way, his body or his atma, then Sankara realizes he is none other than Lord Siva and answers HIM in these panchakam ( five versus). 

Then it starts with versus Nama Sivabhyam, Nava Youvanabhyam, Paraspara slishta Vapurtharabhyam from Uma Maheswara stotram. The significance of this stotram is that Sankara praises both Uma and Maheswara at the same time. 

Then punarasadange puNyatarange jaya jaya jaahnavee karuNaapaange is from Sri Ganga Stotram. Written to praise Ganga purifies who read this as Ganga does to her devotees. 

Then comes the verse from Viveka Choodamani Jaati neeti kula gotra dooranam Naama roopa guna dosha varjitam. Viveka Choodamani is considered as one of the greatest work of Sankaracharya, which tells Vivekam is the jewel and main weapon in attaining moksha. This consists of 580 verses in Sanskrit.

Then comes the famous Nirvana Shatakam. Aham Nirvi Kalpi Nirakara Roopi, Vibhuthwascha Sarvathra Sarvendriyanaam. This is the last verse in Nirvana Shatakam which each verse ends in Shivoham, meaning I am shiva. The background of this is fantastic will give goose bumps to any person. Adi Sankara is in search of his Guru wandering then a sage comes and asks Sankara, "Who are you?". Sankara answers in 6 slokas, which is Nirvana Shatakam or Atma Shatakam.

Then the verse from Kasi Panchakam, Kasyam hi kasathe kasi kasee srava prakasika 3rd of the famous 5 slokas where Sankara says he himself is Kasi. Kasi (Varanasi) is known as a place where one attains moksha instantly upon death. Kasi has such a place where people go to seek liberation. However Sankaracharya says in his own way about Kasi.

4:35 minutes of songs touches various works that Adi Sankaracharya has done in his 32 year old life. His life is so fascinating for any person who is trying to follow the spiritual path. His works are great inspiration for attaining knowledge, the path and thereby helping to achieve the final goal/destination. 

Bringing various works into one single song is like bringing sea content into a glass. This song should for who has never heard or read Adi Sankara, will be an inspiration forget about the tune. If not SPB like singer, the current generation wouldnt have even pronounced properly these slokas. They would have easily changed the words and there by the meaning. When Sankara brings great philosophy into a 5-6 stanzas, each word is equally powerful. Thank God that SPB is alive to sing this song for us. 

When we get such a beautiful work togather, all music director has to do is to carry the essence of each stotram or sloka thru his music. However this is just rendering of these with some background music. There is no mood or emotion to the song. However in such a magnanimity of the verses, nothing other than Sankara come into mind, thanks to SPB for his rendition.

2. Laxmi Nrusimhaa

Tippu

Tippu makes a point that the current age singers can only sing simple commercial songs, They are not good if any there is a deviation. A little high pitch, they strain, Gamakas are not easy, Tough words gone case. This song reminds Keeravani's earlier devotional movie. Again why Naga made this song as  sad sounding not sure. Tippu added extra feeling to the song, not sure why. Karavalamba stotram is made most unpleasant to hear. 

3. Srikrishnaha

S.P. Balasubramanyam, Mani Nagaraj

One more song on Krishna. Appears a pathos, not sure why. Seems like the story is amended as Bharavi liked. This songs goes clue less the way it sang trying to find context for this song. SPB doesnt have much to sing. A short song goes fine.

4. Soundarya Lahari

Ranjith

Soundarya lahari has such a divinity that one can hear from the start of the song Janani Janani from Thai moogambika composed by Ilayaraja. In that Siva saktya yukto yadi bhavati is from Soundarya Lahari written by Adi sankaracharya. This has immense power and meaning. JK Bharavi should have concentrated on this to get people aware of  the value of Soundarya lahari.

5. Laxmi Padmaalaya

Sharath Santoshi

Why one more sad singing? or singer voice sounds like that? There is no need for the singer to strain that much. Devotion is pleasant and the singing should be. 

6. Chiranjeevi About Jagadguru Aadi Shankara

Chiranjeevi

Chiranjeevi commentary, voice over will add more value thru his popularity, However it is obvious that he lost touch with film industry. India is  "కర్మ భూమి", not "ఖర్మ భూమి". Except that his small sweet commentary is nice.

7. Bhrama Ani Telusu

Sri Rama Chandra

Is this song for Nag who is casted as chandala, a song before he meets Sankara? If that is true, I Bharavi's imagination is more commercial. Srirama Chandra was funny at few places the way he sang. Nag Srivatsa made this as simple as possible, but need to see the context of the song with respect to the movie. 

8. Sivoham

Hari Haran

Nirvana Shatakam or Atma Shatakam gives immense pleasure and almost leads to trans if heard continuously in total peace. This is totally messed up by both Hari haran, he sounded foreign singing this song and Naga Srivatsa as didnt get this right. If anyone heard this as bhajan in any spirutual organization, or even here then they would get irritated with this tuning and singing. 

8. Om Namashivaaya

Karthik

Adi sankaracharya movie having a commercial song? Not sure whats in JK bharavi's mind. He is for sure behind something. Karthik might have been wondering which movie he is singing. Not sure from where JK Bharavi's imagination he got this song from. Difficult to understand unless seen in the movie.

9. Akhila Charachara

Unni Krishnan

Again JK Bharavi might have adapted this song and the lyrics shows the same. Unni krishnan shows how classical singer can make a difference. Song on Krishna, so flute has to be abundantly used and is used. Song is decent. Tune is as per standard template. 

10. Omkaram

Shankar Mahadevan

The moment Shankar Mahadevan sang so called breathless, he is know for singing all such kind of songs. No matter how proclaimed great singer he is his singing doesnt suit sanskrit/Telugu songs. He faults in pronounciation, his extra gamakas sometimes sound sarcastic doesn't sound native. I think the lyrics are by JK Bharavi, not sure about this as this song is complex in structure and Sankar Mahadeven took away the song from listeners by his singing and Bharavi complicates further.

11. Veda Thandavam

Why there is a hurry to sing. Veda's Thandavam doesnt need to be running away, I really doubt the concept of the movie maker. 

12. Bhaja Govindam

Madhu Bala Krishnan

Bharavi might have used MS Subbulakshmi's version as it is. These kind of movies cannot have pronounciation mistakes. Madhu bala krishnan did his best but couldnt finally present a better song. JK Bharavi added his own lyrics to Bhajagovindam. Whatever, its his movie, he can do whatever he wants. Naga Srivatsa deviated here and there just to make sure people are aware that he had composed this song.

13. Shankara Vijayam

1:40 may be a back ground music when Adi Sankara keeps winning the debates with other scholars and while he is traveling entire India one after other place. Nothing much to say about this song.

14. Yevadu Neevu

S.P. Balasubramanyam

Looks like a song for a horror movie. The chorus creates fear. Why so fierce questioning not sure. JK Bharavi is upto something for sure. Either he is completely lost in commercializing the movie or super brilliant. The tune doesnt have any pleasantness, Not sure where in the movie the occasion for this song comes? Is it when the debate is going on between Sankaracharya and other spiritual gurus or when Sankara is going in search of his own Guru or when a sage questions who are you to Sankaracharya, thats when he wrote nirvanashatakam?

Pick(s) of the Album: Nityanandakari

Any sincere attempt to bring life of great Guru's of India infront of everyone is commendable. However it is very important that the attempt has to be very sincere in undertanding the Guru and telling exactly the same what is told by Him. Telling in a way to reach masses is one side and telling the right way is another side. This is a very thin layer of sword if director makes any mistake, it will be total mess. The songs prove that director had been very liberal in making the movie, the songs brings in lot of doubt that whether JK Bharavi got the Sankara tatva right or he tried to commerialize too much to reach audience? Only movie can prove other wise.