Kolavari...What and Why?

“It feels nice when people are open with their praise for your work. I honestly didn’t think the song would be such a craze. This has made me realize that people universally want only simple lyrics and simpler tune from filmmakers,” begins Dhanush, who has both penned the lyrics and sung the Kolaveri number, “My poor broken English lyrics, written in a silly tone, and borderline singing has proved to be advantageous for the success of this song.”…                                                                                                    Dhanush

The first time I heard this song, it had not gone viral it had some 200,000 hits on YouTube. I stumbled upon it quite by accident while searching for a KOLA bear. Out if curiosity for the word “kolavari” I watched the video and there was something about the entire song that made me listen to it couple of times. With a mental note that i am going to pass it on the social media i quite forgot about the song.

But last week it came back to me on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blackberry, Gmail and on telephone. Finally yesterday on Mainline newspapers and and the tabloids that we lovingly refer to as National News Channels. In about four days it had gone to 4.2 million. We can add another couple of millions that must have come from that various clones of the original upload. Then there are mutations and covers of the original upload that have come up so we can conservatively add another million to it. To put it in perspective, the entire population of Sweden or Austria has seen this video in the last couple of days.

There are a zillion songs like it on the cyberspace which do not enjoy the same kind of euphoria.So I watched the song again to figure out what is it that has made the song go viral…. I was not able to find anything spectacularly different in the song, but an uncanny ability to transcend different languages.

It has a catchy tune, shehnai is really good and a tone to the song that makes one want to listen to it. Added to that is the basic rustic Desi beats make a great recipe for success.   In fact the fist time I listened to it, I did not even pay attention to the lyrics, I was lost in the tune of the song. But if you listen to it couple of times then you realize that while the lyrics in isolation does not have any meaning but they have a sublime effect on you. Kalavari sounds like poetry with a poetic license to have absurd lyrics, to convey a powerful emotion….Kolavari

While i don’t have the data but if we look at the demographics of people watching this video i guess it will be a delicious smorgasbord of people from across India. I might not be surprised if it went viral not in India but outside India in the expat population of US or Canada or Australia and then trickled back to India.  Whatever be the case it definitely is a success story and there is no point in discussing why it went viral.

what does  does Kolavari mean ?

I am told, Kolavari is made up of two words…KOLA and VARI.  Kola refers to Murder, Vari can be interpreted as rage or aggression. So etymologically it means “Murderous rage” in the context of the song the pain or anger that comes with lost love. This simple yet powerful emotion is a definite connect with people across all demographics, this creates the universal appeal of this song.

Love’vu Love’vu Oh My Love’vu
You Show To Me Bow’vu
cow’vu cow’vu Holy cow’vu
I Want You Here Now’vu
God I am Dying Now’vu
She Is Happy How’vu?

The above is such a classic emotion when a relationship goes sour how can you be happy? when you make me so sad…

But we have seen more powerful lyrics, greater tunes, not making up to the 100 hits on YouTube…so what is that makes it so viral. A little birdie gave away the secret Rajani went on you tube and clicked “Like” on his son-in-laws video…..you know the rest….

If you have not heard it then go and be part of the madness that we call Indian Cinema. Some of you might actually like it.

The Lyrics

Hello Boys.. I am Singing Song..
Soup Song.. Flop Song..
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?
Rhythm Correct..
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?
Maintain This..

Why This Kolaveri? Dee..
Distance’la Moon’nu Moon’nu
Moon’nu Color’ru White’tu
White’tu Background Night’tu Night’tu
Night’tu Color’ru Black’ku
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?

White’tu Skin’nu Girl’lu Girl’lu
Girl’lu Heart’tu Black’ku
Eyes’su Eyes’su Meet’tu Meet’tu
My Future Dark’ku..
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee?

Mama, Notes Eduthuko..
Apdiye Kaila Snacks eduthuko..

Papapa Papapapa Papapa Pa Pa..
Seriya Vaasi..
Super Mama Ready.. Ready 1 2 3 4..
What A Change Over Mama..
Ok Mama.. Now Tune Change’ju..

Kaila Glass’su.. Only Ènglish’sa..
Hand’la Glass’su
Glass’la Scotch’chu
Èyes’su Full’la Tear’ru
Èmpty Life’fu, Girl Come’mu
Life’fu Reverse’su Gear’ru

Love’vu Love’vu Oh My Love’vu
You Show To Me Bow’vu
cow’vu cow’vu Holy cow’vu
I Want You Here Now’vu
God I am Dying Now’vu
She Is Happy How’vu?

This songu’gu For Soup Boys’su
We Don’t Have Choice’su

Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee
Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri Dee

Flop Song..

Picture Source : http://www.facebook.com/kolaverikolaveri