Jayakrishnan, a farmland owner, meets Radha when she comes to his home with an invite for a family event. Radha scorns at his brash manner and her honest expression makes Jayakrishnan like her. He decides to propose to her directly by accosting her at her college. Radha rejects him as she has heard many stories about him with other women, but later regrets when she finds out from her own brother that she misjudged his character. Meanwhile Jayakrishnan engages in a physical relationship with Clara, a young woman who chooses to become a sex worker. He wants to marry Clara, but she leaves him a few days later without notice. Radha’s proposal comes back to Jayakrishnan through the family elders. He comes clean to Radha about his relationship with Clara. He tells Radha that he doesn’t trust himself to be faithful to her as Clara has such a hold on him. Radha gives him confidence that now that she is in the picture, he will be able to. They decide to marry each other in a year once Radha completes her undergrad. A song about a love story unfolding around the temple from the movie Thoovanathumbikal.

To listen to the song, click play:

Aaa…
Onnaam raagam paadi, onnine maathram thedi
vannuvallo innale nee vadakkumnaadhante munpil
[Singing the first raga, searching for only one thing
yesterday you came before Vadakkumnathan*]
Paaduvathum raagam nee, theduvathum raagamaam
devanum anuraagiyaam ambalaprave
[The one you sing is raga, the one you search for is also raga
hey temple dove, who is beloved to the God too]

Onnaam raagam paadi, onnine maathram thedi
vannuvallo innale nee vadakkumnaadhante munpil
[Singing the first raga, searching for only one thing
yesterday you came before Vadakkumnathan]
Paaduvathum raagam nee, theduvathum raagamaam
devanum anuraagiyaam ambalaprave
[The one you sing is raga, the one you search for is also raga
hey temple dove, who is beloved to the God too]

+Ee pradakshina veedhikal, idari vinda paathakal
ennum hridaya sangamathin sheevelikal thozhuthu
[These routes of circumambulation, and asymmetrically cracked paths
prayed sheevelis* for the meeting of hearts everyday]
Aaaa….
Ee pradakshina veedhikal, idari vinda paathakal
ennum hridaya sangamathin sheevelikal thozhuthu
[These routes of circumambulation, and asymmetrically cracked paths
prayed sheevelis* for the meeting of hearts everyday]
Kannukalaal archana mounangalaal keerthanam
ellaam ellaam ariyunnu ee gopura vaathil
[Worshiping with the eyes, singing pious songs with silences
this door to the temple tower knows all these]

Onnaam raagam paadi, onnine maathram thedi
vannuvallo innale nee vadakkumnaadhante munpil
[Singing the first raga, searching for only one thing
yesterday you came before Vadakkumnathan]
Paaduvathum raagam nee, theduvathum raagamaam
devanum anuraagiyaam ambalaprave
[The one you sing is raga, the one you search for is also raga
hey temple dove, who is beloved to the God too]

Ninte neela rajanikal nidrayodum idayave
ullil ulla kovilile nada thurannu kidannu
[When your blue nights fought with sleepiness,
the door to the sanctum inside your heart stayed open]
Aaaa…
Ninte neela rajanikal nidrayodum idayave
ullil ulla kovilile nada thurannu kidannu
[When your blue nights fought with sleepiness,
the door to the sanctum inside your heart stayed open]
Annu kanda neeyaaro innu kanda neeyaaro
ellaam ellaam kaalathin indrajaalangal
[Who did I see when I had looked at you in the past?, what have you become when I looked at you today?
All of these (changes in you) are a magic of Time]

Onnaam raagam paadi, onnine maathram thedi
vannuvallo innale nee vadakkumnaadhante munpil
[Singing the first raga, searching for only one thing
yesterday you came before Vadakkumnathan]
Paaduvathum raagam nee, theduvathum raagamaam
devanum anuraagiyaam ambalaprave
[The one you sing is raga, the one you search for is also raga
hey temple dove, who is beloved to the God too]

*Vadakkumnathan is Lord Shiva the deity of Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur.
+The lyricist is calling attention to the love story as witnessed by the temple. The path of circumambulation is doing a sheeveli for the meeting hearts, the temple door is all knowing when their eyes are worship each other and their hearts sing songs with silences.
**Sheeveli or Sri bhootha bali is a ritualistic procession in the temple. This is usually done 3 times daily, once in the morning, afternoon and evening where the priest brings the idol of the deity out of the temple sanctum and circumambulates around the temple. The legend is that the deity visits the divine door keepers and other divine spirits around the temple and they accept the offering from the deity. Different temples do this with varying amounts of show, some with elephants carrying the idol of the deity accompanied by musicians of percussion and wind instruments.

+Image copyright to the original uploader.