From Denial to Acceptance, KK's Alvida depicts five stages of grief

Have you ever heard that one song that you feel is speaking to your heart? KK's 'Alvida Alvida' is that song that mutually defines someone who has ever experienced losing a loved one. The most cherished name in Indian music, Krishna Kumar Kunnath (KK) has left an incredible mark in the world of music with his soulful vocals, countless hits, and ability to connect with the hearts of listeners, whether a song of joy, sorrow, or heartbreak.

The song Alvida from Life in a Metro is a prime example of his artistry that carries the weight of a thousand emotions. This song, Alvida (goodbye), is more than just a goodbye; it depicts five stages of grief that humans go through; it's a heart-wrenching journey through the complex emotions of loss and acceptance.

Denial

Have you ever encountered something so shocking that you just couldn't believe it was even real? Even when our loved one leaves us, our very first instinct is to deny the reality. This is the first step of grief, denial. The brain playing games by not accepting the truth or saying the mind is protecting you from the painful truth. In Alvia, KK soulfully captured this stage with, "Chupke se kahin, dheeme paao se, jane kis tarah, kis ghadi

Aaghe badh gaye, humse raahon mein, per tum to sahi the yahin”

Where the protagonist struggles to accept the sudden realization of the loss of their loved one, the lyrics hint at the sudden shock of loss he is going through and struggling to accept the truth that they are long gone. The verses "chupke se kahin and dheeme paao se" reflect the unexpected nature of leaving slowly, almost silently, leaving the protagonist hard to face reality.

Anger

Once the human brain is done with denial, anger sets in. This is when you seem too mad at the whole universe, the situation it made for you, or the person you have lost. The lines "Jinke darmiyan guzri thi abhi, kal tak yeh meri zindagi" express the frustration and bitterness of losing someone who was once an integral part of your life.

The repetition of Alvida elucidates as if saying it again and again will somehow make the pain go away. The protagonist shouts, powerless and frustrated, to find some relief through the word Alvida. But does that really help? He also says he has nothing to say when she already said Alvida.

Bargaining

The next stage is bargaining, where you find yourself trying to make deals with fate for a different outcome. Here, with these lyrics, Sunle bekhabar yun aakein pher kar, aaj tu chali jaa, doondhegi nazar, humko hi magar har jagah. Aise raaton mein, lekar karwate, yaad huumein karna, aur phir haarkar, kehna kyun magar, keh diyaaaa"

The protagonist depicts that she may turn her gaze away today but will search for him everywhere. And on such nights when she will turn sides, the protagonist will be remembered.

Then she'll know her mistake and ask herself. He says she will soon face her reality and pleads for her to return, hoping for a different ending. A futile attempt towards fate to control and compromise this uncontrollable situation.

Depression

As the emotional journey passes, eventually, you will find yourself in the depths of depression. These lines: Hum the diljale, phir bhi dil kahe,

kash mere saang aaj hote tum agar, hoti har dagar gulsitaa."

Speaks of guilt, shows deep, gut-wrenching pain and sorrows that have no possible end. The word gulsitaan (Flower garden) symbolizes how everything would be perfect if only she were here, but since there's no 'she' now, everything feels meaningless. It's like the world has lost all its colours, leaving the protagonist feeling empty.

"Tumse hai khafa hum naraaz hai, dil hai pareshaaan, socha na zara tune, kyon bhala, Keh diya Alvida!" These lines show how the protagonist is sad about losing her, grappling with feelings of guilt and self-blame; his heart is confused; why would she say Alvida?

Acceptance

Finally, the acceptance stage is the last stage where the pain isn't quintessentially gone, but rather, you somehow managed your heart to terms with it, and you found a way to move forward even if you lost the person you once loved.

"Lo unn baahon ko, thandhi chao ko. Humbhi kar chale Alvida!"

Here, the soft Alvida takes on a different tone, which is not about anger or complaints or denial but about accepting fate, letting go, and finding peace.

This is the bittersweet nature of acceptance when the pain is still there, but you acknowledge life must go on. Here, the protagonist accepts his fate, accepts the chapter is over and with this final goodbye, he also takes a step towards healing.

Hands down, Alvida serves as a testament to KK's artistry in capturing complex human emotions. Through these five stages, this song represents the grief process.

This song absolutely encapsulates someone associated with the loss of a loved one who has ever had to bid the hardest goodbye. This song can connect listeners to all levels with a hearty connection that speaks that grief is a universal experience and not something that we have to endure alone.

What is your favourite song of KK? Share with the writer at rahmanmegh1234@gmail.com