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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadal Kaaneero

From Madurai Veeran · 1956

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Madurai Veeran1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aadal kaaneero …Won't you behold the dance?
Aadal kaaneeroWon't you behold the dance?
Vilaiyaadal kaaneeroWon't you behold the divine play?
Thiruvilaiyaadal kaaneero…Won't you behold the sacred divine plays?
Oo oo oo oo..Oo oo oo oo..
Female
Aadal kaaneeroWon't you behold the dance?
Female
Paadal madhuraiyil raaja savundhira…In Madurai praised in songs, the regal and beautiful...
Aaaa…aaa…aaa….haaa….aaa…haaa…aa…aa..aaaAaaa…aaa…aaa….haaa….aaa…haaa…aa…aa..aaa
Paadal madhuraiyil raaja savundhiraIn Madurai praised in songs, the regal and beautiful...
Paandiyanaam engal aandavanOur Lord who reigns as the Pandya King
Thiruvilaiyaadal kaaneero… ooo…Won't you behold His divine sports? Ooo...
Female
Ootru perukkaalaeDue to overflowing springs
Ulai koottum vaigaiyennumOf the Vaigai river that boils like a cooking pot
Aattru vellam thadukkavae…ae…ae…To stem the river's flood...
Female
Ootru perukkaalaeDue to overflowing springs
Ulai koottum vaigaiyennumOf the Vaigai river that boils like a cooking pot
Aattru vellam thadukkavaeTo stem the river's flood
Female
Veettukkoraal thandhuBy sending one worker per household
Vaendhanin aanai thanaiTo fulfill the King's decree
Veettukkoraal thandhuBy sending one worker per household
Vaendhanin aanai thanaiTo fulfill the King's decree
Yettru vinai mudikkavaeTo accept and complete the duty
Female
Pettradaiyaadha oruWho never bore a child
Vandhiyin kooliyaalaai…As a hired laborer for the elderly woman Vandhi...
Pillai pettradaiyaadha oruFor an old woman who never bore a child
Vandhiyin kooliyaalaaiAs a hired laborer for Vandhi
Pittukku man sumakkavae vandhuComing to carry mud in exchange for steamed rice cake (Pittu)
Pithanai polaeAppearing like a madman
Kai pirambaalae patta adiThe blow struck on Him by the cane
Pithanai polaeAppearing like a madman
Kai pirambaalae patta adiThe blow struck on Him by the cane
Pesidum sagala jeeva raasigalOn every living creature capable of speech
Mudhugilum pattu vaduvuttraWas felt on their backs as well, leaving scars
Eesan vilaiyaadal kaaneero… ooo…Won't you behold the play of Lord Shiva? Ooo...
Female
Nari thanai pariyaakkiTurning jackals into horses
Pari thanai nariyaakkiTurning horses into jackals
Naaraikku mukthi koduthu…Granting salvation to the crane...
Female
Nari thanai pariyaakkiTurning jackals into horses
Pari thanai nariyaakkiTurning horses into jackals
Naaraikku mukthi koduthu…Granting salvation to the crane...
Uyar naal vaedha porul solliExplaining the profound meaning of the four noble Vedas
Naagathaiyum vadhaithuSlaying the demonic serpent
Uyar naal vaedha porul solliExplaining the profound meaning of the four noble Vedas
Naagathaiyum vadhaithuSlaying the demonic serpent
Narkeerar kubadhaesithuInstructing the grand poet Nakkeerar
Female
Varum kula paandiyarkkuTo the descending Pandya kings
Siva logam kaattiShowing the heavenly realm of Shiva (Shivaloka)
Varum kula paandiyarkkuTo the descending Pandya kings
Siva logam kaattiShowing the heavenly realm of Shiva (Shivaloka)
Valai veesi meen pidithuCasting a net to catch fish
Vaai thiravaadhaTo the silent
Kal yaanaikku karumboottiStone elephant, feeding sugarcane
Vaai thiravaadhaTo the silent
Kal yaanaikku karumboottiStone elephant, feeding sugarcane
Vaira valai muthu valai rathna valaiSelling diamond bangles, pearl bangles, and gem-encrusted bangles
Vittra vilaiyaadal kaaneeroWon't you behold these sports where He sold bangles?
Female
Paadal madhuraiyil raaja savundhiraIn Madurai praised in songs, the regal and beautiful...
Paandiyanaam engal aandavanOur Lord who reigns as the Pandya King
Thiruvilaiyaadal kaaneero… ooo…Won't you behold His divine sports? Ooo...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This celebrated classical dance song from the 1956 film 'Madurai Veeran' serves as an invocation and tribute to Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva), the presiding deity of Madurai. Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, the song vividly narrates several episodes from the 'Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam'—the 64 divine sports of Lord Shiva in Madurai. The lyrics highlight sacred stories such as Shiva arriving as a hired laborer to carry mud for the childless devotee Vandhi in exchange for 'pittu' (steamed rice cake), receiving a cane blow from the Pandya king that reverberated across all living beings, transforming jackals into horses and back, feeding sugarcane to a stone elephant, providing salvation to a crane, and advising the poet Nakkeerar. Through magnificent rhythm and classical Tamil phrasing, the song invites all to behold these divine plays of Lord Sundareswarar.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antimetabole / Chiasmus (Ethukai Pattern)

Nari thanai pariyaakki / Pari thanai nariyaakki

Reversal of words across consecutive lines paired with second-letter rhyming ('ari' in Nari/Pari).

Ethukai (Second-Letter Rhyming)

Ootru perukkaalae / Aattru vellam thadukkavae

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'tt' across consecutive lines.

Anaphora / Refrain

Aadal kaaneero ... Thiruvilaiyaadal kaaneero

Repeated rhetorical invitation 'kaaneero' (Won't you behold/see?) establishing a thematic rhythm throughout the song.

Alliteration (Monai)

Vaira valai muthu valai rathna valai

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('v') in close succession.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from 'Madurai Veeran' (1956) was composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by Carnatic legends M. L. Vasanthakumari and P. Leela. It features a famous classical Bharatanatyam dance sequence performed on screen by the Travancore Sisters, Lalitha and Padmini. Udumalai Narayanakavi condensed major chapters of the medieval Tamil text 'Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam' into this single, highly acclaimed dance composition.

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