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Isaimozhi
Raja Rajan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Azhage Azhagu

From Raja Rajan · 1957

Lyricist
Pugazhendhi
Singers
P. Leela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Raja Rajan
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
2 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Odum nadhiyil
Alai oyil polavae
Odum nadhiyil alai oyil polavae
Kuyil paadum isaikku
Porul therindhu
Thogai mayil aadum azhagae azhagu
Oodhum magudi tharum
Osai thanai kettu
Oiyaaramaai naaga paambaadumae
Oodhum magudi tharum
Osai thanai kettu
Oiyaaramaai naaga paambaadumae
Modhum vasantha
Thendral mogam therindhu
Muthu mullai nagai purindhu
Uravaadumae
Modhum vasantha
Thendral mogam therindhu
Muthu mullai nagai purindhu
Uravaadumae
Nava bhaavam mmm mm mm
Raagam mm…mm…mm..
Thaalam mmm mmm mm mm
Pangayam pol kuvindha
Viralgalai neetti
Sengadhirai thingalai abinayam kootti
Mangala aadai anigalai pootti
Aa…
Aa…
Aa…
Aa…
Mangala aadai anigalai pootti
Kan kavar nadana kalai thiran kaatti
Senthamizh kaaviyathai manam naada
Sundhara thaai mozhiyin pughazh paada
Konjidum veenaiyil viralaada
Konjidum veenaiyil viralaada
Ulla sanjalam yaavum parandhoda
In a flowing river,
like the graceful motion of the waves,
Just like the graceful waves in a flowing river,
understanding the meaning
of the song the cuckoo sings,
the peacock dances with its feathers spread—pure beauty!
Hearing the tune played
by the snake charmer's pipe,
the cobra sways in graceful elegance.
Hearing the tune played
by the snake charmer's pipe,
the cobra sways in graceful elegance.
Understanding the longing
of the rushing spring breeze,
the pearl-like jasmine smiles in bloom
and shares a tender bond.
Understanding the longing
of the rushing spring breeze,
the pearl-like jasmine smiles in bloom
and shares a tender bond.
The nine dance expressions, mmm mm mm,
melody, mm... mm... mm...
rhythm, mmm mmm mm mm,
Cupping hands like lotus buds
and stretching out the fingers,
portraying the radiant sun and the moon in gestures,
adorned in festive attire and jewelry,
Aa...
Aa...
Aa...
Aa...
Adorned in festive attire and jewelry,
showcasing captivating skill in the art of dance,
as the heart reaches for classic Tamil epics,
and sings the praise of our beautiful mother tongue,
as fingers dance upon the sweet veena (traditional stringed instrument),
as fingers dance upon the sweet veena,
all the worries in the heart fly away.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classical lyric from Raja Rajan (1957) celebrates the harmonious union of nature, classical performing arts, and the richness of the Tamil language. It begins by drawing vivid parallels between art and nature: waves dancing gracefully in a river, peacocks dancing to the cuckoo's music, a cobra swaying to the magudi, and jasmine blossoms blooming in response to the gentle spring breeze. The song then transitions to the technical elegance of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, describing expressions (Navarasa), melody (Raga), rhythm (Tala), and intricate hand gestures (Mudras) representing celestial bodies like the sun and moon. Ultimately, it emphasizes that immersing oneself in the beauty of Tamil literature, classical dance, and the sweet notes of the veena causes all internal anxieties to melt away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Pangayam pol kuvindha

Compares the dancer's folded fingers to a lotus bud ('Pangayam pol kuvindha viralgal').

Visual Imagery

Thogai mayil aadum azhagae azhagu

Paints a vivid picture of a peacock spreading its feathers and dancing to music.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Senthamizh kaaviyathai manam naada

The second letter 'n' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Senthamizh' and 'Sundhara').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Raja Rajan' (1957) starred M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi in lead roles. Lyricist Pugazhendhi skillfully woven Carnatic dance mudras, Tamil devotion, and nature aesthetics into this song sequence.

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