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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aahaa Adhisayam Midhaame

From Rathna Kumar · 1949

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
P. U. Chinnappa
Music directors
G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subbaraman
Details
Rathna Kumar1949

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aahaa adhisaya midhaamaeAha, is this a miracle?
Ulagamariyaadha adhisaya midhaamaeIs this a miracle unknown to the world?
Ulagamariyaadha adhisaya midhaamaeIs this a miracle unknown to the world?
Male
Iraivan arpudha leelaiyin perumaiThe glory of God's miraculous divine play,
Yevvidham pugazhvaenIn what way shall I praise it?
Iraivan arpudha leelaiyin perumaiThe glory of God's miraculous divine play,
Yevvidham pugazhvaenIn what way shall I praise it?
Male
Arasan aandi aavanaeA king becomes a pauper,
Aandi manimudi poondanaeA pauper wears a jeweled crown!
Arasan aandi aavanaeA king becomes a pauper,
Aandi manimudi poondanaeA pauper wears a jeweled crown!
Avan seyal arai nodi thanilaeBy His divine act in half a second,
Alai kadal suvarumaeEven the wavy ocean dries up!
Avan seyal arai nodi thanilaeBy His divine act in half a second,
Alai kadal suvarumaeEven the wavy ocean dries up!
Male
Iraivan arpudha leelaiyin perumaiThe glory of God's miraculous divine play,
Yevvidham pugazhvaenIn what way shall I praise it?
Male
Kanavilum ninaiyaadhaUnimagined even in dreams,
Inbamadhu kaikoodumJoy comes into one's hands;
Paridhimun pani polumLike dew before the sun,
Innalgal parandhodumMiseries fly away!
Kanavilum ninaiyaadhaUnimagined even in dreams,
Inbamadhu kaikoodumJoy comes into one's hands;
Paridhimun pani polumLike dew before the sun,
Innalgal parandhodumMiseries fly away!
Male
Iniyoru thunai yaedhenaWondering what other refuge exists,
Yaengi manam vaadumWhen the heart yearns and wilts,
Iniyoru thunai yaedhenaWondering what other refuge exists,
Yaengi manam vaadum pozhudhuWhen the heart yearns and wilts,
Irangi anjael endrarulTaking pity, saying 'Fear not',
Surandhu vandhaal nanjaniPouring abundant grace comes the poison-throated Lord!
Male
Iraivan arpudha leelaiyin perumaiThe glory of God's miraculous divine play,
Yevvidham pugazhvaenIn what way shall I praise it?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses profound devotion and wonder toward the unpredictable, miraculous play ('leela') of the Almighty Lord Siva (referred to as 'Nanjani', the blue-throated deity who consumed poison to save the universe). The song emphasizes how divine grace can instantly turn human fortunes upside down, transforming a king into a pauper or elevating a beggar to a king, and even evaporating vast oceans in a fraction of a second. It reassures humans that when hardship overwhelms the mind and all hope seems lost, God's grace arrives to dispel sorrows as effortlessly as the morning sun melts away dew, bestowing the comfort of 'Fear not' (Anjael) and granting unexpected joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Paridhimun pani polum

Compares the sudden disappearance of human suffering to dew evaporating under the morning sun ('Paridhimun pani polum').

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Arasan aandi aavanae / Aandi manimudi poondanae

Presents starkly opposite scenarios ('king becoming beggar' vs 'beggar wearing a crown') to illustrate the unpredictability of divine fate.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Paridhimun pani polum

Repetition of the 'P' sound across adjacent words ('Paridhimun pani polum') creating a melodic rhythm.

Epithet (Anban/Name Attribute)

Surandhu vandhaal nanjani

Refers to Lord Siva as 'Nanjani' (the one whose throat bears poison), evoking the Saivite legend of Nilakantha.

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Trivia

This song belongs to the 1949 Tamil historical drama 'Rathna Kumar', starring P. U. Chinnappa, M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), and Bhanumathi. The lyrics were penned by Tamil composer Papanasam Sivan, renowned for infusing deep Carnatic ragas and traditional Saivite philosophy into Tamil cinema songs. The music for the movie was jointly composed by G. Ramanathan and C. R. Subburaman.

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