- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Hariharan, M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Sangamam
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 5 May 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Aalaalagandaa' from the 1999 film 'Sangamam' is a high-energy composition celebrating the art of classical dance and offering reverence to Lord Shiva (Nataraja) as well as the guru. The lyrics convey the absolute devotion of a dancer who considers dance as an intrinsic calling directed by the divine, vowing that their feet will never cease performing until truth and righteousness prevail.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Aalaalagandaa aadalukku thagappaa”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'Aa' creates a rhythmic devotional invocation.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Nee undu undu endrapodhum / Nee illai illai endrapodhum”
Doubling words like 'undu undu' (exist) and 'illai illai' (do not exist) reinforces absolute conviction regardless of skepticism.
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“En kaalukku salangai itta / Unn kaaladikku mudhal vanakkam”
Rhyming of second consonant sounds ('n') between lines establishes rhythmic stability in dance meters.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sangamam' (1999) featured a soundtrack composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The album won critical acclaim for its blend of Carnatic classical and Tamil folk music traditions, earning Vairamuthu the National Film Award for Best Lyrics.
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