- Lyricist
- Ilango Krishnan
- Singer
- Shakthisree Gopalan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Ponniyin Selvan – Part 2
- Movie release year
- 2023
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Jan 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Aga Naga is an evocative, classical-inspired track from Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2 that celebrates love, longing, and deep devotion to one's motherland. Sung from the perspective of Princess Kundavai, the lyrics seamlessly blend romance with a profound attachment to the fertile Chola kingdom. The song traces how inner joy ('Aga') transforms into a glowing facial smile ('Muga') and a sweet expression ('Muru'), painting emotional delight through natural imagery. Ilango Krishnan utilizes Sangam-style poetic devices to address waterfalls, mountains, clouds, and flora, representing nature as an intimate companion. The song expresses how thinking of the beloved stirs deep emotional thrills, making the soul bloom while connecting all elements of life together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Epanalepsis / Wordplay (Anta-Adi / Chaining)
“Aganaga aganaga muganagaiyae..ho / Muganaga muganaga murunagaiyae..ho”
The opening lines use wordplay where the ending root of one word leads into the next ('Aga' -> 'Muga' -> 'Muru' -> 'Tharu'), creating an escalating chain of emotion.
Personification
“Nadai pazhagidum tholai aruvigalae..ho”
Distant waterfalls are personified as young children or dancers who are 'practicing how to walk'.
Metaphor
“Mugil kudithidum malai mugadugalae..ho”
Mountain peaks reaching into rain clouds are metaphorically described as 'drinking the clouds'.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Yaaradhu yaaradhu / Punnagai korppadhu”
Repetition of interrogative words ('Yaaradhu yaaradhu') to emphasize wonder and romantic curiosity.
Did you know?
Trivia
A short instrumental/vocal strain of 'Aga Naga' was first featured as a background theme for Princess Kundavai (Trisha) and Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan (Karthi) in 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1'. Due to overwhelming demand from fans who fell in love with the minute-long motif, director Mani Ratnam and composer A. R. Rahman expanded it into a full track for 'Part 2'.
Keep listening
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