Agaram Ippo Sigaram Aachu
From Sigaram · 1991
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Details
- Sigaram1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Agaram ippo sigaram achu | The letter 'A' (the beginning) has now become the peak. |
| Thagaram ippo thangam achu | Tin has now turned into gold. |
| Kattu moongil pattu padum | The wild bamboo that sings songs |
| Pullankuzhal achu} (2) | Has now transformed into a flute. |
| Male | |
| {Sangethamae sannidhi | Music itself is the sacred sanctum. |
| Santhosham sollum sangadhi} (2) | It is a tidings that brings happiness. |
| Male | |
| Karkalam vandhal enna | What if the monsoon season comes? |
| Kadum kodai vandhal enna | What if the harsh summer arrives? |
| Mazhai vellam pogum | Rain floods will eventually pass, |
| Karai rendum vazhum | Yet both riverbanks will endure. |
| Kalangal ponal enna | What if times change? |
| Kolangal ponaal enna | What if life's patterns fade away? |
| Poi anbu pogum | False love will vanish, |
| Mei anbu vazhum | True love will forever survive. |
| Male | |
| Anbukku uruvam illai | Love has no physical shape. |
| Pasathil paruvam illai | Affection knows no age or season. |
| Vaanodu mudivum illai | The sky has no ending boundary. |
| Vazhvodu vidaiyum illai | Life has no ultimate answer. |
| Male | |
| Indrenbadhu unmaiyae | The present moment is the true reality. |
| Nambikkai ungal kaiyilae | Hope lies within your own hands. |
| Male | |
| Agaram ippo sigaram achu | The letter 'A' has now become the peak. |
| Thagaram ippo thangam achu | Tin has now turned into gold. |
| Kattu moongil pattu padum | The wild bamboo that sings songs |
| Pullankuzhal achu | Has now transformed into a flute. |
| Male | |
| Thaneeril meengal vazhum | Fish live inside water. |
| Kanneeril kaadhal vazhum | Love thrives inside tears. |
| Oodalgal ellam thedalgal thanae | All lovers' tiffs are merely searches for connection. |
| Pasiyara parvai podhum | A single glance is enough to satisfy hunger. |
| Parimara varthai podhum | A kind word is enough to nourish. |
| Kaneeril padhi kayangal aarum | Half of all emotional wounds heal through tears. |
| Male | |
| Thalai saikka idama illai | Is there no place to rest one's head? |
| Thalai kodha virala illai | Are there no fingers to gently caress one's hair? |
| Ilankaatru varava illai | Will a gentle breeze not arrive? |
| Ilaipparu parava illai | Will a bird not find a place to rest? |
| Male | |
| Nambikkaiyae nalladhu | Faith alone is the best path. |
| Erumbukkum vazhkkai ulladhu | Even a tiny ant has a life worth living. |
| Male | |
| Agaram ippo sigaram achu | The letter 'A' has now become the peak. |
| Thagaram ippo thangam achu | Tin has now turned into gold. |
| Kattu moongil pattu padum | The wild bamboo that sings songs |
| Pullankuzhal achu | Has now transformed into a flute. |
| Male | |
| Sangethamae sannidhi | Music itself is the sacred sanctum. |
| Santhosham sollum sangadhi | It is a tidings that brings happiness. |
| Male | |
| Agaram ippo sigaram achu | The letter 'A' has now become the peak. |
| Thagaram ippo thangam achu | Tin has now turned into gold. |
| Kattu moongil pattu padum | The wild bamboo that sings songs |
| Pullankuzhal achu | Has now transformed into a flute. |
{ அகரம் இப்போ
சிகரம் ஆச்சு தகரம்
இப்போ தங்கம் ஆச்சு
கட்டு மூங்கில் பாட்டு
பாடும் புல்லாங்குழல்
ஆச்சு } (2)
The letter 'A' (the beginning) has now become the peak.
Tin has now turned into gold.
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Has now transformed into a flute.
{ சங்கீதமே
சந்நிதி சந்தோசம்
சொல்லும் சங்கதி } (2)
Music itself is the sacred sanctum.
It is a tidings that brings happiness.
கார்காலம்
வந்தால் என்ன கடும்
கோடை வந்தால் என்ன
மழை வெள்ளம் போகும்
கரை ரெண்டும் வாழும்
காலங்கள் போனால் என்ன
கோலங்கள் போனால் என்ன
பொய் அன்பு போகும்
மெய் அன்பு வாழும்
What if the monsoon season comes?
What if the harsh summer arrives?
Rain floods will eventually pass,
Yet both riverbanks will endure.
What if times change?
What if life's patterns fade away?
False love will vanish,
True love will forever survive.
அன்புக்கு
உருவம் இல்லை
பாசத்தில் பருவம்
இல்லை வானோடு
முடிவும் இல்லை
வாழ்வோடு விடையும்
இல்லை
Love has no physical shape.
Affection knows no age or season.
The sky has no ending boundary.
Life has no ultimate answer.
இன்றென்பது
உண்மையே நம்பிக்கை
உங்கள் கையிலே
The present moment is the true reality.
Hope lies within your own hands.
அகரம் இப்போ
சிகரம் ஆச்சு தகரம்
இப்போ தங்கம் ஆச்சு
கட்டு மூங்கில் பாட்டு
பாடும் புல்லாங்குழல்
ஆச்சு
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Tin has now turned into gold.
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Has now transformed into a flute.
தண்ணீரில்
மீன்கள் வாழும்
கண்ணீரில் காதல்
வாழும் ஊடல்கள்
எல்லாம் தேடல்கள்
தானே பசியாற பார்வை
போதும் பரிமாற வார்த்தை
போதும் கண்ணீரில் பாதி
காயங்கள் ஆறும்
Fish live inside water.
Love thrives inside tears.
All lovers' tiffs are merely searches for connection.
A single glance is enough to satisfy hunger.
A kind word is enough to nourish.
Half of all emotional wounds heal through tears.
தலை சாய்க்க
இடமா இல்லை தலை
கோத விரலா இல்லை
இளங்காற்று வரவா
இல்லை இளைப்பாறு
பரவா இல்லை
Is there no place to rest one's head?
Are there no fingers to gently caress one's hair?
Will a gentle breeze not arrive?
Will a bird not find a place to rest?
நம்பிக்கையே
நல்லது எறும்புக்கும்
வாழ்க்கை உள்ளது
Faith alone is the best path.
Even a tiny ant has a life worth living.
அகரம் இப்போ
சிகரம் ஆச்சு தகரம்
இப்போ தங்கம் ஆச்சு
கட்டு மூங்கில் பாட்டு
பாடும் புல்லாங்குழல்
ஆச்சு
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Tin has now turned into gold.
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Has now transformed into a flute.
சங்கீதமே
சந்நிதி சந்தோசம்
சொல்லும் சங்கதி
Music itself is the sacred sanctum.
It is a tidings that brings happiness.
அகரம் இப்போ
சிகரம் ஆச்சு தகரம்
இப்போ தங்கம் ஆச்சு
கட்டு மூங்கில் பாட்டு
பாடும் புல்லாங்குழல்
ஆச்சு
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Tin has now turned into gold.
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Has now transformed into a flute.
{Agaram ippo sigaram achu
The letter 'A' (the beginning) has now become the peak.
Thagaram ippo thangam achu
Tin has now turned into gold.
Kattu moongil pattu padum
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Pullankuzhal achu} (2)
Has now transformed into a flute.
{Sangethamae sannidhi
Music itself is the sacred sanctum.
Santhosham sollum sangadhi} (2)
It is a tidings that brings happiness.
Karkalam vandhal enna
What if the monsoon season comes?
Kadum kodai vandhal enna
What if the harsh summer arrives?
Mazhai vellam pogum
Rain floods will eventually pass,
Karai rendum vazhum
Yet both riverbanks will endure.
Kalangal ponal enna
What if times change?
Kolangal ponaal enna
What if life's patterns fade away?
Poi anbu pogum
False love will vanish,
Mei anbu vazhum
True love will forever survive.
Anbukku uruvam illai
Love has no physical shape.
Pasathil paruvam illai
Affection knows no age or season.
Vaanodu mudivum illai
The sky has no ending boundary.
Vazhvodu vidaiyum illai
Life has no ultimate answer.
Indrenbadhu unmaiyae
The present moment is the true reality.
Nambikkai ungal kaiyilae
Hope lies within your own hands.
Agaram ippo sigaram achu
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Thagaram ippo thangam achu
Tin has now turned into gold.
Kattu moongil pattu padum
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Pullankuzhal achu
Has now transformed into a flute.
Thaneeril meengal vazhum
Fish live inside water.
Kanneeril kaadhal vazhum
Love thrives inside tears.
Oodalgal ellam thedalgal thanae
All lovers' tiffs are merely searches for connection.
Pasiyara parvai podhum
A single glance is enough to satisfy hunger.
Parimara varthai podhum
A kind word is enough to nourish.
Kaneeril padhi kayangal aarum
Half of all emotional wounds heal through tears.
Thalai saikka idama illai
Is there no place to rest one's head?
Thalai kodha virala illai
Are there no fingers to gently caress one's hair?
Ilankaatru varava illai
Will a gentle breeze not arrive?
Ilaipparu parava illai
Will a bird not find a place to rest?
Nambikkaiyae nalladhu
Faith alone is the best path.
Erumbukkum vazhkkai ulladhu
Even a tiny ant has a life worth living.
Agaram ippo sigaram achu
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Thagaram ippo thangam achu
Tin has now turned into gold.
Kattu moongil pattu padum
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Pullankuzhal achu
Has now transformed into a flute.
Sangethamae sannidhi
Music itself is the sacred sanctum.
Santhosham sollum sangadhi
It is a tidings that brings happiness.
Agaram ippo sigaram achu
The letter 'A' has now become the peak.
Thagaram ippo thangam achu
Tin has now turned into gold.
Kattu moongil pattu padum
The wild bamboo that sings songs
Pullankuzhal achu
Has now transformed into a flute.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Agaram Ippo Sigaram Achu' is a deeply philosophical and inspirational song from the movie Sigaram (1991). Written by the legendary lyricist Vairamuthu and composed/sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song reflects on personal transformation, resilience, and the power of hope. It uses poetic metaphors to illustrate how humble beginnings (represented by 'Agaram', the first Tamil letter, or 'Thagaram', worthless tin) can evolve into remarkable heights ('Sigaram', a mountain peak, or 'Thangam', pure gold) when polished through artistic devotion, time, and emotional endurance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme / Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Agaram ippo sigaram achu / Thagaram ippo thangam achu”
The second consonant 'ga' (க) repeats across lines 'Agaram' and 'Thagaram', giving a traditional Tamil poetic harmony.
Metaphor
“Kattu moongil pattu padum / Pullankuzhal achu”
Comparing a wild, unrefined bamboo stick ('Kattu moongil') becoming a musical instrument ('Pullankuzhal') to human self-actualization through music and passion.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Poi anbu pogum / Mei anbu vazhum”
Contrasting temporary, superficial phenomena ('Poi anbu' / 'Mazhai vellam') with permanent truths ('Mei anbu' / 'Karai rendum').
Monae (Initial Alliteration)
“Pasiyara parvai podhum / Parimara varthai podhum”
Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in 'Pasiyara' and 'Parimara' enhances rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song holds special significance in Tamil cinema history because legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam acted as the lead actor, composed the music, and sang this track himself for the film 'Sigaram'. His performance as an artist facing life's ups and downs earned wide acclaim, and the song became a timeless anthem of hope and self-reliance.
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