- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Apoorva Raagangal
- Movie release year
- 1975
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Adhisaya Raagam from the 1975 classic film Apoorva Raagangal is an iconic composition that elevates the beauty, grace, and complexity of a woman by interweaving her identity with classical Carnatic ragas and epic literature. Kannadasan crafts a poetic landscape where the protagonist views his beloved as a rare, divine melody, comparing her physical beauty and spiritual essence to spring rains, heavenly creatures, and sacred rituals. Furthermore, he presents her multifaceted character through famous literary dualities—she embodies the devoted purity of Maithili (Sita from the Ramayana) as well as the artistic allure of Madhavi (from Silappatikaram), concluding that in her full glory, she is as majestic and formidable as Raga Bhairavi.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Adhisaya raagam… / Aanandha raagam… / Azhaghiya raagam… / Aboorva raagam…”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' ('அ') across consecutive opening lines to create rhythmic harmony.
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Isaiyenum amudhinil Avaloru baagam”
Directly metaphorizing music into nectar ('isaiyenum amudhu') and the woman as a portion of that immortal nectar.
Upamai (Simile)
“Pinniya koondhal Karunira naagam”
Comparing long, dark braided hair directly to a black cobra.
Literary Juxtaposition / Contrast
“Oru puram paarthaal Midhilaiyin maithili / Maru puram paarthaal Kaaviri maadhavi”
Contrasting two archetype figures of Tamil/Indian epic tradition—chaste Sita (Maithili) and artistic court dancer Madhavi—to show the complex, dual nature of her personality.
Sileshai / Pun (Double Entendre on Raga Names)
“Indhira logathu chakkaravaagam / Muzhuvadhum paarthaal Avaloru bhairavi”
Cleverly embedding Carnatic raga names like Chakravakam and Bhairavi into the lyrical description of the heroine.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M.S. Viswanathan and rendered by K.J. Yesudas, this song won Yesudas the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1976. Director K. Balachander used the names of Carnatic ragas (such as Bhairavi) within Kannadasan's lyrics as symbolic character clues that directly mirrored the complex relationships and names in the film Apoorva Raagangal.
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