Athisaya Raagam
From Apoorva Raagangal · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Apoorva Raagangal1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Adhisaya raagam… | Miraculous ragam… |
| Aanandha raagam… | Blissful ragam… |
| Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm | Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm |
| Aboorva raagam… | Rare ragam… |
| Male | |
| Adhisaya raagam… | Miraculous ragam… |
| Aanandha raagam… | Blissful ragam… |
| Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm | Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm |
| Aboorva raagam… | Rare ragam… |
| Male | |
| Adhisaya raagam | Miraculous ragam |
| Male | |
| Vasantha kaalathil | In the spring season |
| Mazhai tharum megam | A cloud that brings rain |
| Andha mazhai neer arundha | To drink that rainwater |
| Manadhinil mogam | There is desire in the heart |
| Mogam… mmm..mogam… | Desire… mmm..desire… |
| Male | |
| Vasantha kaalathil | In the spring season |
| Mazhai tharum megam | A cloud that brings rain |
| Andha mazhai neer arundha | To drink that rainwater |
| Manadhinil mogam | There is desire in the heart |
| Male | |
| Isaiyenum amudhinil | In the nectar called music |
| Avaloru baagam | She is a part |
| Isaiyenum amudhinil | In the nectar called music |
| Avaloru baagam | She is a part |
| Indhira logathu chakkaravaagam | She is the Chakravaka bird of Indra's heavenly realm |
| Male | |
| Adhisaya raagam… | Miraculous ragam… |
| Aanandha raagam… | Blissful ragam… |
| Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm | Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm |
| Aboorva raagam… | Rare ragam… |
| Male | |
| Pinniya koondhal | Her braided hair |
| Karunira naagam | Is like a black cobra |
| Penmaiyin ilakkanam | The grammar of womanhood |
| Avaladhu dhegam | Is her body |
| Male | |
| Pinniya koondhal | Her braided hair |
| Karunira naagam | Is like a black cobra |
| Penmaiyin ilakkanam | The grammar of womanhood |
| Avaladhu dhegam | Is her body |
| Male | |
| Devargal valarthidum | A poetic sacrificial ritual |
| Kaaviya yaagam | Nurtured by the gods |
| Andha dhevadhai kidaithaal | If that goddess is obtained |
| Adhu en yogam | That is my good fortune |
| Adhu en yogam | That is my good fortune |
| Male | |
| Oru puram paarthaal | If viewed from one side |
| Midhilaiyin maithili | She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita) |
| Maru puram paarthaal | If viewed from another side |
| Kaaviri maadhavi | She is Cauvery's Madhavi |
| Male | |
| Oru puram paarthaal | If viewed from one side |
| Midhilaiyin maithili | She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita) |
| Maru puram paarthaal | If viewed from another side |
| Kaaviri maadhavi | She is Cauvery's Madhavi |
| Male | |
| Mugam mattum paarthaal | If you look only at her face |
| Nilavin edhiroli | It is the reflection of the moon |
| Mugam mattum paarthaal | If you look only at her face |
| Nilavin edhiroli | It is the reflection of the moon |
| Muzhuvadhum paarthaal | If you look at her in entirety |
| Avaloru bhairavi | She is a Bhairavi |
| Avaloru bhairavi avaloru bhairavi | She is a Bhairavi, she is a Bhairavi |
| Male | |
| Adhisaya raagam… | Miraculous ragam… |
| Aanandha raagam… | Blissful ragam… |
| Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm | Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm |
| Aboorva raagam… | Rare ragam… |
அதிசய ராகம்.....
ஆனந்த ராகம்....ம்ம்
அழகிய ராகம்.....ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
அபூர்வ ராகம்.....
Miraculous ragam…
Blissful ragam…
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Rare ragam…
அதிசய ராகம்.....
ஆனந்த ராகம்....ம்ம்
அழகிய ராகம்.....ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
அபூர்வ ராகம்.....
Miraculous ragam…
Blissful ragam…
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Rare ragam…
அதிசய ராகம்.....
Miraculous ragam
வசந்த காலத்தில்
மழை தரும் மேகம்
அந்த மழை நீர் அருந்த
மனதினில் மோகம்....
மோகம்....ம்ம்ம்....மோகம்....
In the spring season
A cloud that brings rain
To drink that rainwater
There is desire in the heart
Desire… mmm..desire…
வசந்த காலத்தில்
மழை தரும் மேகம்
அந்த மழை நீர் அருந்த
மனதினில் மோகம்....
In the spring season
A cloud that brings rain
To drink that rainwater
There is desire in the heart
இசையெனும் அமுதினில்
அவளொரு பாகம்
இசையெனும் அமுதினில்
அவளொரு பாகம்
இந்திர லோகத்து
சக்கரவாகம்
In the nectar called music
She is a part
In the nectar called music
She is a part
She is the Chakravaka bird of Indra's heavenly realm
அதிசய ராகம்.....
ஆனந்த ராகம்....ம்ம்
அழகிய ராகம்.....ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
அபூர்வ ராகம்.....
Miraculous ragam…
Blissful ragam…
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Rare ragam…
பின்னிய கூந்தல்
கருநிற நாகம்
பெண்மையின் இலக்கணம்
அவளது தேகம்
Her braided hair
Is like a black cobra
The grammar of womanhood
Is her body
பின்னிய கூந்தல்
கருநிற நாகம்
பெண்மையின் இலக்கணம்
அவளது தேகம்
Her braided hair
Is like a black cobra
The grammar of womanhood
Is her body
தேவர்கள் வளர்த்திடும்
காவிய யாகம்
அந்த தேவதை கிடைத்தால்
அது என் யோகம்
அது என் யோகம்
A poetic sacrificial ritual
Nurtured by the gods
If that goddess is obtained
That is my good fortune
That is my good fortune
ஒரு புறம் பார்த்தால்
மிதிலையின் மைதிலி
மறு புறம் பார்த்தால்
காவிரி மாதவி
If viewed from one side
She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita)
If viewed from another side
She is Cauvery's Madhavi
இன்னுமா புரியல
If viewed from one side
She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita)
If viewed from another side
She is Cauvery's Madhavi
ஒரு புறம் பார்த்தால்
மிதிலையின் மைதிலி
மறு புறம் பார்த்தால்
காவிரி மாதவி
If you look only at her face
It is the reflection of the moon
If you look only at her face
It is the reflection of the moon
If you look at her in entirety
She is a Bhairavi
She is a Bhairavi, she is a Bhairavi
முகம் மட்டும் பார்த்தால்
நிலவின் எதிரொலி
முகம் மட்டும் பார்த்தால்
நிலவின் எதிரொலி
முழுவதும் பார்த்தால்
அவளொரு பைரவி
அவளொரு பைரவி அவளொரு பைரவி
Miraculous ragam…
Blissful ragam…
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Rare ragam…
அதிசய ராகம்.....
ஆனந்த ராகம்....ம்ம்
அழகிய ராகம்.....ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
அபூர்வ ராகம்.....
Adhisaya raagam…
Miraculous ragam…
Aanandha raagam…
Blissful ragam…
Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Aboorva raagam…
Rare ragam…
Adhisaya raagam…
Miraculous ragam…
Aanandha raagam…
Blissful ragam…
Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Aboorva raagam…
Rare ragam…
Adhisaya raagam
Miraculous ragam
Vasantha kaalathil
In the spring season
Mazhai tharum megam
A cloud that brings rain
Andha mazhai neer arundha
To drink that rainwater
Manadhinil mogam
There is desire in the heart
Mogam… mmm..mogam…
Desire… mmm..desire…
Vasantha kaalathil
In the spring season
Mazhai tharum megam
A cloud that brings rain
Andha mazhai neer arundha
To drink that rainwater
Manadhinil mogam
There is desire in the heart
Isaiyenum amudhinil
In the nectar called music
Avaloru baagam
She is a part
Isaiyenum amudhinil
In the nectar called music
Avaloru baagam
She is a part
Indhira logathu chakkaravaagam
She is the Chakravaka bird of Indra's heavenly realm
Adhisaya raagam…
Miraculous ragam…
Aanandha raagam…
Blissful ragam…
Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Aboorva raagam…
Rare ragam…
Pinniya koondhal
Her braided hair
Karunira naagam
Is like a black cobra
Penmaiyin ilakkanam
The grammar of womanhood
Avaladhu dhegam
Is her body
Pinniya koondhal
Her braided hair
Karunira naagam
Is like a black cobra
Penmaiyin ilakkanam
The grammar of womanhood
Avaladhu dhegam
Is her body
Devargal valarthidum
A poetic sacrificial ritual
Kaaviya yaagam
Nurtured by the gods
Andha dhevadhai kidaithaal
If that goddess is obtained
Adhu en yogam
That is my good fortune
Adhu en yogam
That is my good fortune
Oru puram paarthaal
If viewed from one side
Midhilaiyin maithili
She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita)
Maru puram paarthaal
If viewed from another side
Kaaviri maadhavi
She is Cauvery's Madhavi
Oru puram paarthaal
If viewed from one side
Midhilaiyin maithili
She is Mithila's Maithili (Sita)
Maru puram paarthaal
If viewed from another side
Kaaviri maadhavi
She is Cauvery's Madhavi
Mugam mattum paarthaal
If you look only at her face
Nilavin edhiroli
It is the reflection of the moon
Mugam mattum paarthaal
If you look only at her face
Nilavin edhiroli
It is the reflection of the moon
Muzhuvadhum paarthaal
If you look at her in entirety
Avaloru bhairavi
She is a Bhairavi
Avaloru bhairavi avaloru bhairavi
She is a Bhairavi, she is a Bhairavi
Adhisaya raagam…
Miraculous ragam…
Aanandha raagam…
Blissful ragam…
Azhaghiya raagam… mm mm mm
Beautiful ragam… mm mm mm
Aboorva raagam…
Rare ragam…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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