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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aval Oru Menakai

From Natchathiram · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Natchathiram
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
18 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aval oru maenagai
En abimaana thaaragai
Aval oru maenagai
Kalaiyenum vaanidai minnum dhevadhai
Kalaiyenum vaanidai minnum dhevadhai
Kaaviya vadivoru nadamaadum ponmagal
Ranjani… shivaranjani… shivaranjani….
Karumbugal thaenmozhi
Arumbugal punnagai
Karumbugal thaenmozhi
Arumbugal punnagai
En kanavilum aadidum avalin kalai
Manam ninaikkindradhu
Sugam pirakkindradhu
Manam ninaikkindradhu
Sugam pirakkindradhu
Aval pol ingae yevarum illai
Aval oru maenagai
En abimaana thaaragai
Aval oru maenagai
Shivaranjani… shivaranjani…
Aadiya paadham aayiram vaedham
Avaladhu naadham
Thamizh sanga geedham
Aadiya paadham aayiram vaedham
Avaladhu naadham
Thamizh sanga geedham
Paarvaiyil kulirum maargazhi maadham
Paarvaiyil kulirum maargazhi maadham
Adhikaalaiyil varum boopaala raagam
Aval oru maenagai
En abimaana thaaragai
Aval oru maenagai
Shivaranjani… shivaranjani…
Aval singaara poonguzhal aavani maegam
Thaen ulaavidum kalyaani raagam
Aval sangeedha bhaavam gangaiyin vaegam
Thaamarai poovin sooriya dhaagam
Kaalamae…
Aval vizhighal sonnapadi aadumae
Thaalamae…
Aval kaalgal kaettapadi thaavumae
Mozhiyo aalaya sangoli
Idaiyo asaindhidum kingini
Enna solli enna paada
Kamban illai kavidhai paada
Enna solli enna paada
Kamban illai kavidhai paada
Aa… aa… aa…
Aval thanjai tharaniyil
Konjum azhagiya kovilandro
Naan aval bakthanandro
Aval oru maenagai
En abimaana thaaragai
Aval oru maenagai
Shivaranjani… shivaranjani…
She is like Menaka (a divine dancer),
she is my favourite star.
She is like Menaka,
an angel shining in the sky of art.
An angel shining in the sky of art,
an epic come alive, a dancing golden girl.
Ranjani... Sivaranjani... Sivaranjani...
Her words are sweet like honey and sugarcane,
her smile is like blossoming flower buds.
Her words are sweet like honey and sugarcane,
her smile is like blossoming flower buds.
Her art dances even in my dreams.
My heart thinks of her,
and sweet joy is born.
My heart thinks of her,
and sweet joy is born.
There is no one like her here.
She is like Menaka,
she is my favourite star.
She is like Menaka.
Sivaranjani... Sivaranjani...
Her dancing feet are as sacred as a thousand scriptures,
the sound of her music
is like a song from the Tamil Sangam (ancient literary academy).
Her dancing feet are as sacred as a thousand scriptures,
the sound of her music
is like a song from the Tamil Sangam (ancient literary academy).
In her eyes is the cool breeze of the winter month,
in her eyes is the cool breeze of the winter month,
she is like the Bhoopalam melody of early dawn.
She is like Menaka,
she is my favourite star.
She is like Menaka.
Sivaranjani... Sivaranjani...
Her lovely flower-decked hair is like a raincloud,
she is the sweet, wandering melody of Kalyani raga.
Her musical expression flows with the rush of the Ganges,
like a lotus flower thirsting for the sun.
Time itself...
dances just as her eyes command!
Rhythm itself...
leaps just as her feet demand!
Her voice is like the sounding of the temple conch,
her waist sways like tinkling bells.
What words can I say, what song can I sing?
The great poet Kamban is not here to write verse for her.
What words can I say, what song can I sing?
The great poet Kamban is not here to write verse for her.
Aa... aa... aa...
In this land of Thanjavur,
isn't she a charming, beautiful living temple?
And am I not her devotee?
She is like Menaka,
she is my favourite star.
She is like Menaka.
Sivaranjani... Sivaranjani...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aval Oru Maenagai is a celebratory ode to a dancer named Shivaranjani, comparing her divine artistry to celestial beings and classical music ragas. The lyrics portray her dancing steps as sacred scriptures and her speech as melodic sounds, expressing deep admiration for her absolute perfection in the performing arts. Kannadasan crafts rich imagery, evoking classical Tamil cultural symbols such as the Tamil Sangam, the architecture of Thanjavur, and classic ragas like Kalyani and Boopalam to elevate her beauty to a sacred plane.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Aval oru maenagai”

Compares the woman directly to a divine nymph (Maenagai) and art to a sky (Kalaiyenum vaani).

Simile / Comparison (Uvamai)

“Karumbugal thaenmozhi / Arumbugal punnagai”

Compares her speech to sweet sugarcane honey and her smile to blooming buds.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

“Kaalamae… Aval vizhighal sonnapadi aadumae”

Exaggerates her mastery by suggesting that Time and Rhythm itself follow the dictates of her eyes and feet.

Alliteration / Rhyme (Ethirhai & Monai)

“Mozhiyo aalaya sangoli / Idaiyo asaindhidum kingini”

Use of matching internal rhymes and initial sounds across adjacent lines (Mozhiyo / Idaiyo).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1980 movie Natchathiram features music composed by Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics penned by the famed poet-lyricist Kannadasan. The imagery of Thanjavur and classical arts in the lyrics pays tribute to the rich heritage of Bharatanatyam in Tamil Nadu.

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