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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Azhagu Oru Ragam

From Padagotti · 1964

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Padagotti1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Azhagu oru raagamBeauty is a melody
Aasai oru thaalamDesire is a rhythm
Azhagu oru raagamBeauty is a melody
Aasai oru thaalamDesire is a rhythm
Female
Kaadhal pen paavaiThe beloved maiden
Kan paarvai paataaga paadumSings a song through her glance
Vanna ponmaeni melaadaiThe garment on her colorful golden body
Poongaatril aadumDances in the gentle breeze
Female
Azhagu oru raagamBeauty is a melody
Aasai oru thaalamDesire is a rhythm
Female
Kaadhal pen paavaiThe beloved maiden
Kan paarvai paataaga paadumSings a song through her glance
Vanna ponmaeni melaadaiThe garment on her colorful golden body
Poongaatril aadumDances in the gentle breeze
Female
{Thaen vaazhaigalLips shaped like sweet plantains
Thandha uthadugalThe tender lips
Kulir punnagai endraSpeak a language
Mozhi pesum} (2)Called a cool smile
Female
Pon maanondru penaaga maaridaLike a golden deer transforming into a woman
Kannaana medaiyil thaaviduthaeIt leaps upon the cherished stage
Enakkum unakkum ethaiyum marakkumFor you and me, forgetting everything else
Mayakkam mayakkam ithuvoIs this a wondrous, intoxicating trance?
Female
Azhagu oru raagamBeauty is a melody
Aasai oru thaalamDesire is a rhythm
Female
Kaadhal pen paavaiThe beloved maiden
Kan paarvai paataaga paadumSings a song through her glance
Vanna ponmaeni melaadaiThe garment on her colorful golden body
Poongaatril aadumDances in the gentle breeze
Female
Varaamalae vandha aasaigalDesires that arrived uninvited
Ilam thogaiyir kannil sathiradumDance gracefully in the eyes of the young peahen-like maiden
Varaamalae vandha aasaigalDesires that arrived uninvited
Ilam thogaiyir kannil sathiradumDance gracefully in the eyes of the young peahen-like maiden
Female
Senthaamarai pennaaga maaridaLike a red lotus transforming into a woman
Kannaana odaiyil neendhiduthaeIt swims in the cherished stream of love
Ilamai mayakkam irukkum varaikkumAs long as the intoxication of youth lasts
Pirakkum pirakkum sugamoWill pure pleasure continue to be born?
Female
Azhagu oru raagamBeauty is a melody
Aasai oru thaalamDesire is a rhythm
Female
Kaadhal pen paavaiThe beloved maiden
Kan paarvai paataaga paadumSings a song through her glance
Vanna ponmaeni melaadaiThe garment on her colorful golden body
Poongaatril aadumDances in the gentle breeze
Female
La la la laaaalaaaLa la la laaaalaaa
Lala la la laaa laaaaLala la la laaa laaaa
La la la la laa la la laa laa laa..aa..La la la la laa la la laa laa laa..aa..
La la la la laa la la laa laa laa…aa…La la la la laa la la laa laa laa...aa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic song metaphorically equates feminine beauty and youthful passion to the elements of classical music. Beauty is depicted as a melodic tune ('raagam') while desire serves as its rhythmic beat ('thaalam'). The song describes the enchanting gaze and gentle movements of a maiden whose expressions sing silent melodies of romance. Vaali's lyrics paint vivid imagery comparing her gracefully leaping joy to a golden deer and her elegance to a red lotus swimming in stream waters.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamy (Metaphor)

Azhagu oru raagam / Aasai oru thaalam

Equating abstract qualities like beauty and desire directly to musical elements ('raagam' and 'thaalam').

Monaee (Initial Alliteration)

Kaadhal pen paavai / Kan paarvai paataaga paadum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K' in Kaadhal and Kan).

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphorical Transformation)

Pon maanondru penaaga maarida

Comparing the maiden's playful actions to a golden deer ('pon maan') leaping onto a stage.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Azhagu Oru Raagam' features in the 1964 M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi starrer 'Padagotti', composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, sung by P. Susheela and T. M. Soundararajan, with lyrics penned by Vaali.

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