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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gangai Yamunai Saraswathi

From Chakkravarthy · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Chakkravarthy
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
14 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gangai yamunai saraswathi
Endru nadhigal moondrallava
Paadhai moondrum veraanaalum
Thanneer ondrallavaa
Gangai yamunai saraswathi
Endru nadhigal moondrallava
Paadhai moondrum veraanaalum
Thanneer ondrallavaa
Raman engae kugan thaan engae
Angadhan pirandhadhu thaan engae
Nanbargal aanaar manamum gunamum
Sangamam aanadhu angae
Nellil irundhu umiyai pirithaal
Meendum servadhu engae
Nerungaadhu nerungivittaal
Piriya vidathu anbu
Gangai yamunai saraswathi
Endru nadhigal moondrallava
Paadhai moondrum veraanaalum
Thanneer ondrallavaa
Sattam enbathu iruttarai endru
Arinjar sonnar andru
Dharumam ennum vilakkai kondu
Thedi paarungal endru
Ovvoru manidhan ullathilum
Mirugamum deivamum undu
Mirugangalai viratti vittu
Deivangal aavom indru
Gangai yamunai saraswathi
Endru nadhigal moondrallava
Paadhai moondrum veraanaalum
Thanneer ondrallavaa
Udal noi maruthuvam undu
Manadhil noikku enna marundhu
Ovvoru manadhaiyum aatti veikkindraar
Uyarathil oruvan irundhu
Needhi nyaayam enbavai ellam
Thalaivan aalum aatchi
Neengal illai naanum illai
Avanae courtukkum saatchi
Gangai yamunai saraswathi
Endru nadhigal moondrallava
Paadhai moondrum veraanaalum
Thanneer ondrallavaa
Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—
aren't there three rivers?
Though their three paths are different,
isn't the water one and the same?
Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—
aren't there three rivers?
Though their three paths are different,
isn't the water one and the same?
Where was Rama from, and where was Guhan?
And where was Angada born?
Yet they became friends, and their hearts and virtues
merged as one right there.
Once the husk is separated from the grain,
can it ever be joined back again?
Once hearts that were distant come together,
true love will never let them part...
Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—
aren't there three rivers?
Though their three paths are different,
isn't the water one and the same?
"The law is a dark room,"
a wise scholar once said,
"Take the lamp of righteousness,
and search within it."
Inside the heart of every human,
there is both a beast and a divine spirit.
Let us chase away the beast,
and become divine today...
Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—
aren't there three rivers?
Though their three paths are different,
isn't the water one and the same?
There is medical care for a body's sickness,
but what is the cure for a sick mind?
Guiding and moving every human heart,
there is One sitting high above.
Justice and fair judgment
are under the rule of that supreme Master.
It is not you, nor is it me—
He alone is the witness even in court...
Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—
aren't there three rivers?
Though their three paths are different,
isn't the water one and the same?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Gangai Yamunai Saraswathi' uses the powerful metaphor of three iconic sacred rivers merging into one to preach unity, brotherhood, and human morality. It highlights how true friendship transcends birth, region, and background, drawing an epic allusion to Ramayana where Rama, Guha, and Angada formed an unbreakable bond. Kannadasan's lyrics emphasize that love, once genuinely formed, binds souls together permanently just like husk once separated from paddy can never be rejoined.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Dharumam ennum vilakkai kondu”

Righteousness (Dharumam) is directly compared to a guiding lamp (Vilakku) that illuminates the darkness of legal complexities.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Raman engae kugan thaan engae / Angadhan pirandhadhu thaan engae”

Refers to epic characters from the Ramayana (Rama, Guha, Angada) to illustrate how true friendship transcends diverse backgrounds.

Iyaipu (Rhyming ends)

“Endru nadhigal moondrallava / Thanneer ondrallavaa”

Lines end with similar sounding rhyming word endings ('moondrallava' and 'ondrallavaa').

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

“Mirugamum deivamum undu”

Contrasts two opposing concepts—the beast (Mirugam) and the divine (Deivam)—present within human nature.

Did you know?

Trivia

The line 'Sattam enbathu iruttarai endru Arinjar sonnar andru' directly references the famous quote by scholar C. N. Annadurai (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), who famously remarked that 'The law is a dark room where the advocate's argument is a light.' Kannadasan cleverly integrates this political and societal philosophy into the song's moral framework.

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