Illam Sangeetham
From Avan Aval Adhu · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Avan Aval Adhu1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Illam sangeetham mm… | The home is music, mm... |
| Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm… | Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm... |
| Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm… | Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm... |
| Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm… | Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm... |
| Female | |
| Illam sangeetham mm… | The home is music, mm... |
| Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm… | Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm... |
| Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm… | Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm... |
| Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm… | Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm... |
| Female | |
| Ellaam pennaalae endru | That everything comes from womanhood, |
| Munnor sonnaargal | The elders and ancestors said. |
| Ellaam pennaalae endru | That everything comes from womanhood, |
| Munnor sonnaargal | The elders and ancestors said. |
| Andha penmai endrum maenmai allavo | Is not that womanhood always exalted and grand? |
| Male | |
| Paedhai endraalum | Whether simple and innocent, |
| Mangai maedhai endraalum | Or a wise and learned maiden, |
| Andha penmai endrum | Is not that womanhood always |
| Unmai allavo | The ultimate truth? |
| Female | |
| Yaedho unmai sonnen | I spoke a certain truth, |
| Kobam vandhadho | Did it make you angry? |
| Male | |
| Konjam maatri sonnen | I stated it with a slight change, |
| Solla koodaadho | Am I not allowed to say it? |
| Female | |
| Illam sangeetham mm… | The home is music, mm... |
| Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm… | Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm... |
| Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm… | Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm... |
| Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm… | Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm... |
| Male | |
| Lakshmi vandhaalaam | They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived, |
| Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam | And lit the lamp in the household. |
| Lakshmi vandhaalaam | They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived, |
| Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam | And lit the lamp in the household. |
| Chinna pillai pola thulli nindraalaam | She stood bouncing with joy like a small child. |
| Female | |
| Sivanum vandhaanaam | They say Lord Shiva came as well, |
| Angae kumaran vandhaanaam | And Lord Kumaran arrived there too, |
| Engal inba vaazhvai kaaval kondaanaam | He stood guard over our joyful life. |
| Male | |
| Kannae pillai ondru | My dear, bring a child |
| Kaiyil kondu vaa | In your arms. |
| Female | |
| Kannaa kollai inbam | My beloved, bring boundless bliss |
| Alli kondu vaa | Gathered in abundance. |
| Female | |
| Ponnai thandhaalum | Even if given pure gold, |
| Kodi porulai thandhaalum | Or tens of millions in riches, |
| Indha kaadhal dhaevan ullam podhumae | The heart of this god of love is enough for me. |
| Male | |
| Ennai thandhaen naan | I gave myself to you, |
| Endrum unnai thandhaai nee | And forever you gave yourself to me, |
| Indha inbam podhum kaala kaalamae | This joy is enough for generations to come. |
| Female | |
| Naanum raaman kannil | In Rama's eyes, am I not |
| Seethai allavo | His beloved Sita? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkkai seethai sollum | Is not life the noble path |
| Paadhai allavo | Shown by Sita? |
| Female | |
| Illam sangeetham mm… | The home is music, mm... |
| Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm… | Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm... |
| Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm… | Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm... |
| Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm… | Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm... |
இல்லம் சங்கீதம் ம்ம்.....
அதில் ராகம் சம்சாரம் ம்ம்....
அவள் நாயகன் பாவம் ம்ம்....
பிள்ளை சிங்கார ராகம் ம்ம்....
The home is music, mm...
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
இல்லம் சங்கீதம் ம்ம்.....
அதில் ராகம் சம்சாரம் ம்ம்....
அவள் நாயகன் பாவம் ம்ம்....
பிள்ளை சிங்கார ராகம் ம்ம்....
The home is music, mm...
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
எல்லாம் பெண்ணாலே என்று
முன்னோர் சொன்னார்கள்
எல்லாம் பெண்ணாலே என்று
முன்னோர் சொன்னார்கள்
அந்த பெண்மை என்றும் மேன்மை அல்லவோ
That everything comes from womanhood,
The elders and ancestors said.
That everything comes from womanhood,
The elders and ancestors said.
Is not that womanhood always exalted and grand?
பேதை என்றாலும்
மங்கை மேதை என்றாலும்
அந்த பெண்மை என்றும்
உண்மை அல்லவோ
Whether simple and innocent,
Or a wise and learned maiden,
Is not that womanhood always
The ultimate truth?
ஏதோ உண்மை சொன்னேன்
கோபம் வந்ததோ
I spoke a certain truth,
Did it make you angry?
கொஞ்சம் மாற்றிச் சொன்னேன்
சொல்ல கூடாதோ
I stated it with a slight change,
Am I not allowed to say it?
இல்லம் சங்கீதம் ம்ம்.....
அதில் ராகம் சம்சாரம் ம்ம்....
அவள் நாயகன் பாவம் ம்ம்....
பிள்ளை சிங்கார ராகம் ம்ம்....
The home is music, mm...
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
லக்ஷ்மி வந்தாளாம்
வீட்டில் தீபம் வைத்தாளாம்
லக்ஷ்மி வந்தாளாம்
வீட்டில் தீபம் வைத்தாளாம்
சின்ன பிள்ளை போல துள்ளி நின்றாளாம்
They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived,
And lit the lamp in the household.
They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived,
And lit the lamp in the household.
She stood bouncing with joy like a small child.
சிவனும் வந்தானாம்
அங்கே குமரன் வந்தானாம்
எங்கள் இன்ப வாழ்வை காவல் கொண்டானாம்
They say Lord Shiva came as well,
And Lord Kumaran arrived there too,
He stood guard over our joyful life.
கண்ணே பிள்ளை ஒன்று
கையில் கொண்டுவா
My dear, bring a child
In your arms.
கண்ணா கொள்ளை இன்பம்
அள்ளிக் கொண்டுவா
My beloved, bring boundless bliss
Gathered in abundance.
பொன்னை தந்தாலும்
கோடி பொருளை தந்தாலும்
இந்த காதல் தேவன் உள்ளம் போதுமே
Even if given pure gold,
Or tens of millions in riches,
The heart of this god of love is enough for me.
என்னை தந்தேன் நான்
என்றும் உன்னை தந்தாய் நீ
இந்த இன்பம் போதும் கால காலமே
I gave myself to you,
And forever you gave yourself to me,
This joy is enough for generations to come.
நானும் ராமன் கண்ணில்
சீதை அல்லவோ
In Rama's eyes, am I not
His beloved Sita?
வாழ்க்கை சீதை சொல்லும்
பாதை அல்லவோ
Is not life the noble path
Shown by Sita?
இல்லம் சங்கீதம் ம்ம்.....
அதில் ராகம் சம்சாரம் ம்ம்....
அவள் நாயகன் பாவம் ம்ம்....
பிள்ளை சிங்கார ராகம் ம்ம்....
The home is music, mm...
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
Illam sangeetham mm…
The home is music, mm...
Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm…
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm…
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm…
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
Illam sangeetham mm…
The home is music, mm...
Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm…
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm…
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm…
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
Ellaam pennaalae endru
That everything comes from womanhood,
Munnor sonnaargal
The elders and ancestors said.
Ellaam pennaalae endru
That everything comes from womanhood,
Munnor sonnaargal
The elders and ancestors said.
Andha penmai endrum maenmai allavo
Is not that womanhood always exalted and grand?
Paedhai endraalum
Whether simple and innocent,
Mangai maedhai endraalum
Or a wise and learned maiden,
Andha penmai endrum
Is not that womanhood always
Unmai allavo
The ultimate truth?
Yaedho unmai sonnen
I spoke a certain truth,
Kobam vandhadho
Did it make you angry?
Konjam maatri sonnen
I stated it with a slight change,
Solla koodaadho
Am I not allowed to say it?
Illam sangeetham mm…
The home is music, mm...
Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm…
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm…
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm…
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
Lakshmi vandhaalaam
They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived,
Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam
And lit the lamp in the household.
Lakshmi vandhaalaam
They say Goddess Lakshmi arrived,
Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam
And lit the lamp in the household.
Chinna pillai pola thulli nindraalaam
She stood bouncing with joy like a small child.
Sivanum vandhaanaam
They say Lord Shiva came as well,
Angae kumaran vandhaanaam
And Lord Kumaran arrived there too,
Engal inba vaazhvai kaaval kondaanaam
He stood guard over our joyful life.
Kannae pillai ondru
My dear, bring a child
Kaiyil kondu vaa
In your arms.
Kannaa kollai inbam
My beloved, bring boundless bliss
Alli kondu vaa
Gathered in abundance.
Ponnai thandhaalum
Even if given pure gold,
Kodi porulai thandhaalum
Or tens of millions in riches,
Indha kaadhal dhaevan ullam podhumae
The heart of this god of love is enough for me.
Ennai thandhaen naan
I gave myself to you,
Endrum unnai thandhaai nee
And forever you gave yourself to me,
Indha inbam podhum kaala kaalamae
This joy is enough for generations to come.
Naanum raaman kannil
In Rama's eyes, am I not
Seethai allavo
His beloved Sita?
Vaazhkkai seethai sollum
Is not life the noble path
Paadhai allavo
Shown by Sita?
Illam sangeetham mm…
The home is music, mm...
Male :Adhil raagam samsaaram mm…
Male: In it, the melody is family life, mm...
Female :Aval naayagan baavam mm…
Female: Her hero is the expression and emotion, mm...
Male :Pillai srungaara naadham mm…
Male: The child is the sweet, romantic tone, mm...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Illam Sangeetham' from the movie Avan Aval Adhu (1980) is a celebrated Tamil duets written by Kavignar Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song metaphorically portrays a happy domestic household as a sweet musical symphony, where family life acts as the melody (raagam), the husband as the emotional nuance (baavam), and the child as the delightful tone (srungaara naadham). The lyrics honor womanhood as the auspicious source of light, joy, and spiritual harmony in a home. The song further expresses romantic fulfillment and marital devotion, drawing upon divine imagery like Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, and Lord Murugan (Kumaran). The couple reaffirms that mutual affection and the warmth of family supersede all material wealth, invoking the ideal devotion of Rama and Sita to illustrate their eternal commitment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Illam sangeetham mm… / Adhil raagam samsaaram mm…”
Compares domestic home life, family relations, husband, and child to foundational elements of Indian classical music (music, raga, bhava, and tone).
Mythological Allusion
“Lakshmi vandhaalaam / Sivanum vandhaanaam / Naanum raaman kannil Seethai allavo”
References divine figures like Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, Lord Kumaran, Rama, and Sita to elevate marital love and domestic happiness to a sacred status.
Rhyme and Assonance (Edhugai and Monai)
“Lakshmi vandhaalaam / Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam”
Uses rhyming structures across adjacent line segments such as 'Lakshmi vandhaalaam' and 'Veettil dheebam vaithaalaam' to create musical flow in the verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
Avan Aval Adhu (1980), directed by Muktha Srinivasan, stars Sivakumar, Lakshmi, and Sripriya. The song features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and S. Janaki. The film deals with sensitive themes of family, relationships, and surrogacy, making this song's tribute to home and family harmony central to the narrative.
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