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Navarathri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Iravinil Aattam Pagalinil Thookkam

From Navarathri · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Navarathri
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
26 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Pirappukkum munnaal irundhadhu enna
Unakkum theriyaadhu
Irandha pinnaalae nadappadhu enna
Enakkum puriyaadhu
Iruppadhu sila naal anubavippomae
Edhu thaan kuraindhu vidum
Edhu thaan kuraindhu vidum sh…
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Paavamendraal oru aanaiyum pennaiyum
Iraivan padaippaanaa
Payanam pogum paadhaiyil dhraatchai
Kodiyai valarppaanaa
Paavamendraal oru aanaiyum pennaiyum
Iraivan padaippaanaa
Payanam pogum paadhaiyil dhraatchai
Kodiyai valarppaanaa
Aanadhu aagattum ponadhu pogattum
Arugae varalaamaa arugae varalaamaa… haa…aa…aa…
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Kavinjan paadiya kaaviyam padithaal
Bodhai varavillaiyaa
Kallinil vaditha silaigalai paarthaal
Mayakkam tharavillaiyaa
Edhilae illai yaaridam illai
Yevar idhai marandhu vittaar
Yevar idhai marandhu vittaar sh…
Iravinil aattam…
Pagalinil thookkam…
Idhu thaan engal ulagam
Engal ulagam…
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
What existed before birth,
Even you do not know.
What happens after death,
Even I do not understand.
We are here only for a few days, so let us enjoy them;
What is there to lose?
What is there to lose? Shh...
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
If it were a sin, a man and a woman,
Would God have created them?
Along the path where we journey,
Would He make grapevines grow?
If it were a sin, a man and a woman,
Would God have created them?
Along the path where we journey,
Would He make grapevines grow?
Let whatever happened be, let whatever is gone be gone;
May I come closer? May I come closer? Ha... ah... ah...
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
When reading the poems written by a poet,
Doesn't it intoxicate you?
When looking at statues carved in stone,
Don't they enchant you?
Where is it missing? Who does not have it?
Who has ever forgotten this?
Who has ever forgotten this? Shh...
Dancing through the night...
Sleeping through the day...
This is our world,
Our world...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic club/cabaret track from Navarathri (1964) presents a Epicurean philosophy of life, advocating for living fully in the present moment. The song questions traditional notions of sin and restraint, arguing that since no one knows what comes before birth or after death, humans should embrace worldly pleasures. Kannadasan uses philosophical metaphors to justify joy and romance, pointing out that God created love, poetry, and sculpture to intoxicate the human spirit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)

Paavamendraal oru aanaiyum pennaiyum Iraivan padaippaanaa

The lyrics use rhetorical questions like 'Would God create man and woman if it were a sin?' to persuasively argue that human desires are natural and divine.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Iravinil aattam… / Pagalinil thookkam…

Rhyming of the second letter across lines (Iravinil / Pagalinil) creates rhythm and musical harmony.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Payanam pogum paadhaiyil dhraatchai Kodiyai valarppaanaa

Life's journey is compared to a pathway lined with grapevines, symbolizing natural temptation and enjoyment.

Keep listening

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