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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatrile Paattu Varum

From Punnagai Desam · 2002

Lyricist
Rajat Ravishankar
Singer
P. Unnikrishnan
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Punnagai Desam2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mmmmm mmmmmMmmmm mmmmm
Mmmm mmmmMmmm mmmm
Male : PaaduraaMale: She is singing...
Male
Kaattrilae paattu varumA song comes floating in the breeze,
Kanavugal saernthu varumDreams come along with it.
Male
Paadagan ullam engum vellamagaLike a flood overflowing in the singer's heart,
Pongum sangeethamMusic surges forth.
Thaeintha nilavum thirumpa valarumMusic is the magic that makes,
Manthiram sangeethamEven a waning moon grow again.
Male
Kaattrilae paattu varumA song comes floating in the breeze,
Kanavugal saernthu varumDreams come along with it.
Male
Dhinakku dhinakku dhinaRhythmic syllables (Dhinakku dhinakku dhina)
Dhinakku dhinakku dhinaRhythmic syllables (Dhinakku dhinakku dhina)
Thinthinnnaanaa thinaaanaanaaRhythmic syllables (Thinthinnnaanaa thinaaanaanaa)
Female
Dhinakku dhinakku dhinaRhythmic syllables (Dhinakku dhinakku dhina)
Dhinakku dhinakku dhinaRhythmic syllables (Dhinakku dhinakku dhina)
Thinthinnnaanaa thinaaanaanaaRhythmic syllables (Thinthinnnaanaa thinaaanaanaa)
Male
Dhinakku dhinakkuRhythmic syllables (Dhinakku dhinakku)
ThinanaanaanaaRhythmic syllables (Thinanaanaanaa)
Female :Oo ohh ohh hoFemale: Oo ohh ohh ho
Male
Thaalaattum enpaattu thaayaagumaeMy song that sings a lullaby becomes a mother;
Alaikooda kural kettu ilaipaarumaeEven the ocean waves pause to rest upon hearing this voice.
Male
Bhoomikku vaanmegamJust as clouds in the sky give,
Vaazhvai tharumLife to the earth,
Sangeetham en vaazhvilMusic gives heaven,
Sorkkam tharumTo my life.
Male
Thaalaththil thavam seiyyumMy musical pearls doing penance in rhythm,
En muththukkalAre getting ready,
Sabai yaerum nannaalumThe auspicious day they grace the stage,
VarugindrathaeIs arriving.
Male
En paattilae sugamaanaIn my song, I will create,
Solaigalai seivaenPleasant groves.
Sangeethamae thunaiyaagaWith music as my companion,
Idhayangalai velvaenI will conquer hearts.
Male
Vaazhkkai oru porkkalamLife is a battlefield,
Nampikkai aayuthamAnd hope is the weapon.
Male
Kaattrilae paattu varumA song comes floating in the breeze,
MapathasathasathaasaSwaras (Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa...)
Kanavugal saernthu varumDreams come along with it.
Male
Thom thom namthaRhythmic bols (Thom thom namtha)
Thom thomtha namthaRhythmic bols (Thom thomtha namtha)
Thomthnamthnam sangeethamThomthnamthnam music
Thom thom namthaRhythmic bols (Thom thom namtha)
Thom thomtha namthaRhythmic bols (Thom thomtha namtha)
Thomthnamthnam sangeethamThomthnamthnam music
Male
Uyirin uruvam thelivaai theriyumThe very form of the soul becomes clearly visible,
Ulaga adhisayam sangeetham haaaa….aa….aa…Music is the wonder of the world.
Uyirin uyiril oori oori varumFlowing deeply into the essence of life itself,
Gangai allavaa sangeetham haaaa….aa….aa…Is not music like the sacred Ganges?
Male
Annai madiyilae vanthu piranthathumBeing born onto a mother's lap,
Mazhalai azhuvathum sangeethamAnd the crying of an infant is music.
Kadhal solvathum kavithai seivathumExpressing love and composing poetry,
Vaazhkkai muzhuvathum sangeethamAnd the entirety of life itself is music.
Male
Antha alaiyin osaiyumThe sound of ocean waves,
Idiyin naathamum theeyin vegamum sangeethamThe roar of thunder, and the speed of fire are all music.
Oru osai indriyae yoga nilaiyilaeEven without any sound, in a state of yogic meditation,
Mounam enbathum sangeethamSilence itself is music.
Male
Anantham manathaananthamJoy, mental bliss,
Perum perinbam sangeethamGreat supreme bliss is music.
Male
……………....
Male
Anantham manathaananthamJoy, mental bliss,
Perum perinbam sangeethamGreat supreme bliss is music.
Anantham manathaananthamJoy, mental bliss,
Perum perinbam sangeethamGreat supreme bliss is music.
Aa….aa….aa….aa….sangeethamAa....aa....aa....aa.... music

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaattrilae Paattu Varum from Punnagai Desam is a philosophical tribute to the divine and omnipresent nature of music. The song highlights how music acts as a magical force capable of healing, restoring hope, and filling the singer's soul with boundless passion. It compares music to life-giving elements such as rain clouds to the earth and the sacred river Ganges to the soul. Furthermore, the lyricist expands the definition of music beyond vocals and instruments, asserting that music exists in every facet of existence—from a baby's first cry to the sound of ocean waves, thunder, and fire. Ultimately, the song reveals that even deep silence during meditation is a form of music, bringing absolute bliss and divine joy to human life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaazhkkai oru porkkalam / Nampikkai aayutham

Life is metaphorically compared to a battlefield ('porkkalam') and faith/hope is compared to a weapon ('aayutham').

Hyperbole (Uvavu / Thagudhi)

Alaikooda kural kettu ilaipaarumae

Exaggerating the soothing quality of the singer's voice by stating that even restless ocean waves stop and take rest upon hearing it.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Oru osai indriyae yoga nilaiyilae / Mounam enbathum sangeetham

Describing silence ('mounam') in deep meditation without sound as a form of music.

Analogy (Uvamai)

Uyirin uyiril oori oori varum / Gangai allavaa sangeetham

Comparing music flowing through the soul to the eternal flow of the river Ganges.

Did you know?

Trivia

Punnagai Desam (2002) is a Tamil drama film directed by K. Selva Bharathy. S. A. Rajkumar's music for this song blends classical Carnatic solkattu (jathis) with contemporary light music, creating a celebrated track themed entirely on musical aesthetics and artistic devotion.

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