- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Punnagai Mannan
- Movie release year
- 1986
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Mar 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kavithai kelungal
Karuvil piranthathu raagam
Nadanam paarungal
Ithuvum oru vagai yaagam
Bhoomi ingu sutrum mattum
Aada vandhen enna nattam
Odum megam nindru paarthu
Kaigal thattum
Kavithai kelungal
Karuvil piranthathu raagam
Nadanam paarungal
Ithuvum oru vagai yaagam
Aaa..aaaa….aaa….
Aaaa…..aaa…aaa….aaa..aaa…aaa
………………………………………
Netru en paattu
Suthiyil vilagiyathae
Paathai sollamal
Vidhiyum vilagiyathae
Kaalam neram seravillai
Kaadhal regai kayil illai
Saaga ponnen saagavillai
Moochu undu vaazhavillai
Vaai thiranthen vaarthai illai
Kan thiranthen paarvai illai
Thanimaiyae ilamayin sothanai
Puriyuma ival manam ithu vidukathai
Kavithai kelungal
Karuvil piranthathu raagam
Kavithai kelungal
Nadanam paarungal
Ohhhh……
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Aaa…aaa….aaa…..
Chorus :{Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam} (2)
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Om thadeem thadeem
Pathangal paada
Jagam nadunga
En pathangal aada
Jagana jagana
Male :Tham tham thakka
Female :Jagana jagana
Male :Tham tham tham
Jagana jagana
Male :Tham tham thakka
Female :Jagana jagana
Male :Tham tham tham
Jagana theemtha
Jagana theemtha
Theemtha theemtha
Theemtha theemtha
Om thadeem thadeem
Pathangal paada
Jagam nadunga en pathangal aada
Paarai meethu pavala malligai
Pathiyam pottathaaru
Odum neeril kaadhal kaditham
Ezhuthivittathu yaaru
Aduppu kootti avicha nellai
Vithaithu vittathu yaaru
Alayil irunthu ulayil vizhunthu
Thudi thudikkithu meenu
Ival kanavugal nanavaaga
Marupadi oru uravu
Salangaigal puthu isai paada
Vidiyattum intha iravu
Kizhakku velicham
Iruttai kizhikkattum
Iravin mudivil kanavu palikkattum
Irundu kidakkum manamum velukkattum…
Om thadeem thadeem
Pathangal paada
Jagam nadunga en pathangal aada
Om thadeem thadeem
Pathangal paada
Jagam nadunga en pathangal aada
Listen to the poetry
The melody was born in the womb
Watch the dance
This too is a sacred offering
As long as the earth spins here
I have come to dance, what is the harm?
The drifting clouds will stop and watch
And clap their hands
Listen to the poetry
The melody was born in the womb
Watch the dance
This too is a sacred offering
Aa... aaaa... aa...
Aaaa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa
...
Yesterday, my song
slipped out of tune
Without showing me a way
fate walked away too
Time and fortune did not align
There is no love line on my palm
I went to die, but I did not die
I have breath, but I am not living
I opened my mouth, but no words came
I opened my eyes, but there was no sight
Loneliness is the bitter test of youth
Will anyone understand her heart? It is a riddle
Listen to the poetry
The melody was born in the womb
Listen to the poetry
Watch the dance
Ohhhh...
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Aa... aa... aa...
Chorus: {Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam} (2)
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Jagana jaganna
Jam jam thakka
Jagana jaganna jam jam
Om thadeem thadeem
As the verses sing
Making the world tremble
My feet dance
Jagana jagana
Male: Tham tham thakka
Female: Jagana jagana
Male: Tham tham tham
Jagana jagana
Male: Tham tham thakka
Female: Jagana jagana
Male: Tham tham tham
Jagana theemtha
Jagana theemtha
Theemtha theemtha
Theemtha theemtha
Om thadeem thadeem
As the verses sing
Making the world tremble, my feet dance
A coral jasmine upon a rock,
who tried to plant it?
A love letter on running water,
who wrote it?
Paddy already boiled on the hearth,
who went and sowed it?
Flung from the cool waves into a boiling pot,
the fish writhes in pain
For her dreams to come true,
a new bond must be born
For the ankle bells to sing a new song,
let this dark night turn to dawn
Let the light from the east
tear through the darkness
At the end of the night, let dreams come true
Let the darkened heart brighten with light...
Om thadeem thadeem
As the verses sing
Making the world tremble, my feet dance
Om thadeem thadeem
As the verses sing
Making the world tremble, my feet dance
Female
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Female
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Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Kavithai Kelungal' from Punnagai Mannan (1986) expresses a deep blend of grief, resilience, and spiritual catharsis through dance. The protagonist reflects on tragic past events—surviving a suicide attempt, suffering loss, and enduring existential numbness. Dance and music are framed as a sacred ritual ('yaagam') that serves as a medium to process sorrow and reclaim life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagaimai)
“Odum neeril kaadhal kaditham ezhuthivittathu yaaru”
Compares writing a love letter on running water or planting coral jasmine on a bare rock to futile efforts and tragic futility.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Saaga ponnen saagavillai”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in words like 'Saaga' and 'Saagavillai' or 'Moochu' and 'Vaazhavillai'.
Rhyme / Iyaibu
“Vaai thiranthen vaarthai illai / Kan thiranthen paarvai illai”
End rhymes across sequential lines such as 'thiranthen vaarthai illai' and 'thiranthen paarvai illai'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this iconic song in Punnagai Mannan highlights Kamal Haasan's mastery of western and classical fusion choreography alongside Revathi.
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