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Isaimozhi
Sangamam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mazhai Thuli

From Sangamam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Sangamam
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
10 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………
{ Mazhaithuli
Mazhaithuli mannil
Sangamam uyirthuli
Uyirthuli vaanil sangamam
Udal porul
Aaviyellam kalaiyil
Sangamam sangamam } (2)
Aalaalakanda
Aadaluku thagapaa
Vanakamunga enna
Aadaama aativecha vanakamunga
{ En kaaluku
Salangaiyita un
Kaaladiku mudhal vanakam
En kaal
Nadamaadumayya
Umma kattalaiya
Vellum varaikum } (2)
Nee undu
Undu endra podhum
Ada illai illai endra podhum
Sabai aadiya paadhamidhu
Nikaadhu oru podhum
Aalaalakanda
Aadaluku thagapaa
Vanakamunga vanakamunga
Enna aadaama
Aativecha vanakamunga
Vanakamunga
{ Mazhaithuli
Mazhaithuli mannil
Sangamam uyirthuli
Uyirthuli vaanil sangamam
Udal porul
Aaviyellam kalaiyil
Sangamam sangamam } (2)
Thanniyila meen
Azhudha karaikoru
Thagavalum varuvadhilla
Enakulla naan
Azhudha thudaikavae
Enakoru naadhiyilla
En kanneeru
Ovvoru sottum vairam
Vairam aagumae sabadham
Sabadham endrae salangai
Salangai paadumae
Ohh ………………..
Manamae manamae
Sabadham vellum matum
Saayaadhiru
Vizhiyae vizhiyae
Imaiyae theeyumbodhum
Kalangaadhiru
Nadhi nadhi
Athanaiyum kadalil
Sangamam
Natchathiram
Athanaiyum pagalil
Sangamam
Kalaigalin
Vegumadhi unnidathil
Sangamam sangamam
Mazhaithuli
Mazhaithuli mannil
Sangamam uyirthuli
Uyirthuli vaanil sangamam
Udal porul
Aaviyellam kalaiyil
Sangamam sangamam
Aalaalakanda
Aadaluku thagapaa
Vanakamunga enna
Aadaama aativecha
Vanakamunga
……………………………..
Mazhaikaagathaan
Megam ada kalaikaagathaan
Neeyum uyir kalandhaaduvom
Naalum maganae vaa
Nee sondha
Kaalilae nillu thalai
Sutrum boomiyai vellu
Idhu appan solliya sollu
Maganae vaa maganae vaa
Oorukaaga
Aadum kalaingan
Thannai marapaan
Than kanneerai
Moodikondu inbam kodupaan
Puligal
Azhuvadhu yedhu
Ada paravaiyum
Azha ariyaadhu
Porkalam nee
Pugumbodhu mul
Thaipadhu kaal ariyaadhu
Maganae maganae
Kaatruku
Oivenbadhedhu ada yedhu
Kalaikoru tholvi kidaiyaadhu
Kidaiyaadhu kidaiyaadhu
Aalaalakanda
Aadaluku thagapaa
Vanakamunga enna
Aadaama aativecha vanakamunga
En kaaluku
Salangaiyita un
Kaaladiku mudhal vanakam
En kaal
Nadamaadumayya
Namma kattalaiya
Vellum varaikum
{ Nee undu
Undu endra podhum
Ada illai illai endra podhum } (2)
Sabai aadiya paadhamidhu
Nikaadhu oru podhum
{ Mazhaithuli
Mazhaithuli mannil
Sangamam uyirthuli
Uyirthuli vaanil sangamam
Udal porul
Aaviyellam kalaiyil
Sangamam sangamam } (6)
...
Raindrops,
raindrops merge into the soil;
the drop of life,
the drop of life merges into the sky.
Body, wealth,
and soul merge in art,
they merge, they merge.
O Lord Shiva (who swallowed the cosmic poison),
O Father of dance,
I bow to you;
greetings to you who made me dance without moving yourself.
To your sacred feet
that tied anklets on my feet,
my first bow is offered.
My feet
will keep dancing, my Lord,
until they fulfill
your sacred command.
Whether people say
you exist,
or say you do not exist,
these feet that danced before the gathering
will never stop.
O Lord Shiva,
O Father of dance,
I bow to you, I bow to you;
greetings to you who made me dance
without moving yourself, I bow,
I bow to you.
Raindrops,
raindrops merge into the soil;
the drop of life,
the drop of life merges into the sky.
Body, wealth,
and soul merge in art,
they merge, they merge.
If a fish in the water
cries, no word of it
ever reaches the shore.
If I weep
within myself, to wipe my tears
there is no one for me.
Every single drop
of my tear turns into a diamond,
a diamond, and becomes a vow;
my ankle bells sing out
this very vow!
Oh...
O heart, my heart,
until the vow is won,
do not waver.
O eyes, my eyes,
even when your eyelids burn,
do not lose heart.
Every single river
merges into
the ocean.
Every single star
merges into
the daylight.
The reward of all art
merges at last
in you, in you.
Raindrops,
raindrops merge into the soil;
the drop of life,
the drop of life merges into the sky.
Body, wealth,
and soul merge in art,
they merge, they merge.
O Lord Shiva,
O Father of dance,
I bow to you;
to you who made me dance without dancing yourself,
I bow to you.
...
Clouds exist only to bring rain,
and you exist only for art!
Let us dance with our very souls
every day—come, my son!
Stand firm
on your own feet, and conquer
this spinning world!
These are the words of your father—
come, my son, come!
An artist who dances
for the world
forgets himself;
he conceals his own tears
and brings joy to everyone.
Do tigers
ever cry?
Even birds
do not know how to weep.
When you enter
the battlefield, your feet
do not feel the piercing thorns.
My son, O my son,
does the wind
ever take rest? Not at all!
There is no defeat for true art,
none at all, never at all!
O Lord Shiva,
O Father of dance,
I bow to you;
greetings to you who made me dance without moving yourself.
To your sacred feet
that tied anklets on my feet,
my first bow is offered.
My feet
will keep dancing, my Lord,
until our mission
is fulfilled and won.
Whether people say
you exist,
or say you do not exist,
these feet that danced before the gathering
will never stop.
Raindrops,
raindrops merge into the soil;
the drop of life,
the drop of life merges into the sky.
Body, wealth,
and soul merge in art,
they merge, they merge.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Sangamam' (1999), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, is an intense, spiritual ode to art, dance, and resilience. The song frames performing art as a complete surrender of body, mind, and soul to the divine—specifically invoking Shiva (Aalaalakanda, the cosmic dancer). The lyrics weave together metaphors of natural harmony (raindrops merging into the earth, rivers joining the ocean) with the devotion and sacrifices of an artist, expressing how an artist hides personal sorrow to deliver joy to the audience. In the latter half, the song takes the form of paternal wisdom and artistic endurance, reminding the dancer that art knows no defeat, rest, or weakness. Just as wind never rests and tigers do not shed visible tears, a true artist pushes past physical pain and life's hardships to fulfill their artistic destiny. Ultimately, the song celebrates 'Sangamam'—the supreme confluence of nature, devotion, human struggle, and transcendent artistic expression.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Epanalepsis)

“Mazhaithuli / Mazhaithuli mannil / Sangamam uyirthuli”

Repetition of key words at the beginning and end of phrases (e.g., 'Mazhaithuli Mazhaithuli', 'Sangamam sangamam', 'Vanakamunga vanakamunga') to create rhythmic emphasis matching the feet movements of a classical dancer.

Metaphor (Uruvagatai)

“En kanneeru / Ovvoru sottum vairam / Vairam aagumae sabadham”

Comparing drops of tears to raw diamonds ('En kanneeru ovvoru sottum vairam aagumae'), emphasizing the strength, value, and transformative power derived from grief.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming in Tamil Prosody)

“Nadhi nadhi / Athanaiyum kadalil ... Natchathiram / Athanaiyum pagalil”

Classical Tamil poetic harmony where the second letter of consecutive lines match ('Nadhi' / 'Natchathiram').

Personification & Nature Analogy

“Nadhi nadhi athanaiyum kadalil sangamam”

Drawing parallels between natural phenomena (rivers merging into the ocean, stars dissolving in daylight) and the artist surrendering completely to the supreme spirit of art.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sangamam' (1999) features an iconic soundtrack composed by A.R. Rahman, centered on the clash and confluence between classical Bharatanatyam and traditional Tamil folk dance (Karakattam). Lyricist Vairamuthu won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for his work in this album, particularly praising the deep philosophical depth and poetic purity evident in songs like 'Mazhaithuli'.

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