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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadaga Sangeetha Nadamadadi

From Yamanukku Yaman · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Chakravarthy
Details
Yamanukku Yaman1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaa….aaa….aaa….aa….Ah... (vocalizing)
Haa….aaa….aaa…aaa….aa…haaa…aa…aaa..aa.a…Ha... (vocalizing)
Male
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Aadidum kalaikkingu mozhi yedhadiWhat language does dance art need here?
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Kangal solgindra gaanam aayiramThe eyes express a thousand songs,
Female :………………….Female: ...
Male :Kaalgal seigindra thaalam aayiramMale: The feet produce a thousand rhythms,
Male
Angam enganam paavam aayiramEvery part of the body expresses a thousand emotions,
Azhagu pongidum lalitha kaaviyamA delicate epic overflowing with beauty,
Mangaiyar maeniyil thaangum ooviyamA living painting borne upon a woman's body.
Aaa….aaa…aa…aa…Ah... (vocalizing)
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Male
Oho ramba sagala kalanidhi rambaaOh Rambha, master of all sixty-four arts, Rambha!
Vaanam boomiyilum neeyae raaniyadiYou are the queen of both heaven and earth,
Sangeethathil gnyaaniyadiA true scholar in the science of music!
Yedi un aadal paadal ullasamHey girl, your dance and song bring pure delight,
Yedi un aanandha baavanai vegamHey girl, your joyful expressions move with speed!
Female
……………………...
Female
Arupaththu naankennum kalai kanda moginiThe enchantress who mastered sixty-four arts,
Mega naadhanathu piriya raaginiThe beloved melody of the cloud-toned lord,
Female
Arupaththu naankennum kalai kanda moginiThe enchantress who mastered sixty-four arts,
Mega naadhanathu piriya raaginiThe beloved melody of the cloud-toned lord,
Female
Kalaivaani polae isai paaduvenI will sing music like Goddess Saraswati herself,
Female
Kalaivaani polae isai paaduvenI will sing music like Goddess Saraswati herself,
Kaaviya naayagi deva devadhaiHeroine of epics, divine goddess,
Karpanai arpudham kaattum eeswariThe goddess showcasing wonderful imagination,
Rasa vandhini jeya jeya vandhiniSalutations to the queen of emotions, victory to you,
Rasa vandhini jeya jeya vandhiniSalutations to the queen of emotions, victory to you,
Male
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Aadidum kalaikkingu mozhi yedhadiWhat language does dance art need here?
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Male
Oho oorvasi adhiroopa soundharya raasiOh Urvashi, embodiment of supreme beauty!
Yedi un mogana kangalil sagasa mogamHey girl, effortless charm resides in your alluring eyes,
Yedi un nalina manogara navarasa baavamHey girl, your subtle captivating expressions encompass the nine emotions!
Female
Manmadhan isaikkum sangeethamaeThe music played by the God of Love, Manmatha,
Radhidevi saasthiramae en vedhamaeThe scripture of Goddess Rathi is my Veda,
Manmadhan isaikkum sangeethamaeThe music played by the God of Love, Manmatha,
Radhidevi saasthiramae en vedhamaeThe scripture of Goddess Rathi is my Veda,
Female
Thirumandhira pudhu manamangalamA sacred and fresh wedding auspiciousness,
Kodi sorgangal uruvakkum magaraaniyaeThe queen who creates a crore of heavens,
Female
Mudivilaldhor aanandha naayagiThe goddess of endless bliss,
Female
En peyar enna oorvasiya naan chaarukaesiWhat is my name? Am I Urvashi? No, I am Charukesi,
Male
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Aadidum kalaikkingu mozhi yedhadiWhat language does dance art need here?
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Male
Ohoo mohana azhagu thogaiyaeOh beautiful peacock-like maiden of charm!
Aanandham un raasaleelaiBliss is your divine dance of love,
Aarambha srungaara solaiThe garden of blossoming romance,
Aanandham un raasaleelaiBliss is your divine dance of love,
Female
Oliyazhagae endhan vizhiyazhaguBeauty of light is the beauty of my eyes,
Oliyazhagae endhan vizhiyazhaguBeauty of light is the beauty of my eyes,
Ulavidum megam ullaasa ponnodamaeA wandering cloud, a golden boat of joy,
Female
En kaigal theendinaalIf my hands touch,
En kaalgal aadinaalIf my feet dance,
Madhuvil illadha mayakkam undaagumAn intoxication beyond wine is born,
Manadhil inba nilai odumA state of bliss surges in the heart,
Adhil vaanulagam asaindhaadumAnd in it, the heavenly world sways!
Saaranga kanmani naanI am the precious jewel of the Saranga ragam,
Male
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadiOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!
Aadidum kalaikkingu mozhi yedhadiWhat language does dance art need here?
Nadaga sangeetha nadamaadadinumOh dance to the drama and music, dance away!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand celebration of classical performing arts—combining dance (Nataka), song (Sangeetha), and emotive expression (Bhava). The lyrics compare the dancer to celestial maidens like Rambha and Urvashi, praising her supreme mastery over the 64 classical arts (Arupaththu Naangu Kalai) and the nine emotional rasas (Navarasa). The dance is described as a living painting and a delicate epic that transcends the boundaries of spoken language, bringing divine bliss to anyone who beholds it.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Mangaiyar maeniyil thaangum ooviyam

Compares the woman's physically expressive body to a living painting ('thaangum ooviyam') and a delicate epic ('lalitha kaaviyam').

Rhetorical Question

Aadidum kalaikkingu mozhi yedhadi

Asks what language an expressive art form like dance requires, highlighting art as a universal language.

Monorime / Second-letter Rhyming (Edukku)

Kangal solgindra gaanam aayiram / Kaalgal seigindra thaalam aayiram

Use of internal rhyming pattern with 'Gaanam', 'Thaalam', and 'Paavam' to give rhythm to the verse.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Rasa vandhini jeya jeya vandhini

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Sa' and 'Ra' across adjacent lines for melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics explicitly weave names of classical Carnatic ragas (such as Charukesi and Saranga) directly into the verse narrative, blending musical musicology with mythology and dance tradition in typical Kannadasan style.

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