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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadha Vinodhangal

From Salangai Oli · 1983

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Salangai Oli1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaag arthauv iva samprik thauJust as word and meaning are eternally united
Vaag arthaa prathi pathayae..ey eyTo attain true understanding of words and their meanings
Jagathah pith rau vandhaeeI bow down to the divine parents of the universe
Paarvathi parameshwaruGoddess Parvati and Lord Parameshvara
Vandhaee paarva-thi-pa-rameshwaruI bow to Goddess Parvati and Lord Parameshvara
Chorus : Aaaa…..aaaa….aaaa…..Vocalizations (Aaaa...)
Male
Naadha vinodhangalThe pleasures born of musical notes
Nadana sandhoshangalThe joys derived from classical dance
Parama sugangal tharumaeWill bestow supreme heavenly bliss
Abhinayam kaanbadhumBeholding expressive abhinaya gestures
Adhil manam thoivadhumAnd immersing one's mind deeply into them
Veedu peru tharumaeWill grant spiritual liberation (Moksha)
Male
Bhavangalae..Female :Aaaa..Expressions... Vocalization
Male :Pazhaguvadhe..Female :Aaaa..Practicing them... Vocalization
Male :Gaanangale..Female :Aaaa..Melodious songs... Vocalization
Male :Kalaiyasaivae..Female :Aaaa..Artistic movements... Vocalization
Male
Bhavangalae pazhaguvadhaePracticing deep emotional expressions
Gaanangalae kalaiyasaivaeMelodious songs and graceful artistic movements
Udalodu uyirvanthuLike life returning into a physical body
Inaigindra thavamidhuThis is a penance of divine unification
Male
Naadha vinodhangalThe pleasures born of musical notes
Nadana sandhoshangalThe joys derived from classical dance
Parama sugangal tharumaeWill bestow supreme heavenly bliss
Female :Abhinayam kaanbadhumBeholding expressive abhinaya gestures
Adhil manam thoivadhumAnd immersing one's mind deeply into them
Veedu peru tharumaeWill grant spiritual liberation
Female
Kailai naadhar nadanam aadumThe divine form of Shiva
Siva roobhamDancing as the Lord of Kailash
Pournami neram nilavil aadumShining like a lamp of light
Oli dheepamDancing under full moon night moonlight
Male
Kailai naadhar nadanam aadumThe divine form of Shiva
Siva roobhamDancing as the Lord of Kailash
Pournami neram nilavil aadumShining like a lamp of light
Oli dheepamDancing under full moon night moonlight
Male
navarasa nadanamThe dance displaying nine divine emotions (Navarasa)
Female :Dhani sari sani saMusical swaras: Dha Ni Sa Ri Sa Ni Sa
Male :Jadhi tharum amudhamThe nectar provided by rhythmic syllables (Jathi)
Female :Dhani pani pani paMusical swaras: Dha Ni Pa Ni Pa Ni Pa
Male
Navarasa nadanamThe dance displaying nine divine emotions
Jadhi tharum amudhamThe nectar provided by rhythmic syllables
Avan vizhi asaivilWith a mere twitch of His eyes
Ezhu puvi asaiyumAll seven realms move and sway
Male
Bharadhamennum nadanam..This dance known as Bharatanatyam...
Female :Aaaa..Vocalizing (Aaaa...)
Male :Piravi muzhudhum thodarum..Will endure through all births...
Female :Aaaa..Vocalizing (Aaaa...)
Male :Bharadhamennum nadanam..This dance known as Bharatanatyam...
Female :Aaaa..Vocalizing (Aaaa...)
Male :Piravi muzhudhum thodarum..Will endure through all births...
Female :Aaaa..Vocalizing (Aaaa...)
Male
Vizhiyoli pozhiyumThe light radiating from His eyes
Adhil paghai azhiyumDestroys animosity and evil
Female :Mmm mmm mmm mmmHumming vocalizations
Male
Vizhiyoli pozhiyumThe light radiating from His eyes
Adhil paghai azhiyumDestroys animosity and evil
Sivanin nayanam ulagaalumLord Shiva's third eye rules the entire world
Female
Dhirana dhirana nanaRhythmic vocal syllables (Dhirana dhirana nana)
Male :Thakita thakita dhimiRhythmic beat count (Thakita thakita dhimi)
Female :Dhirana dhirana nanaRhythmic vocal syllables (Dhirana dhirana nana)
Male :NadanamDance
Female
Dhirana dhirana nanaRhythmic vocal syllables (Dhirana dhirana nana)
Male :Thakita thakita dhimiRhythmic beat count (Thakita thakita dhimi)
Female :Dhirana dhirana nanaRhythmic vocal syllables (Dhirana dhirana nana)
Male :NaattiyamThe art of Natya
Male
Ulagam sivanin thanjamThe entire universe finds sanctuary in Shiva
Avan paadhamae pankajamHis divine feet are lotus flowers
Narthanamae siva kavasamDancing itself is Shiva's protective armor
Nataraaja paadham navarasamNataraja's holy feet embody all nine rasas
Female
DhirananaRhythmic syllable
Male :DhirananaRhythmic syllable
Female :DhirananaRhythmic syllable
Male :DhirananaRhythmic syllable
Dhira dhira dhira dhiraFast rhythmic syllables
Dhira dhira dhira dhiraFast rhythmic syllables
Male
Naadha vinodhangalThe pleasures born of musical notes
Nadana sandhoshangalThe joys derived from classical dance
Parama sugangal tharumaeWill bestow supreme heavenly bliss
Female :Abhinayam kaanbadhumBeholding expressive abhinaya gestures
Adhil manam thoivadhumAnd immersing one's mind deeply into them
Veedu peru tharumaeWill grant spiritual liberation

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Salangai Oli (Sagara Sangamam in Telugu) serves as a majestic devotion to classical dance (Bharatanatyam) and its divine origin in Lord Shiva (Nataraja). It begins with Kalidasa's famous invocation verse from Raghuvamsham ('Vaagarthaviva sampriktau') praising Parvati and Parameshvara. The song expounds on how music (Naadha) and dance (Nadana) bring ultimate joy and lead to spiritual liberation (Veedu peru / Moksha), elevating the art form from mere entertainment to a sacred penance (Thavam). The lyrics vividly depict Shiva's cosmic dance, where His subtle eye movements direct the seven worlds and His grace dispels all hostility.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Invocation (Mangala Sloka)

Vaag arthauv iva samprik thau

Opening the track with classical Sanskrit sloka from Kalidasa's Raghuvamsham to sanctify the art and invoke divine blessing.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Roopakam)

Udalodu uyirvanthu Inaigindra thavamidhu

Comparing dance and music coming together in the body to a soul reuniting with a physical body as a penance ('Udalodu uyirvanthu inaigindra thavamidhu').

Aetukai (Second letter rhyme)

Naadha vinodhangal / Nadana sandhoshangal

Rhyming second consonants across adjacent lines: 'Naadha' and 'Nadana', 'Abhinayam' and 'Adhil'.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Avan vizhi asaivil Ezhu puvi asaiyum

Exaggerating the power of Lord Shiva's glance, stating that a mere glance moves all seven worlds.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the legendary dance-drama film 'Salangai Oli' (1983) directed by K. Viswanath, the song features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The opening Sanskrit lines are taken directly from the invocation of Mahakavi Kalidasa's classic epic Raghuvamsham. The movie won multiple National Film Awards, including Best Music Direction for Ilaiyaraaja and Best Male Playback Singer for SPB.

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