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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Oru Ragamaligai

From Pen Ondru Kanden · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Pen Ondru Kanden
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Un maivizhi anantha bairavi paadum
Un thegaththil mohana raagaththin paavam
Un ilanadai malayamaarutham aagum
Un malar mugam saaramathiyena koorum
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Nee uravukku udavidum sarasaangi
Inba kalaigalai vilakkidum saraswathi
Nee uravukku udavidum sarasaangi
Inba kalaigalai vilakkidum saraswathi
Kuralvazhi piranthathu amsathvani
Un kuralvazhi piranthathu amsathvani
Un thaalaattil vilainthathu neelaampari
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Naan vaavena azhaikkaiyil
Virainthodi vanthu thazhuvidum devamanohari
Naan vaavena azhaikkaiyil
Virainthodi vanthu thazhuvidum devamanohari
Aarapimaanamum thevaiyillai
Intha agilaththil unpol paavaiyillai
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Nee enakkae thaaram endrirukka
Unai en vasam thaavena naan kettaen
Nee enakkae thaaram endrirukka
Unai en vasam thaavena naan kettaen
En nenjinil konjidu ranjaniyae
nenjinil konjidu ranjaniyae
Intha naayagan thedidum naayagiyae
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai
Nee oru raagamaaligai
Your kohl-lined eyes sing the raga Ananda Bhairavi
Your body expresses the grace of raga Mohanam
Your youthful walk is like the breeze of Malayamarutham
Your flower-like face speaks of raga Saramathi
You are a garland of ragas
Your heart is the palace of my love
You are a garland of ragas
You are Sarasangi, welcoming our love
You are Saraswathi, revealing the arts of pleasure
You are Sarasangi, welcoming our love
You are Saraswathi, revealing the arts of pleasure
From your voice is born Hamsadhwani
From your voice is born Hamsadhwani
From your lullaby blossoms Neelambari
You are a garland of ragas
Your heart is the palace of my love
You are a garland of ragas
When I call out for you to come,
You rush to embrace me, my captivating Devamanohari
When I call out for you to come,
You rush to embrace me, my captivating Devamanohari
No pride or hesitation is needed,
For there is no woman like you in this world
You are a garland of ragas
Your heart is the palace of my love
You are a garland of ragas
Since you are destined to be my wife,
I asked you to give yourself to me
Since you are destined to be my wife,
I asked you to give yourself to me
Whisper sweet love to my heart, my dear Ranjani,
Whisper sweet love to my heart, my dear Ranjani,
You are the heroine this hero searches for
You are a garland of ragas
Your heart is the palace of my love
You are a garland of ragas
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nee Oru Raagamaaligai' is a classic romantic song from the film Pen Ondru Kanden (1974), composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by lyricist Vaali. Sung delightfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song is a poetic masterclass where the hero praises his lover's charm, grace, voice, and affection by intertwining the names of over ten Carnatic ragas into her romantic attributes. The lyricist seamlessly merges musical concepts with feminine grace, portraying the heroine as a ragamalika (a garland of ragas). Her eyes reflect Anandabhairavi, her posture expresses Mohanam, her walk feels like Malayamarutham, and her embrace embodies Devamanohari, symbolizing the divine harmony between love and music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Double Entendre (Sleshai)

“Un maivizhi anantha bairavi paadum”

Lyricist Vaali ingeniously uses the names of Carnatic ragas (Anandabhairavi, Mohanam, Malayamarutham, Saramathi, Sarasangi, Saraswathi, Hamsadhwani, Neelambari, Devamanohari, Arabhi, Ranjani) dual-functionally as raga names and descriptive epithets for the heroine.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Nee oru raagamaaligai / Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai”

Directly equates the heroine to a garland of musical ragas ('raagamaaligai') and her heart to a palace of love ('kadhal maaligai').

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Nee oru raagamaaligai / Un nenjam en kadhal maaligai”

The identical end sounds in 'raagamaaligai' and 'kadhal maaligai' create a pleasing lyrical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is famous in Tamil cinema history for embedding eleven classical Carnatic ragas into its lyric sheet as wordplay. Despite referencing classical ragas, MSV composed the song in a light, accessible melody, making it a timeless hit among both classical lovers and film music enthusiasts.

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From the same album

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Pen Ondru KandenRomantic

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