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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naal Podhuma

From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. Balamuralikrishna
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thiruvilaiyadal1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaahaa…..aaahaa…aaa….aaaa….Aaahaa…..aaahaa…aaa….aaaa….
Ahaaa…haaa..aaaa…aaa..haahaaahhaaa….Ahaaa…haaa..aaaa…aaa..haahaaahhaaa….
Aaaa..haaa…aaaa…Aaaa..haaa…aaaa…
Male
Oru naal podhumaaIs one day enough?
Indroru naal podhumaIs just this one day enough?
Naan paada indroru naal podhumaIs just this one day enough for me to sing?
Naadhamaa geethamaaIs it sound or is it a song?
Adhai naan paadaFor me to sing that,
Indroru naal podhumaaIs this one day enough?
Pudhu raagamaa sangeethamaIs it a new raga or divine music?
Adhai naan paadaFor me to sing that,
Indroru naal podhumaaIs this one day enough?
Male
Raagama suga raagaamaIs it a raga, a blissful raga?
Gaanamaa deva gaanamaIs it music, or divine music?
Raagama suga raagaamaIs it a raga, a blissful raga?
Gaanamaa deva gaanamaIs it music, or divine music?
Male
En kalaikindha thiru naaduTo this sacred land of my art,
SamamaagamaaCan anything ever be equal?
En kalaikindha siru naaduTo my realm of fine arts,
SamamaagamaaCan anything ever compare?
Naadhamaa geethamaaIs it sound or is it a song?
Adhai naan paadaFor me to sing that,
Indroru naal podhumaaIs this one day enough?
Male
Kuzhal endrum…mm.."The flute," they say...
Pa da da pa maPa da da pa ma
Ma pa pa ma gaMa pa pa ma ga
Ga ma ma ga riGa ma ma ga ri
Ri ga ga ri saRi ga ga ri sa
Sa ga ri sa ni da pa ma gaSa ga ri sa ni da pa ma ga
Male
Yaazh endrum"The harp," they say...
Pa …pa ma paPa …pa ma pa
Da da paDa da pa
Pa ma pa ..da da paPa ma pa ..da da pa
Pa ma pa da da paPa ma pa da da pa
Pa ma pa da da paPa ma pa da da pa
Ga ma ri ma ga riGa ma ri ma ga ri
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
Male
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
Sa ri ni ga daSa ri ni ga da
{Kuzhal endrum yaazh endrum"The flute and the harp," some people say...
Silar kooruvaarSome people claim as the sweetest,
En kural ketta pinnaalaeOnce they hear my voice,
Avar maaruvaaar} (2)They will surely change their minds!
Male
Azhiyaadha kalai endruAs an undying art form,
Ennai paaduvaarThey will sing my praises!
Aaa..aaaaa….aaa…Aaa..aaaaa….aaa…
Azhiyaadha kalai endruAs an undying art form,
Ennai paaduvaarThey will sing my praises!
Ennai ariyaamal ethirporgalWithout realizing my greatness, my opponents
EzhunthoduvaarWill rise and run away in defeat!
Ennai ariyaamal ethirporgalWithout realizing my greatness, my opponents
EzhunthoduvaarWill rise and run away in defeat!
Male
Isai ketka ezhunthodiOr to hear my music, rising up,
Varuvaar androWon't they come running?
Ezhunthodi varuvaar androWon't they come running eagerly?
Ezhunthodi…thodi…aaah…aaaa…aa….Running eagerly... (woven with Todi raga variations)
Isai ketka ezhunthodiTo hear my music, rising up,
Varuvaar androWon't they come running?
Male
Ennakku inaiyaaga dharbaarilEqual to me in this royal court,
Evarum undoIs there anyone at all?
Dharbaaril evarum undoIs there anyone in this royal court?
Dharbaaril….aaaa….hh…In the royal court... (woven with Darbari raga variations)
Ennakku inaiyaaga dharbaarilEqual to me in this royal court,
Evarum undoIs there anyone at all?
Male
Kalaiyaadha mohana suvaiAn unfading, charming essence,
Naan androAm I not?
Mohana suvai naan androAm I not that sweet charming essence?
Mohanam….aa….aaa….Mohanam... (woven with Mohanam raga variations)
Kalaiyaadha mohana suvaiAn unfading, charming essence,
Naan androAm I not?
Male
Kaanada…aaaah…aaa…aaa…Kaanada... (woven with Kanada raga variations)
Yen paatu thaen adaMy song is pure honey, listen!
Isai dheivam naan ada…I am the God of Music, listen!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic song from 'Thiruvilaiyadal' (1965) is sung by the prideful musician Hemanatha Bhagavatar (played by T. S. Balaiah), who enters the court of King Shenbaga Pandiyan in Madurai to challenge all local musicians. Expressing intense arrogance, Hemanatha Bhagavatar boasts that a single day is far too short to demonstrate the vastness of his musical mastery. He boasts that his voice easily surpasses classical instruments like the flute (Kuzhal) and lute (Yaazh), and that any opponent who hears him will flee in awe.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sledai / Pun (Raga-mudra)

Ezhunthodi... thodi... / Dharbaaril evarum undo / Mohana suvai... / Kaanada...

The lyrist Kannadasan brilliantly weaves names of Carnatic ragas (Todi, Darbari Kanada, Mohanam, Kanada) as puns directly into the lyrical sentences expressing grandiosity.

Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ennakku inaiyaaga dharbaaril / Kalaiyaadha mohana suvai

The second consonant sound 'n/l' pairs harmoniously across lines, enhancing rhythmic flow.

Metaphor

Yen paatu thaen ada / Isai dheivam naan ada

The singer compares his song directly to honey ('thaen') and proclaims himself to be the embodiment of music ('isai dheivam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music for 'Thiruvilaiyadal' was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, this legendary song was sung by Carnatic maestro Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. It is famous for its clever inclusion of raga names (Raga Mudra) embedded in the lyrics by Kannadasan—specifically Todi, Darbari Kanada, Mohanam, and Kanada—while portraying Hemanatha Bhagavatar's towering pride.

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