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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paattum Naane

From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965

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

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ahaaaan…mmm..nyaaAhaaaan…mmm..nyaa (Vocalizing / Alap)
Ahaaaan…mmm..nyaaAhaaaan…mmm..nyaa (Vocalizing / Alap)
Ahaaaan…mmm..nyaaAhaaaan…mmm..nyaa (Vocalizing / Alap)
Ahaaa…..aaaa….aaaa….aaaa….aaa..Ahaaa…..aaaa….aaaa….aaaa….aaa.. (Vocalizing)
Paattum naanae baavamum naanaeI am the song, and I am the emotion
{Paattum naanae baavamum naanae{I am the song, and I am the emotion
Paadum unai naan paadavaippenae} (2)I shall make you, who sings, sing!} (2)
Paattum naanae baavamum naanae…I am the song, and I am the emotion…
Aee…..ae……ae……Aee…..ae……ae…… (Vocalizing)
Male
Kooththum isaiyumDance, drama, and music
Koothin muraiyumAnd the rules of performative arts
Kaattum ennidamTo me, who demonstrates all of these
Kadhai solla vandhaayoo…ooo..ohhoo…Did you come to recite a story?…ooo..ohhoo…
Kooththum isaiyumDance, drama, and music
Koothin muraiyumAnd the rules of performative arts
Kaattum ennidamTo me, who demonstrates all of these
Kadhai solla vandhaayoo…Did you come to recite a story?…
Male
Paattum naanae baavamum naanaeI am the song, and I am the emotion
Paadum unai naan paadavaippenaeI shall make you, who sings, sing!
Paattum naanae baavamum naanae…I am the song, and I am the emotion…
Aee…..ae……ae……Aee…..ae……ae…… (Vocalizing)
Male
Asaiyum porulilIn every moving object
Isaiyum naanaeI am the inherent rhythm and melody
Asaiyum porulilIn every moving object
Isaiyum naanaeI am the inherent rhythm and melody
Aadum kalaiyin naayagan naanaeI am the master of the art of dance
Asaiyum porulilIn every moving object
Isaiyum naanaeI am the inherent rhythm and melody
Aadum kalaiyin naayagan naanaeI am the master of the art of dance
Edhilum iyangum iyakkamum naanaeI am the prime force behind motion in everything
Edhilum iyangum iyakkamum naanaeI am the prime force behind motion in everything
Ennisai nindraal adangum ulagae…If my music ceases, the entire world comes to a halt…
Ae…..ae….ae…….Ae…..ae….ae……. (Vocalizing)
Male
Naan asaindhaal asaiyumIf I move, everything moves
AgilamellaamaeThe whole cosmic universe
Naan asaindhaal asaiyumIf I move, everything moves
AgilamellaamaeThe whole cosmic universe
Arivaai manidhaaUnderstand this, O mortal man!
Un aanavam peridhaaIs your pride bigger than the cosmic truth?
Naan asaindhaal asaiyumIf I move, everything moves
AgilamellaamaeThe whole cosmic universe
Arivaai manidhaaUnderstand this, O mortal man!
Un aanavam peridhaaIs your pride bigger than the cosmic truth?
Aalavaayanodu aadavandhadhoruHaving come to contest with Lord Shiva of Aalavai (Madurai)
Paadum vaayai ini moodavandhadhoruIt is time to quieten that boastful singing mouth
Male
Paattum naanae baavamum naanaeI am the song, and I am the emotion
Paadum unai naan paadavaippenaeI shall make you, who sings, sing!
Paattum naanae baavamum naanae…I am the song, and I am the emotion…
Aee…..ae……ae……Aee…..ae……ae…… (Vocalizing)
Male
Sari ga ri ga ri ga ri garisanidapa riSari ga ri ga ri ga ri garisanidapa ri (Musical notes / Swara passage)
Sarisari darisanidapamaSarisari darisanidapama (Swara passage)
Garisa magari pamaga dapamaGarisa magari pamaga dapama (Swara passage)
Garimagapamadapa mapadanisaGarimagapamadapa mapadanisa (Swara passage)
Male
Thin dharikida thakaThin dharikida thaka (Sollukattu / Rhythmic syllables)
Thirikita thakadha dhin dhaThirikita thakadha dhin dha (Rhythmic syllables)
Jumaku jumaku jana jumaku jumaku janaJumaku jumaku jana jumaku jumaku jana (Rhythmic syllables)
Jumaku jumakkuJumaku jumakku (Rhythmic syllables)
Dhin dha dhin dha aaaDhin dha dhin dha aaa (Rhythmic syllables)
Jumaku jumakkuJumaku jumakku (Rhythmic syllables)
Dhin dha dhin dha aaaDhin dha dhin dha aaa (Rhythmic syllables)
Male
Sagariga sariniSagariga sarini (Swara passage)
Nisarinisada darisanidapa maNisarinisada darisanidapa ma (Swara passage)
Padanisa riPadanisa ri (Swara passage)
Male
Thakathari thakita junuthari dhimithaThakathari thakita junuthari dhimitha (Rhythmic syllables)
Thangidakidathaka thongidakidathakaThangidakidathaka thongidakidathaka (Rhythmic syllables)
Thongidakidathaka thaaThongidakidathaka thaa (Rhythmic syllables)
Male
Garimagari sarigaGarimagari sariga (Swara passage)
Male
Thajam thajjam thaThajam thajjam tha (Rhythmic syllables)
Thrikitathaka thaaThrikitathaka thaa (Rhythmic syllables)
Male
Ni sa ri ga maNi sa ri ga ma (Swara passage)
Male
Thom thari kitathaka thaaThom thari kitathaka thaa (Rhythmic syllables)
Male :Ga ri saMale: Ga ri sa (Swara line)
Male :TharikitathaMale: Tharikitatha (Rhythmic syllable line)
Male :Pa da niMale: Pa da ni (Swara line)
Male :ThirikitathaiMale: Thirikitathai (Rhythmic syllable line)
Male
Sa ga ri ri ri ma gaSa ga ri ri ri ma ga (Swara passage)
Ga ga pa ma ..ma ma da paGa ga pa ma ..ma ma da pa (Swara passage)
Pa ri ma ga pa ma da pa ni da sa niPa ri ma ga pa ma da pa ni da sa ni (Swara passage)
Ri sa ga ri maRi sa ga ri ma (Swara passage)
Gaa ri ga sa ni sa sa ga ri sa niGaa ri ga sa ni sa sa ga ri sa ni (Swara passage)
Ri sa ri sa ni da ga ri sa ni da ri sa ni paRi sa ri sa ni da ga ri sa ni da ri sa ni pa (Swara passage)
Ma ri gaMa ri ga (Swara passage)
Ma da pa ma ga maMa da pa ma ga ma (Swara passage)
Pa pa sa ni da ma da nisa ga ri sa ni riPa pa sa ni da ma da nisa ga ri sa ni ri (Swara passage)
Sa ri ma ga ri ga sa ri saSa ri ma ga ri ga sa ri sa (Swara passage)
Ni ri ni ri sa ni da sa ni da pa maNi ri ni ri sa ni da sa ni da pa ma (Swara passage)
Paa sa sa ni da pa ma pa ri riPaa sa sa ni da pa ma pa ri ri (Swara passage)
Ri sa ni da pa paa ga gaa ri sa ni daRi sa ni da pa paa ga gaa ri sa ni da (Swara passage)
Ri saa ri ga ri ga ma ga ma ga ri sa gaa ri ga riRi saa ri ga ri ga ma ga ma ga ri sa gaa ri ga ri (Swara passage)
Sa ri da ni sa ri sa ni ri sa ni daSa ri da ni sa ri sa ni ri sa ni da (Swara passage)
Maa gaa ri sa ni da pa saa ni da pa maMaa gaa ri sa ni da pa saa ni da pa ma (Swara passage)
Ga ri sa ri ga ma pa da niGa ri sa ri ga ma pa da ni (Swara passage)
Male
Paattum naanae baavamum naanae…I am the song, and I am the emotion…
Aee…..ae……ae……Aee…..ae……ae…… (Vocalizing)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic classic from the movie 'Thiruvilaiyadal' portrays Lord Shiva asserting His supreme divine status as the origin and embodiment of all arts, music, dance, and creation itself. Sung in the voice of the divine bard (or Lord Shiva himself in disguise), the song directly challenges human ego and arrogance. The lyrics emphasize that human talent is merely a tiny reflection of the ultimate divine cosmic force, asking mortal man whether his pride can ever exceed the power of the Creator who animates every atom of the universe.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Initial Rhyme (Edhugai)

Paattum naanae baavamum naanae / Paadum unai naan paadavaippenae

Repetition of sound patterns in the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'Paattum' and 'Paadum', creating a rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor / Divine Personification

Paattum naanae baavamum naanae

Lord Shiva is metaphorically equated with music ('Paattum naanae'), emotion ('Baavamum naanae'), and motion ('Iyakkamum naanae').

Rhetorical Question

Arivaai manidhaa / Un aanavam peridhaa

The lyricist asks a thought-provoking question to highlight the foolishness of human pride in front of God.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered majestically by T. M. Soundararajan, this song features legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan playing Lord Shiva. Set primarily in Ragam Hamsadhvani and changing into complex rhythmic jathis, it won widespread acclaim for its extraordinary fusion of classical Carnatic music, solkattu, and theatrical grandiosity.

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