Panja Surangale Hindholam
From Pudhiya Sangamam · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ramakrishna Raja
- Details
- Pudhiya Sangamam1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Saa….ga….ma….tha…ni…. | Saa... ga... ma... dha... ni... |
| Panja surangalae hindholam | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes |
| Panja surangalae hindholam | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes |
| Adhil panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham | If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity |
| Panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham | If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity |
| Female | |
| Panja surangalae hindholam | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes |
| Female | |
| Edhir edhir dhuruvam inaigindra pothum | When opposite poles come together |
| Pudhu minsaaram uruvaagum | A new spark of electricity is born |
| Aa……aa…aa…aa…aa…aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Edhir edhir dhuruvam inaigindra pothum | When opposite poles come together |
| Pudhu minsaaram uruvaagum | A new spark of electricity is born |
| Paniththulikkullae kadalinai thedi | Searching for an entire ocean inside a single dewdrop |
| Alaivathuthaanae manamaagum | That is how the wandering human mind behaves |
| Ilaiyuthir kaalam kilaigalil vaazhum | Autumn season lives temporarily on the branches |
| Vasantham maraththin poi vesham | Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask |
| Vasantham maraththin poi vesham | Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask |
| Female | |
| Panja surangalae hindholam | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes |
| Female | |
| Surangalail pedham varugindra pothum | Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes |
| Adhuvumthanae sangeetham | Even that is music in its own right |
| Surangalail pedham varugindra pothum | Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes |
| Adhuvumthanae sangeetham | Even that is music in its own right |
| Female | |
| Erigindra dheepam karaigindra pothum | Even as a burning lamp slowly melts away |
| Olirvathuthaanae azhagaagum | Its radiant glowing light is true beauty |
| Pudhuvaagai raagam surangalai meerum | A novel raga transcends standard musical notes |
| Isaiyil adhuvum suga naadham | In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody |
| Isaiyil adhuvum suga naadham | In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody |
| Female | |
| Panja surangalae hindholam | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes |
| Adhil panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham | If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity |
| Panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham | If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity |
| Female | |
| Panja surangalae hindholam…. | Hindolam is formed by five musical notes... |
ஸா....க....ம....த....நி.....
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்
அதில் பஞ்சமம் கலந்தால் ஸ்வர பேதம்
பஞ்சமம் கலந்தால் ஸ்வர பேதம்
Saa... ga... ma... dha... ni...
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்.....
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
எதிர் எதிர் துருவம் இணைகின்றபோது
புது மின்சாரம் உருவாகும்
ஆ......ஆ......ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.......
When opposite poles come together
A new spark of electricity is born
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
எதிர் எதிர் துருவம் இணைகின்றபோது
புது மின்சாரம் உருவாகும்
பனித்துளிக்குள்ளே கடலினை தேடி
அலைவதுதானே மனமாகும்
இலையுதிர் காலம் கிளைகளில் வாழும்
வசந்தம் மரத்தின் பொய் வேஷம்.....
வசந்தம் மரத்தின் பொய் வேஷம்.....
When opposite poles come together
A new spark of electricity is born
Searching for an entire ocean inside a single dewdrop
That is how the wandering human mind behaves
Autumn season lives temporarily on the branches
Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask
Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்.....
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
சுரங்களில் பேதம் வருகின்ற போதும்
அதுவும்தானே சங்கீதம்
சுரங்களில் பேதம் வருகின்ற போதும்
அதுவும்தானே சங்கீதம்
Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes
Even that is music in its own right
Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes
Even that is music in its own right
எரிகின்ற தீபம் கரைகின்ற போதும்
ஒளிர்வதுதானே அழகாகும்
புதுவகை ராகம் சுரங்களை மீறும்
இசையில் அதுவும் சுக நாதம்.....
இசையில் அதுவும் சுக நாதம்.....
Even as a burning lamp slowly melts away
Its radiant glowing light is true beauty
A novel raga transcends standard musical notes
In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody
In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்
அதில் பஞ்சமம் கலந்தால் ஸ்வர பேதம்
பஞ்சமம் கலந்தால் ஸ்வர பேதம்
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
பஞ்ச சுரங்களே ஹிந்தோளம்.....
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes...
Saa….ga….ma….tha…ni….
Saa... ga... ma... dha... ni...
Panja surangalae hindholam
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Panja surangalae hindholam
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Adhil panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
Panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
Panja surangalae hindholam
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Edhir edhir dhuruvam inaigindra pothum
When opposite poles come together
Pudhu minsaaram uruvaagum
A new spark of electricity is born
Aa……aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Edhir edhir dhuruvam inaigindra pothum
When opposite poles come together
Pudhu minsaaram uruvaagum
A new spark of electricity is born
Paniththulikkullae kadalinai thedi
Searching for an entire ocean inside a single dewdrop
Alaivathuthaanae manamaagum
That is how the wandering human mind behaves
Ilaiyuthir kaalam kilaigalil vaazhum
Autumn season lives temporarily on the branches
Vasantham maraththin poi vesham
Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask
Vasantham maraththin poi vesham
Springtime is merely a tree's deceptive mask
Panja surangalae hindholam
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Surangalail pedham varugindra pothum
Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes
Adhuvumthanae sangeetham
Even that is music in its own right
Surangalail pedham varugindra pothum
Even when variations or deviations occur in the notes
Adhuvumthanae sangeetham
Even that is music in its own right
Erigindra dheepam karaigindra pothum
Even as a burning lamp slowly melts away
Olirvathuthaanae azhagaagum
Its radiant glowing light is true beauty
Pudhuvaagai raagam surangalai meerum
A novel raga transcends standard musical notes
Isaiyil adhuvum suga naadham
In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody
Isaiyil adhuvum suga naadham
In the realm of music, even that is a sweet melody
Panja surangalae hindholam
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes
Adhil panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
Panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham
If the fifth note is blended in, it alters the note's identity
Panja surangalae hindholam….
Hindolam is formed by five musical notes...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poetic composition uses Carnatic musical concepts as an extended metaphor for life, human emotions, and relationships. Raga Hindolam is classically a pentatonic (5-note) raga that strictly omits the note Panchamam. Lyricist Vairamuthu cleverly highlights that introducing Panchamam alters the raga's fundamental character (swara pedham), reflecting how unexpected entries or twists in life alter human destinies. The lyrics contrast life's illusions and paradoxes—such as searching for an ocean in a tiny dewdrop or viewing springtime as a tree's temporary disguise—with the inherent beauty found in life's imperfections. Just as a burning lamp remains beautiful even as it melts down, and just as tonal variations still produce sweet music, life finds its ultimate harmony through change, passion, and unexpected transitions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Carnatic Musical Metaphor (Isai Uvamai)
“Panja surangalae hindholam / Adhil panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham”
Uses the musical rule of Raga Hindolam (which drops Panchamam) to symbolize balance and how adding an unexpected element creates a transformation (Swara Bhedam).
Scientific Metaphor (Minsara Uvamai)
“Edhir edhir dhuruvam inaigindra pothum / Pudhu minsaaram uruvaagum”
Compares the union of contrasting human personalities to opposite magnetic/electrical poles attracting and generating power.
Paradox / Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)
“Paniththulikkullae kadalinai thedi / Alaivathuthaanae manamaagum”
Illustrates the restless and infinite nature of the human mind by imagining an entire ocean contained inside a microscopic dewdrop.
Personification (Uruvagashithal)
“Vasantham maraththin poi vesham”
Personifies nature by depicting spring as a temporary mask worn by trees after autumn.
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Panja surangalae hindholam / Panjamum kalanthaal swara pedham”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' across words in the line for rhythmic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
In Carnatic classical music, Raga Hindolam is an Audava raga (5 notes: Sa, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni). The note 'Pa' (Panchamam) is omitted entirely. If Panchamam is accidentally added or emphasized, it fundamentally shifts the scale or causes 'Swara Bhedam' (modal shift). Lyricist Vairamuthu used this precise musicological fact as a thematic metaphor for the movie Pudhiya Sangamam (1984).
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