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Thillu Mullu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raagangal Pathinaaru

From Thillu Mullu · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thillu Mullu
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
4 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaa….aaa…hahahhaaaaaaaaa
Oh hoo hohohohohohoooo
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal enna
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhu
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal enna
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhu
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Kalaimaadhu thaan meetum ithamaan veenai
Kanivaana swaram paada pathamaanadhu
Kalaimaadhu thaan meetum ithamaan veenai
Kanivaana swaram paada pathamaanadhu
Azhagana ilam pennin maeni thaan kooda
Aadhaara sruthikonda veenai amma
Azhagana ilam pennin maeni thaan kooda
Aadhaara sruthikonda veenai amma
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aada
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadamaadinaal
Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aada
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadamaadinaal
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga baavangal
Aanandham kudikonda kolam amma
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga baavangal
Aanandham kudikonda kolam amma
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal enna
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhu
Aaa…aaa….palanooru raagangal irundhaal enna
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhu
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Ho... ho... oh... oh... oh...
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
So what if there are hundreds of ragas?
Singing of sixteen brings such sweet joy.
So what if there are hundreds of ragas?
Singing of sixteen brings such sweet joy.
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
The gentle veena plucked by the goddess of arts
Is perfectly tuned to sing tender notes.
The gentle veena plucked by the goddess of arts
Is perfectly tuned to sing tender notes.
Even the body of a beautiful young woman
Is a veena tuned to the base pitch, my dear.
Even the body of a beautiful young woman
Is a veena tuned to the base pitch, my dear.
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
As her waist sways, bangles jingle, and ankle bells dance,
She danced like a vine swaying with its leaves.
As her waist sways, bangles jingle, and ankle bells dance,
She danced like a vine swaying with its leaves.
The musical expressions of Goddess Uma who rules the world
Are a vision where pure joy resides, my dear.
The musical expressions of Goddess Uma who rules the world
Are a vision where pure joy resides, my dear.
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
So what if there are hundreds of ragas?
Singing of sixteen brings such sweet joy.
Ah... so what if there are hundreds of ragas?
Singing of sixteen brings such sweet joy.
The story of how the sixteen ragas were born,
You will understand when I sing, my dear.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Raagangal Pathinaaru is a classic classical-fusion song from the 1981 Rajinikanth starrer Thillu Mullu. The song uses musical metaphors, particularly referencing Carnatic classical music, to praise feminine beauty and grace. The protagonist sings about the origins of sixteen core ragas, comparing the grace and form of a woman to a fine-tuned veena playing divine melodies. He poetically associates her movements and expressions with classical arts, Goddess Saraswati's veena, and Goddess Uma's joyful dance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaru / Naan paadumpodhu arivaai amma”

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Raagangal' and 'Naan' in rhythm, or 'Palanooru' / 'Pathinaaru'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvhagam)

“Azhagana ilam pennin maeni thaan kooda / Aadhaara sruthikonda veenai amma”

Comparing the body of a young woman directly to a veena set to fundamental pitch (Aadhaara Sruthi).

Simile (Uvamai)

“Idaiyodu kodi pola nadamaadinaal”

Using 'pola' (like) to compare the dancing woman to a swaying creeper.

Anaphora / Internal Rhyme (Iyaibu & Modhai)

“Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aada”

Repetition of the rhythmic suffix 'aada' across multiple words in a single line ('Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aada').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this iconic track was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. It features Rajinikanth performing in a classical singer avatar in K. Balachander's celebrated comedy film 'Thillu Mullu' (a remake of the Hindi film 'Gol Maal'). The song playfully integrates classical Carnatic elements into a modern light-music structure.

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