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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raagangal Pathinaaru

From Thillu Mullu · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thillu Mullu1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haaa….aaa…hahahhaaaaaaaaaHaaa....aaa...hahahhaaaaaaaaa
Oh hoo hohohohohohooooOh hoo hohohohohohoooo
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal ennaSo what if there are many hundreds of ragas?
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhuSinging sixteen of them is pleasant.
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal ennaSo what if there are many hundreds of ragas?
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhuSinging sixteen of them is pleasant.
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.
Male
Kalaimaadhu thaan meetum ithamaan veenaiThe soothing veena plucked by Goddess Saraswati,
Kanivaana swaram paada pathamaanadhuIs perfected to sing sweet musical notes.
Kalaimaadhu thaan meetum ithamaan veenaiThe soothing veena plucked by Goddess Saraswati,
Kanivaana swaram paada pathamaanadhuIs perfected to sing sweet musical notes.
Azhagana ilam pennin maeni thaan koodaEven the body of a beautiful young woman,
Aadhaara sruthikonda veenai ammaIs like a veena tuned to the fundamental pitch, my dear.
Azhagana ilam pennin maeni thaan koodaEven the body of a beautiful young woman,
Aadhaara sruthikonda veenai ammaIs like a veena tuned to the fundamental pitch, my dear.
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.
Male
Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aadaAs the waist sways, bangles sway, and anklets sway,
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadamaadinaalShe dances like a slender creeper along with her waist.
Idai aada valai aada salangaigal aadaAs the waist sways, bangles sway, and anklets sway,
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadamaadinaalShe dances like a slender creeper along with her waist.
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga baavangalThe musical expressions of Goddess Uma who rules the world,
Aanandham kudikonda kolam ammaAre an embodiment of joy residing within, my dear.
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga baavangalThe musical expressions of Goddess Uma who rules the world,
Aanandham kudikonda kolam ammaAre an embodiment of joy residing within, my dear.
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.
Palanooru raagangal irundhaal ennaSo what if there are many hundreds of ragas?
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhuSinging sixteen of them is pleasant.
Aaa…aaa….palanooru raagangal irundhaal ennaAaa...aaa... So what if there are many hundreds of ragas?
Pathinaaru paada sugamaanadhuSinging sixteen of them is pleasant.
Male
Raagangal pathinaaru uruvaana varalaruThe history of how sixteen ragas originated,
Naan paadumpodhu arivaai ammaYou will learn my dear lady, when I sing.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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