Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ragangal Padhinaru

From Thillu Mullu (2013) · 2013

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Karthick
Music directors
M. S. Vishwanathan, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Thillu Mullu (2013)2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aahhaah aa…..aa….aa….aah…..Vocalizing melody
Ooo ho oo….ooo…..oo…Vocalizing melody
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaaYou will understand when I sing it, my lady
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaaYou will understand when I sing it, my lady
Pala nooru raagangal irunthaalaennaEven if hundreds of ragas exist
Padhinaaru paada sugamaanathuSinging these sixteen brings pure delight
Pala nooru raagangal irunthaalaennaEven if hundreds of ragas exist
Padhinaaru paada sugamaanathuSinging these sixteen brings pure delight
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaaYou will understand when I sing it, my lady
Male
Kalai maadhu thaan meettum idhamaana veenaiThe soothing veena plucked by Goddess Saraswati herself
Kanivaana swaram paada padhamaanathuIs finely attuned to produce sweet musical notes
Kalai maadhu thaan meettum idhamaana veenaiThe soothing veena plucked by Goddess Saraswati herself
Kanivaana swaram paada padhamaanathuIs finely attuned to produce sweet musical notes
Male
Azhagaana ilam pennin meni thaan koodaEven the delicate body of a beautiful young woman
Aadhaara shruthi konda veenaiyammaaIs like a veena tuned to the fundamental pitch, my lady
Azhagaana ilam pennin meni thaan koodaEven the delicate body of a beautiful young woman
Aadhaara shruthi konda veenaiyammaaIs like a veena tuned to the fundamental pitch, my lady
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaaYou will understand when I sing it, my lady
Male
Idaiyaada valaiyaada sangaigal aadaAs her waist sways, bangles jingle, and anklets chime
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadanamaadinaalShe dances flexibly like a creeping vine along with her waist
Idaiyaada valaiyaada sangaigal aadaAs her waist sways, bangles jingle, and anklets chime
Idaiyodu kodi pola nadanamaadinaalShe dances flexibly like a creeping vine along with her waist
Male
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga paavangalThe musical expressions of Goddess Parvati who rules the world
Aanantham kudi konda kolammaaForm a divine visual where joy itself resides
Ulagaalum umaiyaalin raaga paavangalThe musical expressions of Goddess Parvati who rules the world
Aanantham kudi konda kolammaaForm a divine visual where joy itself resides
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaaYou will understand when I sing it, my lady
Pala nooru raagangal irunthaalaennaEven if hundreds of ragas exist
Padhinaaru paada sugamaanathu….aa….aa…Singing these sixteen brings pure delight...
Pala nooru raagangal irunthaalaennaEven if hundreds of ragas exist
Padhinaaru paada sugamaanathuSinging these sixteen brings pure delight
Male
Raagangal padhinaaru uruvaana varalaaruThe history of how the sixteen ragas originated
Naan paadum podhu arivaayammaa…..You will understand when I sing it, my lady

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Raagangal Padhinaaru is a celebrated classical romantic song that intricately weaves together Carnatic music traditions, feminine allure, and divine imagery. The song poetically explains how the sixteen foundational musical ragas correspond to the sixteen shades of romantic emotions and aesthetic beauty of a young woman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Azhagaana ilam pennin meni thaan kooda Aadhaara shruthi konda veenaiyammaa

Compares a young woman's graceful form directly to a veena instrument set to the fundamental pitch (Aadhaara Shruthi).

Simile (Uvamaani)

Idaiyodu kodi pola nadanamaadinaal

Uses 'pola' (like) to liken the swaying dance of the woman's waist to a flexible creeping vine.

Internal Rhyme / Assonance (Iyaibu / Monai)

Idaiyaada valaiyaada sangaigal aada

Repeated end-rhyming verbal participles ('Idaiyaada', 'valaiyaada', 'aada') create a rhythmic sway mimicking the dance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Originally composed by M.S. Viswanathan for the iconic 1981 Rajinikanth starrer 'Thillu Mullu' and sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track was repurposed in the 2013 remake starring Shiva. SPB's vocal improvisations in Carnatic ragas remain legendary in Tamil film music.

Keep listening

More from Thillu Mullu (2013)