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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sabthaswaram Puunagaiyil

From Nadagame Ulagam · 1979

Lyricist
V. Kumar
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Nadagame Ulagam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
24 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ahaa…
Female :Lalalaa laa
Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden
Sangeethathin thaalattai ketten
Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden
Sangeethathin thaalattai ketten
Nadamadum kalaikoodam
Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Maeniyil aanandha layangal
Mogana raagathin nayangal
Angangal engengum
Thaalathin kolangalae
Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden
Sangeethathin thaalattai ketten
Nadamadum kalaikoodam
Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Ni dha pa am ga ri sari
Moovagai thamizh pesum poovizhi erendenna
Moovagai thamizh pesum poovizhi erendenna
Naal vagai gunam kondu aadumoo
Nayagam thodum bodhu naanam vilaiyum
Nayagam thodum bodhu naanam vilaiyum
Naanalin inam pola dhegam valaiyum
Neram ponnaana neram
Nerunga solkindratho
Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden
Female :Sangeethathin thaalattai ketten
Aadai kalaindhaadum aasaiyil varum thendral
Aadai kalaindhaadum aasaiyil varum thendral
Aadavan thunai kandu anjumoo..hmm
Maadhulam kaniyaagum maalai poluthu
Maadhulam kaniyaagum maalai poluthu
Manjalin niram kaattum mangai azhagu
Yaavum kanna un sondham
Male :Edhuthu kondaadava
Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden
Sangeethathin thaalattai ketten
Male :Nadamadum kalaikoodam
Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Female :Vizhi jaalathil uruvaanadho…
Aaha...
Female: Lalalaa laa
I saw the seven musical notes in your smile,
I heard the lullaby of music.
I saw the seven musical notes in your smile,
I heard the lullaby of music.
A living gallery of art,
Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Rhythms of pure joy flow through your body,
Along with the gentle grace of the Mohanam melody,
Every part of your form
Is a dancing pattern of rhythm.
I saw the seven musical notes in your smile,
I heard the lullaby of music.
A living gallery of art,
Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Ni dha pa am ga ri sa ri
Why do your two flower-like eyes speak the three forms of Tamil?
Why do your two flower-like eyes speak the three forms of Tamil?
Do they dance carrying the four virtues of womanhood?
When my beloved touches me, shyness blossoms,
When my beloved touches me, shyness blossoms,
And like a gentle reed, my body bends.
This moment is a golden moment,
Is it telling us to draw close?
I saw the seven musical notes in your smile,
Female: I heard the lullaby of music.
The breeze arrives longing to ruffle our clothes,
The breeze arrives longing to ruffle our clothes,
Will it be afraid seeing the sun standing as companion? Hmm...
An evening turning red and ripe like a pomegranate,
An evening turning red and ripe like a pomegranate,
The beauty of a woman glowing like golden turmeric,
All of this belongs to you, my love,
Male: Shall I take it all and celebrate?
I saw the seven musical notes in your smile,
I heard the lullaby of music.
Male: A living gallery of art,
Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Female: Was it born from the magic of your eyes?
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sabthasvaram Punnagaiyil Kanden is a poetic duet from the 1979 Tamil film Nadagame Ulagam, celebrating love and romance through classical music and literary imagery. The lovers equate their physical grace and romantic feelings to musical notes, ragams, and classical arts, describing the maiden's smile as the seven musical notes (saptaswaras) and her form as a moving art gallery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Sabthasvaram punnagaiyil kanden”

Compares a gentle smile to the seven notes of music (Sabthasvaram).

Simile (Uvamai)

“Naanalin inam pola dhegam valaiyum”

Compares the woman's body bending in love to a reed (Naanal).

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Nayagam thodum bodhu naanam vilaiyum”

Repetition of the 'Na' sound across consecutive words (Nayagam, naanam, Naanalin, Neram, Nerunga).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar, 'Sabthasvaram Punnagaiyil Kanden' showcases a rich blend of Carnatic musical concepts (such as swaras and Mohana raga references) with classical Tamil literary tropes like Muthamizh (the three forms of Tamil) and the four traditional womanly virtues (Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu).

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