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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sangeetham En Thegam

From Balanagamma · 1981

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Balanagamma1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?
Suga nadhangal konjumSweet sounds caress fondlingly,
Siru padhangal kenjumSmall feet plead tenderly.
Suga nadhangal konjumSweet sounds caress fondlingly,
Siru padhangal kenjumSmall feet plead tenderly.
Aalilai mel oru noolidai megalai aadaAs the waist ornament sways over a thread-like waist resting like a banyan leaf,
Isai ezhaaga yaazhaaga meettum podhuWhen playing music as gracefully as a harp,
Female
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?
Female
Aagaya gangaikkum theeratha thaagam aa aaEven the heavenly Ganges has an unquenchable thirst, ah ah!
Aagaya gangaikkum theeratha thaagamEven the heavenly Ganges has an unquenchable thirst,
Naan sendru neerada thaanaga theerumWhen I go and bathe, it resolves on its own.
Poongaattrum theendaamal perumoochu vaangumWithout even touching, the gentle breeze sighs heavily,
Ponmaeni thazhuvaamal adhu engu thoongumWithout embracing her golden body, where can it sleep?
Female
Ival sembhavalam adhil kambharasamShe is red coral, infused with the poetic essence of Kambar.
Ival sadhanaigal suga vedhanaigalHer achievements are sweet pains of passion.
Amudha mazhaiyil ninaindhu vilaindha kodi naanI am a vine that grew soaked in the rain of nectar,
Amara kavidhai nayamum layamum vazhangidumBestowing the elegance and rhythm of immortal poetry.
Female
Sangeetham …sangeethamMusic... music...
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?
Female
Jaadhi malli poopolae andhi maalai poopavalShe blooms in the evening twilight like a jasmine flower,
Jaadhi malli poopolae andhi maalai poopavalShe blooms in the evening twilight like a jasmine flower,
Vaazhaippoovil thaenai thandhu moga dhagam theerpavalShe quenches passionate thirst by offering honey from banana flowers,
Vaazhaippoovil thaenai thandhu moga dhagam theerpavalShe quenches passionate thirst by offering honey from banana flowers,
Sathi vaanavargalum puvi vendhargalumThe gods of heaven and the kings of the earth,
Mana aasaiyilae vizhi vaasalilaeIn their heart's desires, standing at the doorway of her eyes,
Female
Dhinam yengiduvaar enai adi panivaarYearn every day and bow at my feet.
Idhu poiyuraiyoo verum pugaluraiyoooIs this false speech, or merely empty flattery?
Ival iniya ilamai oru azhagin uvamaiHer sweet youth is a metaphor for beauty,
Siru idaiyum nadaiyum iyalum isaiyum ena varumHer slender waist and graceful walk arrive like literature and music.
Female
Sangeetham …sangeethamMusic... music...
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?
Suga nadhangal konjumSweet sounds caress fondlingly,
Siru padhangal kenjumSmall feet plead tenderly.
Suga nadhangal konjumSweet sounds caress fondlingly,
Siru padhangal kenjumSmall feet plead tenderly.
Aalilai mel oru noolidai megalai aadaAs the waist ornament sways over a thread-like waist resting like a banyan leaf,
Isai ezhaaga yaazhaaga meettum podhuWhen playing music as gracefully as a harp,
Female
Sangeetham en dhegam androoIsn't music my very body?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sangeetham En Dhegam Androo from Balanagamma (1981) celebrates the divine fusion of feminine beauty, dance, and classical music. The narrator personifies music itself, describing her physique, rhythm, and grace as an earthly manifestation of artistic perfection and literary excellence (reminiscent of Kambar's verse). Her hypnotic dance and beauty possess the power to slake even celestial thirsts, drawing admiration from both heavenly beings and earthly kings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Jaadhi malli poopolae andhi maalai poopaval

Compares her blooming at twilight directly to a jasmine flower using the marker 'poolaen'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Suga nadhangal konjum / Siru padhangal kenjum

Rhyming word endings ('konjum' and 'kenjum') create a rhythmic, melodic cadence.

Personification

Aagaya gangaikkum theeratha thaagam

Attributes human qualities such as unquenchable thirst to the celestial river Ganges.

Metaphor

Siru idaiyum nadaiyum iyalum isaiyum ena varum

Compares her waist and walking movement directly to classical Tamil literature (Iyal) and music (Isai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Poet Muthulingam, this song is rendered by legendary vocalist Vani Jayaram. The lyrics draw heavily from classical Tamil literary tropes, referencing Kambar's poetic essence ('Kambharasam') and classical dance aesthetic iconography.

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