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Isaimozhi
Balanagamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sangeetham En Thegam

From Balanagamma · 1981

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Balanagamma
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
8 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Suga nadhangal konjum
Siru padhangal kenjum
Suga nadhangal konjum
Siru padhangal kenjum
Aalilai mel oru noolidai megalai aada
Isai ezhaaga yaazhaaga meettum podhu
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Aagaya gangaikkum theeratha thaagam aa aa
Aagaya gangaikkum theeratha thaagam
Naan sendru neerada thaanaga theerum
Poongaattrum theendaamal perumoochu vaangum
Ponmaeni thazhuvaamal adhu engu thoongum
Ival sembhavalam adhil kambharasam
Ival sadhanaigal suga vedhanaigal
Amudha mazhaiyil ninaindhu vilaindha kodi naan
Amara kavidhai nayamum layamum vazhangidum
Sangeetham …sangeetham
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Jaadhi malli poopolae andhi maalai poopaval
Jaadhi malli poopolae andhi maalai poopaval
Vaazhaippoovil thaenai thandhu moga dhagam theerpaval
Vaazhaippoovil thaenai thandhu moga dhagam theerpaval
Sathi vaanavargalum puvi vendhargalum
Mana aasaiyilae vizhi vaasalilae
Dhinam yengiduvaar enai adi panivaar
Idhu poiyuraiyoo verum pugaluraiyooo
Ival iniya ilamai oru azhagin uvamai
Siru idaiyum nadaiyum iyalum isaiyum ena varum
Sangeetham …sangeetham
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Suga nadhangal konjum
Siru padhangal kenjum
Suga nadhangal konjum
Siru padhangal kenjum
Aalilai mel oru noolidai megalai aada
Isai ezhaaga yaazhaaga meettum podhu
Sangeetham en dhegam androo
Isn't music my very body?
Isn't music my very body?
Sweet musical notes caress gently,
My delicate feet plead softly,
Sweet musical notes caress gently,
My delicate feet plead softly,
As a waist-chain sways on a slender waist curved like a banyan leaf,
When the seven notes are strummed upon the yaazh (ancient lute),
Isn't music my very body?
Even the heavenly river Ganga feels an unquenchable thirst, ah... ah...
Even the heavenly river Ganga feels an unquenchable thirst,
When I go and bathe, that thirst will vanish on its own.
Without touching me, the gentle breeze sighs deeply,
Without embracing this golden body, where can it find sleep?
She is red coral, brimming with the sweetness of Kambar's poetry,
Her conquests bring sweet, delightful aches,
I am a tender vine grown soaked in the shower of nectar,
Offering the beauty and rhythm of immortal poetry,
Music... music...
Isn't music my very body?
Like the jasmine flower, I blossom in the evening dusk,
Like the jasmine flower, I blossom in the evening dusk,
Offering the sweet honey of a banana flower, quenching passionate thirst,
Offering the sweet honey of a banana flower, quenching passionate thirst,
Lords of the heavens and kings of the earth,
With longing in their hearts, waiting at the doorway of my eyes,
Yearn every day and bow down at my feet.
Is this an untruth, or is it mere flattery?
Her sweet youth is the very image of beauty,
Flowing as poetry and music in her slender waist and graceful walk,
Music... music...
Isn't music my very body?
Sweet musical notes caress gently,
My delicate feet plead softly,
Sweet musical notes caress gently,
My delicate feet plead softly,
As a waist-chain sways on a slender waist curved like a banyan leaf,
When the seven notes are strummed upon the yaazh (ancient lute),
Isn't music my very body?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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