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Idhu Namma Aalu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sangeetham Paada

From Idhu Namma Aalu · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
K. Bhagyaraj
Movie name
Idhu Namma Aalu
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
5 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sangeedham aaaaa…aaa….
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Araigurai vishayangal
Arindhavar purindhavar
Medai yeralaamo
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
{Enn…mmmm muruganin thiruvadi
Tharugira arul idhu
Medai yeriyadhum
Paadal odi varum
Raagam bhaavam kelu} (2)
Neela kuyilinamum
Solai kili inamum
Gaanam paada
Dhinam yaarai ketkkiradhu
Sangeedham paada
Kelvi gnyaanamadhu podhum
Niraikudam ivan ena
Purindhidum nilai varum
Pogap pogap paaru
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Aaa aaaaaa….
Ondralla naan paarththa sabai
Oorellaam en gaana mazhai
Neeyum indru kelu kalyaani
Unaippol naan medhai illai
Aanaalum naan pedhayillai
Paaduvadhai paadu kalaivaani
Paththu thalaimurai
Katru therindhaval
Paadum geedham thotridumo
Muththu thamizh isai
Mutrum arindhavan munnaal
Yen indha thalaiganamo
Sirukili parundhena
Parakkaadhu
Male :Parundhugal kiliyena
Pesaadhu
Edharkku vilakkam
Male :Unakku nadukkam
Female :Pugazhum
Male : Parisum
Female :Enakae
Male :Enakae
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Male :Niraikudam ivan ena
Purindhidum nilai varum
Pogap pogap paaru
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Alai kadal adhan
Aazham ariyaadhu
Iranginaal pinbu
Meela mudiyaadhu
Isai oru perungkadal polae
Therindhudhaan
Ingu paada thuvanginen
Thunindhudhaan
Isai kadalil iranginen
Naanoru meenavan polae
Swaramum layamum
Valayil vizhumo
Veen jaalamum yenO
Isayin valayil
Evarum vizhuvaar
Nee koodaththaan maanae
En paatukku
Nee kai thattum
Adhisayam nadaiperum paaru
Andha cherukku
Innum edharku
Vetri padhakkam
Ingae enakku
Aa aaa aa aaa
Male :Aaa aaaaaa aaaaa
Aa aaa aa aaa
Male :Aaaa aaaaaa aaaaa
Aa aaa aa aaa
Sangeedham paada
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendum
Idhuvarai nadaththiya
Pareetchayil jeyiththappin
Innum enna vendum
Sangeedham paada
Kelvi gnyaanam idhu podhum
Sa ri ga ri ga pa ga pa
……………………………………………
…………………………..sangeedham
…………………………………..
Paa aa aaa aa sangeedham
Aa aaa aaaa rabba rabbbaa
sangeedham
……………………………………
Sa sangeedham
Dhinna kida dhinakida
Sangeedham
………………………………..
………………………. sangeedham
Jampa rampa papa
Jamapa hey hey hey heheheh
Sa sa ni sa sa ni dha pa ni dha ni
Male :Thannanana…than nan nanana
Female :Pa pa pa ga pa
Male :Sususususussu
Female :Tha ni dha ni dha pa paa
Male :Cha cha chacha cha
Pa dhani dhani da pa paa
Male :Rappa pa pa rappa pa paa
Female :Ri sa si sa ni sa
Male :Lallalallal
Female :Pa dha ni sa
Male :Hey hey hey
Female :Ga ri ri
Male :Ahaa..aa.
Female :Ri sa sa
Male :Ahaa…aa…
Aaaaa….aaaaa….aaaa….aaa….
Female :Dhani dha pa dha pa pa
……………………………………………………..
Sangeedham paada
Kelvi gnyaanam idhu podhum
Music... aah...
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
With half-baked knowledge,
should those who barely understand
step onto the stage?
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
It is the grace bestowed
by Lord Murugan's holy feet!
The moment I step on stage,
songs come flowing to me.
Listen to my melody and expression!
The flock of blue cuckoos
and the parrots in the grove,
when they sing their song,
whose permission do they ask every day?
To sing music,
learning by ear is more than enough!
That this man is full of true depth,
the time will come for you to see.
Just watch as time goes on!
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
Aah aaaa...
It is not just one stage I have seen;
my shower of music has poured across the whole town!
Listen today, Kalyani!
I may not be a scholar like you,
yet I am no fool either.
Sing whatever you wish, Kalaivaani!
Trained through
ten generations of tradition,
will the song I sing ever face defeat?
Before someone who has mastered
the finest Tamil music completely,
why this arrogance of yours?
A little parrot
cannot soar like a hawk.
Male: A hawk
cannot speak sweetly like a parrot!
Why give explanations?
Male: You are simply trembling with fear!
Female: The fame
Male: and the prize,
Female: belong only to me!
Male: Only to me!
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
Male: That this man is full of true depth,
the time will come for you to see.
Just watch as time goes on!
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
Without knowing the depth
of the ocean with rolling waves,
if you step into it,
you can never return.
Music is like a vast ocean!
Knowing that very well,
I began singing here.
With pure courage,
I stepped into the ocean of music,
just like a fisherman!
Will musical notes and rhythm
ever get trapped in a net?
Why perform these pointless tricks?
In the net of music,
anyone will get caught!
Even you, my gentle deer!
For my song,
you will clap your hands—
watch that wonder happen!
That stubborn pride,
why hold onto it anymore?
The medal of victory
belongs to me right here!
Aa aa aa aa aa
Male: Aa aaaaa aaaaa
Aa aa aa aa aa
Male: Aaaa aaaaa aaaaa
Aa aa aa aa aa
To sing music,
one needs deep knowledge.
In the contest held so far,
after winning it,
what more is needed?
To sing music,
learning by ear is more than enough!
Sa Ri Ga Ri Ga Pa Ga Pa
(Vocalizing / Solfege)
...music...
(Vocalizing)
Pa aa aa aa, music...
Aa aa aaa rappaa rappaa
Music...
(Vocalizing)
Sa... music...
Dhinna kida dhinakida
Music...
(Vocalizing)
...music...
Jamba ramba papa
Jamapa hey hey hey heheheh
Sa Sa Ni Sa Sa Ni Dha Pa Ni Dha Ni
Male: Thannanana... than nan nannana
Female: Pa Pa Pa Ga Pa
Male: Chu chu chu chu chussu
Female: Dha Ni Dha Ni Dha Pa Paa
Male: Cha cha chacha cha
Pa DhaNi DhaNi Dha Pa Paa
Male: Rappaa pa pa rappaa pa paa
Female: Ri Sa Sa Sa Ni Sa
Male: Lallalallal
Female: Pa Dha Ni Sa
Male: Hey hey hey
Female: Ga Ri Ri
Male: Aha... aa...
Female: Ri Sa Sa
Male: Aha... aa...
Aaaa... aaaaa... aaaa... aaaa...
Female: DhaNi Dha Pa Dha Pa Pa
(Vocalizing)
To sing music,
learning by ear is more than enough!
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents a spirited musical duet and duel between a classical purist female vocalist and an intuitive male singer. The female singer asserts that formal training, lineage, and deep knowledge (Gnyaanam) are mandatory for performing music on stage, warning against half-baked knowledge. In contrast, the male singer argues that natural passion, listening skills (Kelvi Gnyaanam), and raw talent are more than sufficient, citing how birds sing in nature without formal training. As the lyrical debate unfolds, both exchange competitive banter claiming superiority, culminating in a rhythmic vocal face-off (Swaras and Konnakol Solkattu) where both demonstrate their musical dexterity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Neela kuyilinamum / Solai kili inamum

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines, such as 'Sangeedham' and 'Gnyaanam', or 'Neela' and 'Solai'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvamaanam)

Isai oru perungkadal polae

Comparing music to a deep ocean ('Isai oru perungkadal polae') and the singer to a fisherman catching notes in a net.

Analogy

Neela kuyilinamum solai kili inamum gaanam paada dhinam yaarai ketkkiradhu

Using nature's birds (cuckoos and parrots) to argue that singing is an innate natural ability rather than something requiring formal consent or theoretical training.

Did you know?

Trivia

In the movie 'Idhu Namma Aalu' (1988), director K. Bhagyaraj himself composed the music for the film, making his debut as a full-fledged music director. This song features a light-hearted classical rivalry between the lead characters, blending Karnatak classical vocal elements with contemporary cinematic beats.

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