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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sangeetham Paada

From Idhu Namma Aalu · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
K. Bhagyaraj
Details
Idhu Namma Aalu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sangeedham aaaaa…aaa….Music, aaaaa...aaa....
Sangeedham paadaTo sing music,
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumOnly those with true wisdom/knowledge are needed.
Sangeedham paadaTo sing music,
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Araigurai vishayangalThose with incomplete knowledge,
Arindhavar purindhavarWho claim to know and understand,
Medai yeralaamoShould they step onto the stage?
Sangeedham paadaTo sing music,
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Male
{Enn…mmmm muruganin thiruvadiEnn... mmmm, Lord Murugan's holy feet,
Tharugira arul idhuGrant this divine grace.
Medai yeriyadhumAs soon as step onto the stage,
Paadal odi varumThe song flows effortlessly.
Raagam bhaavam kelu} (2)Listen to the melody and emotion.
Male
Neela kuyilinamumThe flock of blue cuckoos,
Solai kili inamumAnd the flock of grove parrots,
Gaanam paadaTo sing their song,
Dhinam yaarai ketkkiradhuWhom do they ask permission from every day?
Male
Sangeedham paadaTo sing music,
Kelvi gnyaanamadhu podhumA good musical ear (aural knowledge) is sufficient.
Niraikudam ivan enaThat he is a full vessel (fully learned person),
Purindhidum nilai varumA state of understanding will arrive.
Pogap pogap paaruWatch as time goes by.
Female
Sangeedham paadaTo sing music,
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Female
Aaa aaaaaa….Aaa aaaaaa....
Ondralla naan paarththa sabaiThe gathering I have seen is not just one,
Oorellaam en gaana mazhaiMy rain of music has poured across the whole town.
Neeyum indru kelu kalyaaniYou too listen today, Kalyani!
Male
Unaippol naan medhai illaiI am not a genius like you,
Aanaalum naan pedhayillaiYet, I am no fool either.
Paaduvadhai paadu kalaivaaniSing what you can, Kalaivani!
Female
Paththu thalaimuraiLearned over ten generations,
Katru therindhavalA woman who has mastered her craft,
Paadum geedham thotridumoWill her song ever lose?
Male
Muththu thamizh isaiBefore one who knows the complete pearl-like Tamil music,
Mutrum arindhavan munnaalWhy this arrogance?
Yen indha thalaiganamoA small bird cannot fly like a hawk,
Female
Sirukili parundhenaIt will not fly!
ParakkaadhuHawks cannot speak like parrots,
Male :Parundhugal kiliyenaThey will not speak!
PesaadhuWhy this explanation?
Female
Edharkku vilakkamYou are trembling inside!
Male :Unakku nadukkamThe fame,
Female :PugazhumAnd the reward,
Male : ParisumAre mine alone!
Female :EnakaeMine alone!
Male :EnakaeTo sing music,
Female
Sangeedham paadaOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumThat he is a full vessel,
Male :Niraikudam ivan enaA state of understanding will arrive.
Purindhidum nilai varumWatch as time goes by.
Pogap pogap paaruTo sing music,
Female
Sangeedham paadaOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumThe wavy ocean,
Female
Alai kadal adhanWithout knowing its depth,
Aazham ariyaadhuIf one steps in,
Iranginaal pinbuThey cannot escape later.
Meela mudiyaadhuMusic is like a vast ocean,
Isai oru perungkadal polaeKnowing this fully,
Male
TherindhudhaanI began to sing here.
Ingu paada thuvanginenWith courage,
ThunindhudhaanI stepped into this ocean of music.
Isai kadalil iranginenLike a fisherman,
Naanoru meenavan polaeWill notes and rhythm,
Female
Swaramum layamumFall into the net?
Valayil vizhumoWhy this futile trickery?
Veen jaalamum yenOIn the net of music,
Male
Isayin valayilAnyone will fall,
Evarum vizhuvaarEven you, my dear!
Nee koodaththaan maanaeFor my song,
Female
En paatukkuYou will clap your hands,
Nee kai thattumWatch this miracle happen!
Adhisayam nadaiperum paaruThat pride,
Male
Andha cherukkuWhy keep it anymore?
Innum edharkuThe victory medal,
Vetri padhakkamBelongs to me here!
Ingae enakkuAa aaa aa aaa
Female
Aa aaa aa aaaAaa aaaaaa aaaaa
Male :Aaa aaaaaa aaaaaAa aaa aa aaa
Female
Aa aaa aa aaaAaaa aaaaaa aaaaa
Male :Aaaa aaaaaa aaaaaAa aaa aa aaa
Female
Aa aaa aa aaaTo sing music,
Sangeedham paadaOnly those with true wisdom are needed.
Gnyaanam ullavargal vendumIn the tests conducted so far,
Male
Idhuvarai nadaththiyaAfter winning them all,
Pareetchayil jeyiththappinWhat else is needed?
Innum enna vendumTo sing music,
Sangeedham paadaA good musical ear is enough.
Kelvi gnyaanam idhu podhumSa ri ga ri ga pa ga pa
Female
Sa ri ga ri ga pa ga pa...................................
……………………………………………........................music
…………………………..sangeedham............................
Male
…………………………………..Paa aa aaa aa music
Paa aa aaa aa sangeedhamAa aaa aaaa rabba rabbbaa
Male
Aa aaa aaaa rabba rabbbaamusic
sangeedham................ prove ......
Female
……………………………………Sa music
Sa sangeedhamDhinna kida dhinakida
Male
Dhinna kida dhinakidaMusic
Sangeedham............................
Female
………………………………...................... music
………………………. sangeedhamJampa rampa papa
Male
Jampa rampa papaJamapa hey hey hey heheheh
Jamapa hey hey hey hehehehSa sa ni sa sa ni dha pa ni dha ni
Female
Sa sa ni sa sa ni dha pa ni dha niThannanana...than nan nanana
Male :Thannanana…than nan nananaPa pa pa ga pa
Female :Pa pa pa ga paSususususussu
Male :SususususussuTha ni dha ni dha pa paa
Female :Tha ni dha ni dha pa paaCha cha chacha cha
Male :Cha cha chacha chaPa dhani dhani da pa paa
Female
Pa dhani dhani da pa paaRappa pa pa rappa pa paa
Male :Rappa pa pa rappa pa paaRi sa si sa ni sa
Female :Ri sa si sa ni saLallalallal
Male :LallalallalPa dha ni sa
Female :Pa dha ni saHey hey hey
Male :Hey hey heyGa ri ri
Female :Ga ri riAhaa..aa.
Male :Ahaa..aa.Ri sa sa
Female :Ri sa saAhaa…aa…
Male :Ahaa…aa…Aaaaa….aaaaa….aaaa….aaa….
Male
Aaaaa….aaaaa….aaaa….aaa….Dhani dha pa dha pa pa
Female :Dhani dha pa dha pa pa..........................................
……………………………………………………..To sing music,
Sangeedham paadaA good musical ear is enough.
Kelvi gnyaanam idhu podhum

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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