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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Shiva Thaandavam

From Thaandavam · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Thaandavam2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Ah thagida thagida thaga thaaAh thagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Thagida thagida dhimiThagida thagida dhimi (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Thagida thagida dhimiThagida thagida dhimi (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Thagida thagida dhimi thaandavamThagida thagida dhimi dance of cosmic destruction (Thaandavam)
Male
Sudalai saambalAshes from the cremation ground
Adhai udalil poosikonduSmeared across his body
Kailainaathan varum thaandavam ..The grand cosmic dance of the Lord of Mount Kailash...
Male
Jananam thaandi vandhuTranscending birth itself
Maranam vendi vandhuSeeking and conquering death
Iraivan aadi varum thaandavam …The divine cosmic dance played by God...
Male
Iravum nadungividaCausing even the night to tremble
Pagalum norungividaCausing even the day to shatter
Sulandru sulandru varum thaandavam ..The cosmic dance that comes swirling and whirling...
Male
Irugi irugi oruHardening tighter and tighter
Irumbai pola manamA heart turned like solid iron
Thirugi thaedi varum thaandavamThe divine dance that twistedly comes searching
Male
Oogi kaathadikkaAs fierce winds howl wildly
Aazhi koothadikkaAnd the vast oceans dance in turmoil
Agilam nadungividum thaandavamThe cosmic dance that shakes the entire universe
Male
Paavam seithavaraiUpon those who have committed sins
Kovam kondu oruWith fierce divine wrath
Saabam theerkka varum thaandavam..The cosmic dance arriving to lift the curse...
Male
Dharmam kaakkum nadanam ..The dance that protects righteousness (Dharma)...
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Idhu nyaayam vellum tharunam…This is the moment justice triumphs...
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Male
Ratham parugum nadanam ..The blood-drinking dance of vengeance...
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Idhan muttru pulli maranam ..The full stop to this is death...
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Male
Arputha thaandavamThe miraculous cosmic dance
Mana varana thaandavamThe divine mind-captivating cosmic dance
Hey hey hey aanandha thaandavamHey hey hey, the dance of supreme bliss
Pralaya thaandavamThe apocalyptic cosmic dance
Samhaara thaandavamThe dance of ultimate destruction
Male
Nanmai kalpatharkkuTo instill and preserve goodness
Theemai kollvatharkkuTo destroy and eradicate evil
Sivanin kovam indha thaandavam..This divine cosmic dance is the fury of Lord Shiva...
Male
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Siva thaandavam…aaaa….Shiva's cosmic dance... aaaa...
Siva thaandavam siva thaandavam ….Shiva's cosmic dance, Shiva's cosmic dance...
Siva thaandavam siva thaandavam ….Shiva's cosmic dance, Siva's cosmic dance...
Male
Thagida thagida thaga thaaThagida thagida thaga thaa (Rhythmic beat syllable)
Male :Siva thaandavam siva thaandavam ….Male: Shiva's cosmic dance, Shiva's cosmic dance...
Siva thaandavam siva thaandavam ….aaaaaaShiva's cosmic dance, Shiva's cosmic dance....aaaaaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This intense song invokes the primal power of Shiva's cosmic dance (Siva Thaandavam). Set to rhythmic solkattu beats ('Thagida thagida'), the lyric describes the divine dance performed by the deity covered in sacred ash, transcending life and death. The dance symbolizes the destruction of evil, protection of righteous Dharma, and ultimate cosmic order where night trembles and oceans boil with rage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Solkattu (Rhythmic Syllables)

Thagida thagida dhimi thaandavam

Use of traditional rhythm mnemonics like 'Thagida thagida dhimi' to evoke the energetic footwork of Nataraja's dance.

Ethirukaai (Rhyme / Assonance)

Iravum nadungivida / Pagalum norungivida

Matching second letter patterns in Tamil verse such as 'Iravum' and 'Pagalum' or 'Jananam' and 'Maranam'.

Hyperbole / Violent Imagery

Iravum nadungivida / Pagalum norungivida

Exaggerated dramatic cosmic imagery describing the day shattering and night trembling under divine wrath.

Antithesis (Contrast)

Nanmai kalpatharkku / Theemai kollvatharkku

Contrasting 'Nanmai' (goodness) and 'Theemai' (evil), as well as 'Jananam' (birth) and 'Maranam' (death).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar for the 2012 action-thriller film 'Thaandavam', directed by A. L. Vijay and starring Vikram. Written by late lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar, the song serves as a powerful theme representing vengeance and divine justice.

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