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Isaimozhi
Isai Paadum Thendral album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Swaram

From Isai Paadum Thendral · 1976

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Isai Paadum Thendral
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
18 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saasa saasa saasa saasa
Sasasa sasasa sasasa sasasa
Sarisani sarigari rigaririree
Ree rigamagari sarigama
Reega saari neesa dhaani dhaa
Dhaa dhanisa nidha padhani
Dhaani paadha maapa gaama ree
Saa nidhani padhani saa
Garee sanidha padhanisaa
Risa gari maga pama nidha
Pama dhapa nidha sani gari
Dhanisa nidhadha padhanisa
Rigari niriga rigarini
Manidhani gama nidhani
Nidhanima gari magari
Rigamadha mani dhagari
Nigarini dhani rigari
Rigama nee
Padhani paa
Magari ree
Sariga saa
Gari risasani risa saninidha
Sani nidhadhapa nidha dhapapama
Rigama gamapa mapadha padhani
Mapadha padhani dhanisa nisariga
Maagarisa riga sari rigasari
Gaa risani ree sanidha saa nidhapa
Dhaa nee saa ree gaari saani
Garisani dhaa nisari
Paa dhanisa maa padhani
Ree gaa maa pa dhani sari
Dhanisari magarisa nigaris nidhapa
Aa… aa…aa…aa… aa…aa…aa…
Sa-sa, sa-sa, sa-sa, sa-sa
Sa-sa-sa, sa-sa-sa, sa-sa-sa, sa-sa-sa
Sa ri sa ni, sa ri ga ri, ri ga ri ri ree
Ree, ri ga ma ga ri, sa ri ga ma
Ree ga, saa ri, nee sa, dhaa ni, dhaa
Dhaa, dha ni sa, ni dha, pa dha ni sa
Dhaa ni, paa dha, maa pa, gaa ma, ree
Saa, ni dha ni, pa dha ni, saa
Ga ree, sa ni dha, pa dha ni saa
Ri sa, ga ri, ma ga, pa ma, ni dha
Pa ma, dha pa, ni dha, sa ni, ga ri
Dha ni sa, ni dha dha, pa dha ni sa
Ri ga ri, ni ri ga, ri ga ri ni
Ma ni dha ni, ga ma, ni dha ni
Ni dha ni ma, ga ri, ma ga ri
Ri ga ma dha, ma ni, dha ga ri
Ri ga ri ni, dha ni, ri ga ri
Ri ga ma, nee
Pa dha ni, paa
Ma ga ri, ree
Sa ri ga, saa
Ga ri, ri sa sa ni, ri sa, sa ni ni dha
Sa ni, ni dha dha pa, ni dha, dha pa pa ma
Ri ga ma, ga ma pa, ma pa dha, pa dha ni
Ma pa dha, pa dha ni, dha ni sa, ni sa ri ga
Maa ga ri sa, ri ga, sa ri, ri ga sa ri
Gaa, ri sa ni, ree, sa ni dha, saa, ni dha pa
Dhaa, nee, saa, ree, gaa ri, saa ni
Ga ri sa ni, dhaa, ni sa ri
Paa, dha ni sa, maa, pa dha ni
Ree, gaa, maa, pa, dha ni, sa ri
Dha ni sa ri, ma ga ri sa, ni ga ri sa, ni dha pa
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This passage consists entirely of Carnatic svara notations (swaraprasthara) and vocal alapana rather than conventional literary lyrics. The sequence systematically navigates through the seven fundamental notes of Indian classical music (Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni), building in tempo and complexity to showcase vocal dexterity and melodic richness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Swaraprasthara (Solkattu Singing)

“Saasa saasa saasa saasa”

Use of musical solfege syllables (svaras) to create complex rhythmic and melodic phrasing.

Arohana and Avarohana (Musical Scale Ascension/Descension)

“Rigama gamapa mapadha padhani”

Progressive stepwise motion through ascending and descending musical note sequences.

Repetition (Rhythmic Alliteration / Antadi)

“Sasasa sasasa sasasa sasasa”

Repeating identical svara syllables across patterns to establish rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track highlights pure classical Carnatic vocal exercises and swara patterns integrated into film music, emphasizing precise pitch control and dynamic tempo shifts.

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