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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Udhanatha Thillilaana

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Pudhu Vazhvu1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Male
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Male
Udharathani thatdharathani thillillaana natharuFast-paced rhythmic jathi sequence set to classical cadence
Thomthuruthani thom thanana thiranaResonating percussion syllables 'thom thuruthani thom' and melodic vocalizations
Thanathirana thananathara thavarathaniFlowing rhythmic phrases and melodic vocal improvisations
Male
Nisagamapa gamapasanisa thanipadhamapa gamarimagaaCarnatic musical swara note sequence: Ni-Sa-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa Tha-Ni-Pa-Dha-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Ri-Ma-Ga
Nisagamapa gamapasanisa thanipadhamapa gamarimagaaCarnatic musical swara note sequence: Ni-Sa-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa Tha-Ni-Pa-Dha-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Ri-Ma-Ga
GamapasaneeSustained musical swara note: Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni
Gamapasanee thapamapadhaa pamagamapaa ga mapasanisaaElaborate swara phrase: Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni Tha-Pa-Ma-Pa-Dha Pa-Ma-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa
Padhapamagama padha ni saDescending and ascending swara pattern: Pa-Dha-Pa-Ma-Ga-Ma Pa-Dha Ni Sa
Male
Thaththith thalangu thathinginathom thithilaangClassical dance jati pattern: 'Thaththith thalangu thathinginathom thithilaang'
Thalaang thathinginathom thathinginathomRhythmic conclusion pattern: 'Thalaang thathinginathom thathinginathom'
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Male
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Udharathani thatdharathani thillillaana natharuFast-paced rhythmic jathi sequence set to classical cadence
Thomthuruthani thom thanana thiranaResonating percussion syllables 'thom thuruthani thom' and melodic vocalizations
Thanathirana thananathara thavarathaniFlowing rhythmic phrases and melodic vocal improvisations
Nisagamapa gamapasanisa thanipadhamapa gamarimagaaCarnatic musical swara note sequence: Ni-Sa-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa Tha-Ni-Pa-Dha-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Ri-Ma-Ga
Nisagamapa gamapasanisa thanipadhamapa gamarimagaaCarnatic musical swara note sequence: Ni-Sa-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa Tha-Ni-Pa-Dha-Ma-Pa Ga-Ma-Ri-Ma-Ga
GamapasaneeSustained musical swara note: Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni
Gamapasanee thapamapadhaa pamagamapaa ga mapasanisaaElaborate swara phrase: Ga-Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni Tha-Pa-Ma-Pa-Dha Pa-Ma-Ga-Ma-Pa Ga Ma-Pa-Sa-Ni-Sa
Padhapamagama padha ni saDescending and ascending swara pattern: Pa-Dha-Pa-Ma-Ga-Ma Pa-Dha Ni Sa
Thaththith thalangu thathinginathom thithilaangClassical dance jati pattern: 'Thaththith thalangu thathinginathom thithilaang'
Thalaang thathinginathom thathinginathomRhythmic conclusion pattern: 'Thalaang thathinginathom thathinginathom'
Male
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'
Udhara thadhatharathani udhanatha thanadhomRhythmic vocal cadences repeating rhythmic patterns and syllables
Thadha natha dhinathom thillilaana thirathomCascading rhythmic beats and cadence 'thillilaana thirathom'
Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheemRhythmic vocal syllables (thillana jathis) sounding 'theetheem theetheem'

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This composition is a classic Carnatic Thillana set in a film music context. Designed primarily around rhythmic vocal mnemonics (Solkattu / Jathis) and melodic note patterns (Swaras), the piece celebrates technical mastery, rhythmic precision, and vocal agility. Rendered by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, it showcases the seamless blending of classical dance beat structures (solkattu) with refined Carnatic swara passages. Rather than conveying a narrative through lyrical prose, the song expresses artistic joy through intricate rhythm and melody. The structured repetition of 'Udhanatha thillilaana' along with the culmination phrase 'Thaththith thalangu thathinginathom' reflects the traditional structure of a Bharatanatyam dance composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Santham (Rhythmic Meter / Auditory Rhyme)

Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheem

The song extensively uses Santham—rhythmic vocalization patterns (solkattu) creating auditory harmony and meter without reliance on literal word meanings.

Anaphora / Repetition

Udhanatha thillilaana theetheem theetheem

Repetition of key rhythmic refrains ('Udhanatha thillilaana...') at predictable intervals reinforces the classical Thillana structure.

Solkattu / Swara Sahitya (Musical Syllables)

Nisagamapa gamapasanisa thanipadhamapa gamarimagaa

Use of explicit Carnatic notes (Swaras) like Ni, Sa, Ga, Ma, Pa as lyrics to create intricate melodic and rhythmic patterns.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features legendary Carnatic vocalist M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT) in the film 'Pudhu Vazhvu' (1957). The music was composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics/arrangements structured by the revered composer Papanasam Sivan. It remains a rare example of a pure classical Carnatic Thillana integrated directly into mainstream mid-20th century Tamil cinema.

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