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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagin Mudalisai

From Thavapudhalavan · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thavapudhalavan1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Ulagin mudhal isai thamizh isaiyaeTamil music is the world's first music.
Adhil udhithadhu ulagin pala isaiyaeFrom it emerged many of the world's musics.
Ulagin mudhal isai thamizh isaiyaeTamil music is the world's first music.
Adhil udhithadhu ulagin pala isaiyaeFrom it emerged many of the world's musics.
Male
Kanivurum thamizhagam kalai koodamThe sweet Tamil land is a haven of fine arts.
Isai kalai thaan engalin mudhal paadamThe art of music is indeed our very first lesson.
Kalai thaan engalin mudhal paadamThe art is indeed our very first lesson.
Aa… aa… aa… gagarisa ririsani sasanisaVocalization and musical solfege notes.
Nisarimapani sarimapanisa panisa paniri panisa panirisaaCarnatic musical solfege passages.
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Sangeethu bhulonki baghiyaa haeMusic is a garden of blooming flowers.
Baghiyaa haeIt is a garden.
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Sangheethu bhulonki baghiyaa haeMusic is a garden of blooming flowers.
Sangheethu dhilonki dhuniyaa haeMusic is a world where hearts connect.
Raaghon kaa ranghee sapnaa haeIt is a colorful dream woven by melodies.
Sapnaa hae sapnaa hae sapnaa haeIt is a dream, a dream, a dream.
Raaghon kaa ranghee sapnaa haeIt is a colorful dream woven by melodies.
Bhaavon ki ganghaa jamunaa haeIt is the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers of emotions.
Male
Sangheethu bhulonki baghiyaa haeMusic is a garden of blooming flowers.
Sangheethu dhilonki dhuniyaa haeMusic is a world where hearts connect.
Male
Ezhu swaram enum maedaiyilae…On the stage formed by the seven musical notes...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Ezhu swaram enum maedaiyilae…On the stage formed by the seven musical notes...
Thamizh yaeri nindrae vilaiyaadaiyilaeWhen the Tamil language steps up and performs...
Maanida jaadhiyum mayangi varum andhaThe entire human race gets spellbound, and...
Vana vilangum aadi asaindhu varumEven the wild beasts of the forest sway in joy.
Vana vilangum aadi asaindhu varumEven the wild beasts of the forest sway in joy.
Male
Ulagin mudhal isai thamizh isaiyaeTamil music is the world's first music.
Adhil udhithadhu ulagin pala isaiyae…From it emerged many of the world's musics.
Male
Leharon ki thaezu ravaani haeIt is the swift flow of ocean waves.
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Leharon ki thaezu ravaani haeIt is the swift flow of ocean waves.
Dhadukanuki praemu kahaani haeIt is a love story told by heartbeats.
Girunonki haseen javaani haeIt is the charming youthfulness of sunbeams.
Madhu maadhi shaam suhaani haeIt is a pleasant and intoxicating evening.
Saa… risari nirisa dhasari panidha madhapa mapagaamaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Dhaanisa dhaanisa dhaanisaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Saarisa nirisani nidhadhapa pamamagaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Nee dhapamaga dhapamagari pamagarisaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Sa ma pa dhanisa nisa dhanisa nisa dhanisa nisa m…Rhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Gapapadhaa padha mapa gamapa gamari saaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Dhapapagarisa sapapagarisa dhanisaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Dhadhaniri dhadhaniga dhadhaniri dhadhanigaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Sagamama dhadhanini gagariri nirisaaRhythmic classical solfege swara passage.
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Male
Sasanini sarisasa rigariri gamagagaFast-paced musical solfege swara passage.
Madhapama dhanidhadha nisanini sarisasaFast-paced musical solfege swara passage.
Male
Nisani sarisa rigari gamaga madhama dhanidhaFast-paced musical solfege swara passage.
Nisani sarisaFast-paced musical solfege swara passage.
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalization (Ah...)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ulagin Mudhal Isai from the 1972 Tamil film Thavapudhalavan is a grand classical composition that celebrates Tamil as the original source of world music and Tamil Nadu as a cradle of fine arts. Lyricist Kannadasan beautifully articulates how music acts as humanity's primary education and a universal language that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Ezhu swaram enum maedaiyilae…

Compares the seven musical notes (Saptaswara) to a physical stage upon which the Tamil language performs.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Bhaavon ki ganghaa jamunaa hae

Compares musical expression to the sacred confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Vana vilangum aadi asaindhu varum

Exaggerates music's enchanting power by stating that wild beasts in the forest dance and sway to the melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Thavapudhalavan (1972) starred Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. This song uniquely blends classical Tamil poetry, Hindustani/Hindi poetic phrases, and Carnatic swara solfege, demonstrating the unity of diverse musical traditions.

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