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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Un Vedhanai Oru Aalabanai

From Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa… vaedhanai… aalaapanai…Ah... pain... an elaboration of music...
Female
Un vaedhanai oru aalaapanaiYour pain is a musical elaboration
Nee konda dhaagam yaagamoIs the thirst you possess a sacrificial ritual?
Veenaai poi vidumoWill it go to waste like a broken lute?
Male
Thaiyaa thaiyoo thaiyat thai thakka thaiThaiyaa thaiyoo thaiyat thai thakka thai
Thaiyat tai thaiyat tai thakka thaiThaiyat tai thaiyat tai thakka thai
Female
Thakka thaiyaa thaiyoo thaiyat thai thakka thaiThakka thaiyaa thaiyoo thaiyat thai thakka thai
Thaiyat tai thaiyat tai thakka thaiThaiyat tai thaiyat tai thakka thai
Male
Idhu angamum baashaiyumThis is body and language
Sangamam kolvadhuComing together in union
Kannum udambum kalandhu valarndhadhuGrown from the harmony of eyes and body
Female
Idhu angamum baashaiyumThis is body and language
Sangamam kolvadhuComing together in union
Kannum udambum kalandhu valarndhadhuGrown from the harmony of eyes and body
Baavam raagam thaalam inaindhu ezhundhadhuEmotion, melody, and rhythm unite to rise
BharadhanaattiyamBharatanatyam
Male
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhathThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhath
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhathThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhath
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhathThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahidhath
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahiThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahi
Male
Idhu kuzhal adhan asaivinilThis, in the movement of the flute
Paravasam oottumInstills intoxication
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahiThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahi
Ada koondhalil abinayam alai paayumAh, expression ripples in the tresses of hair
Thaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahiThaamtha thai dhahidhat dhahidhahi
Male
Idhu kuzhal adhan asaivinilThis, in the movement of the flute
Paravasam oottumInstills intoxication
Koondhalil abinayam alai paayumExpression ripples in the tresses of hair
Koramum saabamum baavathil kaattumFierceness and curses are shown in expression
KoochippudiKuchipudi
Male
Dhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaaDhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaa
Female
DhitthaaDhitthaa
Male
Dhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaaDhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaa
Female
DhitthaaDhitthaa
Male
Dhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaaDhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaa
Female
Dhitthaa dhindhaa dhindhaa dhinDhitthaa dhindhaa dhindhaa dhin
Male
Idhu manam thanil pookkum mm…This blossoms within the heart, mm...
Female
Dhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaaDhindhaa dhindhaa dhindhaa
Dhindhaa dhindhaa dhinDhindhaa dhindhaa dhin
Male
Idhu manam thanil pookkumThis blossoms within the heart
Anubava abinayamAn experiential expression
Female
Aaa….aa….aa….haa….aa….aa…aa…aa…Aaa....aa....aa....haa....aa....aa...aa...aa...
Male
Alai alaiyaai varum kalai vadivamAn art form that comes in waves upon waves
Female
Aaa….aa….aa….haa….aa….aa…aa…aa…Aaa....aa....aa....haa....aa....aa...aa...aa...
Aa….aa….aa..Aa....aa....aa..
Male
Manasukkum mazhai pozhiyumRaining bliss upon the mind
Anubavam tharuvadhu manipuriProviding an enriching experience is Manipuri
Male
Thakka dheem thathakida dheemThakka dheem thathakida dheem
Thatthari kidathaka thakka dhimi thadhikidaThatthari kidathaka thakka dhimi thadhikida
Thakkida dheem thathakida dheemThakkida dheem thathakida dheem
Thatthari kidathaka thakka dheemThatthari kidathaka thakka dheem
Male
Idhu raaja kalaigalinThis is of the royal arts
Naadaga baavamDramatic expression
Nalina layangalin naattiya vaedhamThe dance scripture of delicate rhythms
Female
Aa… aa… aa…aa….aa…Aa... aa... aa...aa....aa...
Idhu raaja kalaigalin naadaga baavamThis is the dramatic expression of royal arts
Nalina layangalin naattiya vaedhamThe dance scripture of delicate rhythms
Aayiram dhevadhai veenaigal meettumWhere a thousand angels play the veena
OdisiOdissi
Male
Thakkida kidathaka thakkida kidathakaThakkida kidathaka thakkida kidathaka
Thomkida kidathaka namkida kidathakaThomkida kidathaka namkida kidathaka
Thakkida kidathaka thakkida kidathakaThakkida kidathaka thakkida kidathaka
Thomkida kidathaka namkida kidathakaThomkida kidathaka namkida kidathaka
Male
Idhu veeram vilaiyum oruThis is where valor yields
Raaja nadanamA royal dance
Gambeeram migundha oru rudhra thaandavamA majestic and fierce cosmic dance of Shiva
Idhu veeram vilaiyum oru raaja nadanamThis is a royal dance where valor yields
Gambeeram migundha oru rudhra thaandavamA majestic and fierce cosmic dance of Shiva
Pudhiya vinodhangal thadai illai kadhakaliWhere new marvels know no bounds is Kathakali
Male
Sila adigalil idai kodi enaIn a few footsteps, the waist like a slender vine
Dhinam asaiyumSways daily
Male
Asaiyum asaivil buvanamIn that sway and movement, the whole universe
Ellaam kulungumShakes and trembles
Male
Nilaavin paarvaigal ulaavum naadagamA drama where moonlight glances wander
KathakKathak

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic lyrical composition celebrates the rich tapestry of Indian classical dance forms. The song systematically introduces and describes various major dance styles of India—Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Odissi, Kathakali, and Kathak—highlighting the unique aesthetic characteristics, rhythmic vocalizations (jathis), and emotional essence (bhava, raga, and tala) of each form.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Un vaedhanai oru aalaapanai

Compares pain to a musical elaboration (aalapanai) and the waist to a slender vine (idai kodi ena).

Enumeration / Cataloging (Adukku / Varisai)

Bharadhanaattiyam ... Koochippudi ... Manipuri ... Odisi ... Kadhakali ... Kathak

Lyrically catalogs major Indian classical dance forms sequentially with their unique rhythmic syllables.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Asaiyum asaivil buvanam ellaam kulungum

Exaggerates the movement of dance as shaking the entire universe and sound as a thousand divine veenas playing.

Did you know?

Trivia

This composition is a rare thematic song celebrating Indian classical dance forms. It connects the rhythmic bol (jathis) directly with the cultural geography and stylistic beauty of each traditional dance style mentioned.

Keep listening

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