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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadakkanbathau Kaveri

From Vazhkai Vazhvatharke · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Vazhkai Vazhvatharke1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haa….aaa….aaa…Vocalizing (Ah...)
Hoo ooo oooVocalizing (Ho...)
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellamWhat is seen dancing is the Kaveri floodwaters
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullamWhat is seen filled with desire is the heart of young maidens
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathuWhat is seen running wild is the youthful breeze
Ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hooOhoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hoo
Female
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellamWhat is seen dancing is the Kaveri floodwaters
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullamWhat is seen filled with desire is the heart of young maidens
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathuWhat is seen running wild is the youthful breeze
Ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hooOhoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo hoo
Female
Pootiya nenjin nattiyam arindhuUnderstanding the dance inside a locked heart
Kottilirundhu paadudhu ilamaiyai paathuSinging from its branch while looking at youthfulness
Pootiya nenjin nattiyam arindhuUnderstanding the dance inside a locked heart
Kottilirundhu paravai parandhuA bird flying out from its branch
Paatondru paadudhu ilamaiyai paathuSinging a song while looking at youthfulness
Kattaana motteduthu kattaana sittadudhuTaking firm buds, the graceful little bird dances
Female
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellamWhat is seen dancing is the Kaveri floodwaters
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullamWhat is seen filled with desire is the heart of young maidens
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathuWhat is seen running wild is the youthful breeze
Ohoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hooOhoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo
Female
Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthuGrowing a form soft like a lotus flower
Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhuWith two eyes blooming bright like stars
Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthuGrowing a form soft like a lotus flower
Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhuWith two eyes blooming bright like stars
Poo mazhai thoovudhu punnagai thaavudhuShowering a rain of flowers as smiles leap forth
Poo mazhai thoovudhu punnagai thaavudhuShowering a rain of flowers as smiles leap forth
Ponnondru pennaandhuA piece of pure gold becoming a young woman
Ennangal undaanadhuAwakening new thoughts and romantic desires
Female
Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellamWhat is seen dancing is the Kaveri floodwaters
Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullamWhat is seen filled with desire is the heart of young maidens
Oda kaanbathu paruvathu kaathuWhat is seen running wild is the youthful breeze
Ohoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hooOhoo ohoo ohoo ohoo hoo hoo
Male
Ohoo hoo hoo haaa…aaa…aaa…Vocalizing (Ohoo hoo...)
Female :Haa…aa…hahaha…aa….aaa…Female vocalizing
Female
Iyarkaiyin naadagam maedaiyilaeOn the stage of nature's drama
Inimai enum siru solaiyialeInside a sweet small grove
Male :Haa…aaa…Male vocalizing
Female :Iyarkaiyin naadagam maedaiyilaeFemale: On the stage of nature's drama
Inimai enum siru solaiyialeInside a sweet small grove
Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamalA painted portrait, flawless and perfect
Ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilaeRose up and walked in the evening
Male :Ahaa haa hoo oooMale vocalizing
Female
Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamalA painted portrait, flawless and perfect
Ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilaeRose up and walked in the evening
Ilamai inimel yaaridamooTo whom will this youth belong from now on?
Iraivan thiruullam evvidumooWhere will God's divine will lead it?
Kanimozhi pesidum kanniyin ullamThe heart of the maiden speaking sweet, soft words
Kanimozhi pesidum kanniyin ullamThe heart of the maiden speaking sweet, soft words
Yaarodu poradumoo inguWith whom will it struggle/intertwine here?
Paalodu thaenaagumooWill it blend together like honey in milk?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Aadakaanbathu Kaveri Vellam' from the 1964 film Vazhkai Vazhvatharke is a lyrical masterpiece by Kannadasan set to a breezy melody by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. The song celebrates the bloom of youth and love, drawing vivid parallels between the beauty of nature—such as the surging Kaveri river, lotus blossoms, and singing birds—and the emerging romantic desires in a young maiden's heart. It beautifully captures the innocence, curiosity, and sweet anxiety of youthful romance as two souls anticipate their destiny together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu / Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu

Compares eyes blooming to stars blossoming ('Thaaragai pol iru vizhigal malarndhu') and body softness to a lotus flower ('Thaamarai poopol maeni valarnthu').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal ezhundhu nadanthathu maalaiyilae

Metaphorically describes a pristine maiden as a painted artwork coming to life ('Ezhudhiya oviyam pazhuthu padaamal ezhundhu nadanthathu').

Anaphora / Rhyme (Emoni & Ethirhai)

Aadakaanbathu kaveri vellam / Aasaiyai kaanbathu kanniyar ullam

Parallel sentence structure starting with 'Aadakaanbathu', 'Aasaiyai kaanbathu', and 'Oda kaanbathu' creating rhythmic harmony.

Idiomatic Metaphor

Paalodu thaenaagumoo

Blending like honey and milk ('Paalodu thaenaagumoo') represents perfect union and harmony in romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and features playful vocal embellishments by P. Susheela and K. Jamunarani, epitomizing the classic 1960s Tamil cinema musical style.

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