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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aagaya Thamarai

From Nadodi Pattukkaran · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nadodi Pattukkaran1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Naadodi paadalilIn the nomad's song
Urugi nindradhaeStood melting in emotion
Male
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Naadodi paadalilIn the nomad's song
Urugi nindradhaeStood melting in emotion
Kaaval thanai thaandiyaeBypassing the security guards
Kaadhal thunai vendiyaeSeeking the companionship of love
Female
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Naadodi paadalilIn the nomad's song
Urugi nindradhaeStood melting in emotion
Kaaval thanai thaandiyaeBypassing the security guards
Kaadhal thunai vendiyaeSeeking the companionship of love
Male
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Male
Mellisai paattuHearing the soft melody
Muzhangida kettuResound softly
Idhayamae ilagudhaaDoes the heart soften?
Ila mayilaeOh young peacock!
Female
Nee mandhiram polaeLike a magical spell
Mani thamizhaalaeThrough precious Tamil
Isaikiraai izhukiraaiYou play music and entice me
IlavarasaeOh prince!
Male
Oru mada maadhuWill a innocent young woman
Inai piriyaadhuRemain inseparable,
Irukkumo … marakkumo…Or will she forget...?
Female :Oru pozhudhaenumFemale: Even for a single moment,
Aruviyai meenumWill a fish and the waterfall
Piriyumo… vilagumo…Part away... or drift apart...?
Male
Endru indha leelai ellaamWhen will all these divine love playings
Ellai thaandi povadhu …Cross their boundaries...
Female :Kayil yendhum velai ellaamFemale: All the time held in hand,
Kanni pogum poovidhuThis tender flower wilts
Male
Mutham thalaivanWhen the beloved lover's kiss
Idhazh padhithidaInprints on the lips,
Idhayam thithithidaMaking the heart turn sweet,
Pudhiya madhu rasam vazhindhidaAs fresh nectar overflows!
Female
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Male :Naadodi paadalilMale: In the nomad's song
Urugi nindradhaeStood melting in emotion
Male
Punnagai mullaiSmile like jasmine blossom,
Pudhu vizhi kuvalaiFresh eyes like water lilies,
Azhagiya adharangalAre these beautiful lips
Aravindha poovoo….Lotus flowers?
Male
Unn kannangal rojaYour cheeks are like roses,
Kodi idai alliSlender waist like a lily,
Nirathinil nee oruIn color and complexion, are you
Sevvandhi poovoo…A chrysanthemum flower?
Male
Shenbagam ondruHas a champak flower
Penn mugam konduTaken the form of a woman's face
Ennakena pirandhadhoo..And born just for me?
Kundrinil thondrumThe Kurinji flower of the hills,
Kurinjiyum ingaeHas it blossomed here
Kumariyaai vilaindhadhoo..As a young maiden?
Female
Minnum vanna pookkal ellaamAll these shimmering colorful flowers
Maalai endru aagalaamCan turn into a garland
Mannan thandha maalai endhanThe garland gifted by the king
Nenjai thottu aadalaamCan touch my heart and sway
Nenjai thazhuviyadhu thulangidaAs the heart's embrace shines bright,
Uravu vilangidaAs our bond becomes clear,
Inia kavidhaigal punaindhaidaTo compose sweet poetry...
Male
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by
Female :Naadodi paadalilFemale: In the nomad's song
Urugi nindradhaeStood melting in emotion
Male :Kaaval thanai thaandiyaeMale: Bypassing the security guards
Kaadhal thunai vendiyaeSeeking the companionship of love
Female
Aagaaya thaamaraiThe sky-bound lotus flower
Arugil vandhadhaeHas come close by

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aagaaya Thaamarai is a romantic duet from the film Nadodi Pattukkaran (1992), featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali. The song portrays a passionate exchange between two lovers who overcome external barriers and guards to unite through the power of music and poetry. The heroine is metaphorically described as a divine sky-lotus who melts upon hearing the nomad's soulful song. In the stanzas, the lovers trade poetic comparisons using classic Tamil floral imagery—comparing her smile to jasmine, eyes to water lilies, lips to lotuses, and rare beauty to the hill-dwelling Kurinji flower. The song celebrates deep intimacy, devotion, and the sweet blending of poetry, music, and romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aagaaya thaamarai

The heroine is described metaphorically as 'Aagaaya thaamarai' (celestial/sky lotus), emphasizing her rare, untouched, and divine beauty.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Nee mandhiram polae

Comparing the hero's words and music to a magical spell in 'Nee mandhiram polae'.

Floral Imagery (Sanga Ilakkiya Uvamaigal)

Punnagai mullai / Pudhu vizhi kuvalai

Extensive use of flower metaphors comparing body parts to flowers: Jasmine (Mullai) for smile, Water lily (Kuvalai) for eyes, Chrysanthemum (Sevvandhi) for skin, and Kurinji for rare beauty.

Second-Letter Rhyming (Edhugai)

Kundrinil thondrum / Kurinjiyum ingae

Repetition of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines like 'Mellisai' and 'Muzhangida' or 'Kundrinil' and 'Kurinjiyum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt header lists the music composer as unknown, 'Aagaaya Thaamarai' from Nadodi Pattukkaran (1992) is a famous Ilaiyaraaja composition, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The song stands out for Vaali's exquisite use of classical Sangam Tamil floral metaphors combined with Ilaiyaraaja's folk-classical melodic arrangement.

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