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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aasai Alai Modhudhe

From Genova · 1953

Lyricist
Achu Rajamani
Singers
A. M. Rajah, P. Leela
Music directors
M. S. Vishwanathan, M. S. Gnanamani, T. A. Kalyanam
Movie name
Genova
Movie release year
1953
Lyrics added on
18 May 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aasaiyae alai moththae
Kasappaaguthae manamae
Aasaiyae alai moththae
Kasappaaguthae manamae
Thediyae manam oduthae
Anbe en aaruyirae
Thediyae manam oduthae
Anbe en aaruyirae unaiyae
Anbaana neeyum
Arugae illaathae
Anbaana neeyum arugae
Illaathae sugamae tharaathae
Nizhalkooda thee pol suduthae
Vidaathae karunaiyillaathae
Thediyae manam oduthae
Anbe en aaruyirae unaiyae
Anbe en aaruyirae
Ilamai Puraavae enaiyae nilaavae oo…oo…
Ilamai Puraavae enaiyae
Nilaavae ennaiyae nilaavae
Edhiraali polae vaattuthae
Pirivaalae naanae amaithiyillaenae
Thaniyaana Pothum pudhu vaazhvu yaedhu
Kadal neelam polae irulae innaalae
Kavalaiyathaalae kasappaaguthae manamae…yae…
Thediyae manam oduthae
Anbe en aaruyirae unaiyae
Aasaiyae alai moththae
Kasappaaguthae manamae
Longing surges like waves,
And my heart turns bitter.
Longing surges like waves,
Every day my heart turns bitter.
My heart runs in search,
My love, my dearest life.
My heart runs in search,
Searching for you, my love, my dearest life.
When you, who love me so,
Are not by my side,
When you, my loving one, are not near,
Nothing brings any joy;
Even the shade burns like fire,
Relentless and without mercy.
My heart runs in search,
Searching for you, my love, my dearest life.
My love, my dearest life.
My youthful dove, the moon to me, oh...
My youthful dove, to me,
The moon, to me, the moon,
Torments me like an enemy.
In this separation, I have no peace.
When left all alone, what new life can there be?
These days are as dark as the deep sea,
And from all this sorrow, my heart turns bitter...
My heart runs in search,
Searching for you, my love, my dearest life.
Longing surges like waves,
Every day my heart turns bitter...
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the poignant grief and agony of separation between lovers. The speaker feels that overwhelming desire crashes against the heart like relentless ocean waves, leaving behind bitterness and sorrow. Without the warmth of the beloved's presence, even cool shadows feel as hot as fire, and the surrounding world appears as dark and vast as the ocean.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Nizhalkooda thee pol suduthae

Compares pain and environmental coldness to fire ('Nizhalkooda thee pol suduthae' - Even the shadow burns like fire) and darkness to the blue ocean ('Kadal neelam polae irulae').

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Aasaiyae alai moththae

Desire is metaphorically visualised as crashing sea waves ('Aasaiyae alai moththae') and the beloved is called a 'youthful dove' and 'moon'.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thediyae manam oduthae / Anbe en aaruyirae

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds across adjacent lines to create melodic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Genova (1953) was a religious drama film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). It was originally produced as a Malayalam movie and simultaneously dubbed/shot in Tamil, marking one of MGR's early career films and an early musical composition credit involving M. S. Viswanathan before his famous partnership with T. K. Ramamoorthy.

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