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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aasai Mugam

From Suchithra Album Songs · 2015

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Suchitra
Music director
Suchitra
Details
Suchithra Album Songs2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aasai mugam marandhu pochaeThe beloved face has been forgotten,
Idhai aaridam solvenadi thozhi…To whom shall I express this sorrow, my friend?
Aasai mugam marandhu pochaeThe beloved face has been forgotten,
Idhai aaridam solvenadi thozhi…To whom shall I express this sorrow, my friend?
Female
Nesam marakkavillai nenjamMy heart has not forgotten the love,
Nesam marakkavillai nenjamMy heart has not forgotten the love,
Nesam marakkavillai nenjamMy heart has not forgotten the love,
Enil ninaivu mugam marakkalaamo…..Yet, how could the face in my memory be forgotten?
Female
Nesam marakkavillai nenjamMy heart has not forgotten the love,
Enil ninaivu mugam marakkalaamo….Yet, how could the face in my memory be forgotten?
Female
Aasai mugam marandhu pochaeThe beloved face has been forgotten,
Idhai aaridam solvenadi thozhi…To whom shall I express this sorrow, my friend?
Female
Kannil theriyudhoru thotramAn image appears before my eyes,
Adhil kannan azhagu muzhudhillaiYet it does not hold the complete beauty of Kannan.
Kannil theriyudhoru thotramAn image appears before my eyes,
Adhil kannan azhagu muzhudhillaiYet it does not hold the complete beauty of Kannan.
Female
Nannu muga vadivu kaanilEven if I catch a glimpse of his facial shape,
Andha nalla malarchirippai kaanomThat beautiful flower-like smile is nowhere to be seen.
Female
Kangal purindhu vitta paavamIt is the sin committed by my eyes,
Uyir kannan uru marakkalaachu….That the form of my life-given Kannan has been forgotten.
Pengal inathil idhu polaeAmong womanhood, like this,
Oru pedhaiyai munbu kandadhundo…..Have you ever seen such a foolish girl before?
Female
Aasai mugam marandhu pochaeThe beloved face has been forgotten,
Idhai aaridam solvenadi thozhi…To whom shall I express this sorrow, my friend?
Female
Kannan mugam marandhu ponaalIf Kannan's face is forgotten,
Kannan mugam marandhu ponaalIf Kannan's face is forgotten,
Kannan mugam marandhu ponaalIf Kannan's face is forgotten,
Indha kangal irundhum payanundo…What is the use of having these eyes?
Kannan mugam marandhu ponaalIf Kannan's face is forgotten,
Indha kangal irundhum payanundo….What is the use of having these eyes?
Vanna padamum illai kandaaiThere is not even a colorful portrait, you see,
Ini vaazhum vazhi ennadi thozhi….What is the way for me to live now, my friend?
Female
Aasai mugam marandhu pochae….The beloved face has been forgotten...
Aasai mugam marandhu pochae…The beloved face has been forgotten...
Aasai mugam marandhu pochaeThe beloved face has been forgotten,
Idhai aaridam solvenadi thozhi…thozhiii…To whom shall I express this sorrow, my friend... my friend...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aasai Mugam Marandhu Pochae is a deeply emotional poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar. Expressed in the voice of a heroine (Nayaki) addressing her close companion (Thozhi), the poem captures the profound despair of realizing that she can no longer visualize the exact facial features of her beloved Krishna (Kannan), despite her love for him remaining undiminished in her heart. She laments that while a vague outline appears before her, his divine, blossom-like smile escapes her memory, blaming her own eyes for committing the sin of forgetting his divine form. Without even a portrait to look at, she despairs over the uselessness of her sight and wonders how she can go on living.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Andha nalla malarchirippai kaanom

Comparing Kannan's gentle, vibrant smile directly to a flower ('Malar chirippu').

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaaram)

Indha kangal irundhum payanundo…

Expressing grief through a dramatic question about the uselessness of eyes that cannot recall the divine face.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Nesam marakkavillai nenjam / Enil ninaivu mugam marakkalaamo

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ne' in 'Nesam' and 'Ninaivu'.

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukkiya Sol)

Kannan mugam marandhu ponaal

Repetition of lines to emphasize emotional distress and despair.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, this iconic work belongs to the 'Kannan Pattu' series utilizing Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava (the spiritual longing of the human soul represented as a maiden for God represented as the divine lover). It is widely performed in Carnatic music concerts and has been adapted across various modern fusion and film music albums.

Keep listening

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