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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathi Antham

From Paadatha Thenikkal · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Krishnamoorthy, S. S. Chandran, Ilayaraja, P. Susheela, Manorama
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paadatha Thenikkal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadhi andham illaadhavanaeOh Lord without beginning or end
Aandavanae samboOh God Shambo (Shiva)
Thaedi unnai saran adaindhenSeeking you, I have surrendered
Illai endraal amboOtherwise I will be left stranded
Thaalai yaendhuvaaiHold out your hands
Kadhamba malar maalai sooduvaaiWear the garland of mixed blossoms
Moondru kannanaeOh three-eyed one
Udambu endrum saambal vannanaeWhose body is forever ash-colored
Saranam unadhadiI surrender at your feet
Male
Aadhi andham illaadhavanaeOh Lord without beginning or end
Aandavanae samboOh God Shambo
Thaedi unnai saran adaindhenSeeking you, I have surrendered
Illai endraal amboOtherwise I will be left stranded
Male
{Naaraayana naaraayana{Narayana Narayana
Male
Vanakkam naaradharae vanakkamWelcome Narada, welcome!
Appaavari patri paadi konduSinging praising the father
Pillai muruganidathilae vandhirukkireeraeYou have come to the son Murugan
Edhaavadhu galaattaavaaIs there any trouble brewing?
Male
Murugaa thangal kaiyl irundhaMuruga, where is the golden spear from your hand missing?
Thanga vael engae kaanavillaiI went to Thiruchendur
Male
Thiruchendhoor sendrirundhenThose sinners stole it!
Thirudi vittaargal paavigalIs this the plight even for God?
Male
Kadavulukkae indha nilaiyaaThey are stealing from God Himself!
Male
Kadavulaiyae thirudugiraargalAlright, what is the matter you came for?
Adhu sari thaangal vandha vishayamI saw a fruit in the earthly realm
Male
Boologathilae oru kaniyai kandenIs it a milk fruit or a fruit-faced beauty?
Male
Paal kaniyaa mugamadhu kaniyaaListen, I shall tell you} (Dialogue)
Male
Koorugiren kelungal} (Dialogue)Ah... I saw and rejoiced, I saw and rejoiced
Male
Aa… kandu kalithen kandu kalithenI saw a fruit in the forest and rejoiced
Kaattil kaniyai kandu kalithenI thought of you, I thought of you
Unnai ninaithen unnai ninaithenI yearned to bring her to you
Adhai unakkae saerkka enni thavithenMuruga, Muruga
Murugaa murugaaArahara, Arahara
Male
Arahara araharaHer beauty is exquisite
Male
Aval azhago azhaguSiva Siva Siva Siva
Male
Siva siva siva sivaLeave, leave!
Male
Kilambu kilambuArahara, Arahara
Male
Arahara araharaLeave immediately!
Male
Nee udanae kilambu{Can you tell me the address?
Male
{Addressai koora mudiyumaaOh yes garden
Male
O yes gardenOh yes garden? Ah, that is
Male
O yes garden ah adhuIs that Villi Garden?
Villi gaardanaachaeForgive me
Male
Mannikka vendumHere it is, Valli Garden} (Dialogue)
Idho irukkiradhu valli garden} (Dialogue)I took a sling in my hand
Female
Kaiyil oru kaval eduthaenaeI will strike you with a stone
Kallaal unnai naan adippenaeValli, dancing in my forest
Valli en vanathinil aadumOh birds, hey shoo!
Kuruviglae hei aaloolamOh birds, hey shoo!
Chorus
Kuruviglae hei aaloolamAha, on the millet field
Female
Aha thinai punam meedhiniOh feeding birds
Maeyira kuruvigalaeGo away, go away, go away!
Chorus
Chee po chee po chee poGrowing in our forest
Female
Engal vanathinil vilaiyiraIs that corn cob sour?
Chola kadhir adhu cheeppaSour, sour, sour!
Chorus
Cheeppa cheeppa cheeppa{Who are you, sir?
Female
{Yaaraiyaa neerDon't you know me?
Male
Ennaiyaa theriyavillaiLook closely, I am the Rising Sun
Nandraaga paar udhaya sooriyanThe whole world knows me, don't you?
Ulagathukkae theriyumae unakkaa theriyavillaiI know, I know!
Female
Therigiradhu therigiradhuWhy did you come here?} (Dialogue)
Engu vandheer} (Dialogue)In the un-withered forest
Male
Kaayaadha kaanagathaeOh maiden wandering around
Nindrulaavum kaarigaiyaeIn the un-withered forest
Kaayaadha kaanagathaeOh maiden wandering around
Nindrulaavum kaarigaiyaeHey, a deer that doesn't graze
Adi maeyaadha maanum varaHave you ever seen such a deer, maiden?
Kandadhundo kaarigaiyaeA deer that doesn't graze
Maeyaadha maanum varaHave you ever seen such a deer, maiden?
Kandadhundo kaarigaiyae{What are the identification marks of your deer?
Female
{Umadhu maanukku enna adaiyaalamIt has stripes on its body
Male
Udambil vari variyaaga irukkumHmm, that is a tiger, old man!
Female
Hum adhu puliyappaaHahaha, let me explain clearly, listen} (Dialogue)
Male
Hahaha vilakkamaaga solgiren kel} (Dialogue)The deer is a deer wearing a flower sari
Male
Maanu poo chaela katti nirkkum maanuChorus: Hahaha
Chorus :HahahahaMale: Fish, both eyes of that deer are like fish
Male :Meenu andha maanoda kannu rendum meenuChorus: Hahaha
Chorus :HahahahahaIt doesn't have two horns, wait, it has two horns
Kombu rendu illaiyadi kombu rendu unduIt doesn't have spots, wait, it even has spots
Pulli yaedhum illaiyadi pulli kooda unduThe deer is a deer wearing a flower sari
Male
Maanu poo chaela katti nirkkum maanuChorus: Hahaha
Chorus :HahahahaMale: Fish, both eyes of that deer are like fish
Male :Meenu andha maanoda kannu rendum meenuYou are a hunter who came to pick a fight
Female
Vambizhukka vandha vaedan neeComing into the forest
Vanathil vandhuYou are a fool searching for a woman
Pombalaiya thaedum moodan neeHey jingala jingaa jeeboombaa jingala jingaa
Oi jingala jingaa jeeboombaa jingala jingaaMove aside
Chorus
Oram poHey jingala jingaa move aside jingala jingaa
Female
Oi jingala jingaa oram po jingala jingaaMove aside
Chorus
Oram poIf I move further aside
Male
Idhukku maela oram ponaaI will fall off the stage, my lady!} (Dialogue)
Stage la irundhu keezha vizhundhuruvenammaa (Dialogue)I am not married
Male
Kalyaanam aagavillaeI have no family or children
Pulla kutti yaedhum illaeIn this frail old age, who is there for me here?
Thallaadha vayadhinilae yaar enakkingaeWho is my match here, who is my match?
Yaar enakkingae jodi yaar enakkingaeYou are the right match for me
Nee thaan enakku sari jodiWill anyone come as a companion like you?
Onna pol thona thaan varumaadiIn the millet flour mixed with honey, hey
Female
Thaen kalandhae thinai maavinilae hoiI will mix and give it to you
Naan kalandhae unakkae tharuvenWhile eating, hiccups will come
Male
Thinnum pozhudhu vikkal varumaeIf hiccups come, I will give you water
Female
Vikkal eduthaal thanni tharuvenLaalla lallaa laallaa laallaa laalla lallaa laallaa laallaa
Laalla lallaa laallaa laallaa laalla lallaa laallaa laallaa{Ma'am, this is the nostril
Male
{Ammaa idhu mookku ottaiThe mouth opening is over here
Vaai ottai ingae irukkiradhuForgive me, grandfather
Female
Mannikka vendum thaathaaBecause it is covered with hair
Mudi moodi iruppadhaalI couldn't tell where the mouth was} (Dialogue)
Vaai engae irukkiradhendru theriyavillai} (Dialogue)Give it to grandfather, give it
Male
Thaathaavukku kudumaa kudumaaOh, just give one
Ada onnae onnuWill anyone come like this grandfather?
Indha thaathaa pola varumaa varumaaOh my precious eye
En kanane kannuHey, give it to grandfather, give it
Haei thaathaavukku kudumaa kudumaaOh, just give one
Ada onnae onnuWill anyone come like this grandfather?
Indha thaathaa pola varumaa varumaaOh my precious eye
En kanane kannuWith a greyed mustache, asking for a girl?
Chorus
Meesa narachaa ponnu kekkiradhaaI have the strength to embrace you!
Male
Enakku thembu irukku anaikka thaanOh Vinayagar, Lord Ganapathi
Male
Vinaayagarae ganapathiyaaraeThe one born before me
Enakku munnaal pirandhavaraeBrother, save me!} (Dialogue)
Annaa ennai kaappaatru (Dialogue)Do it with full power, my younger brother
Male
Veluthu kattikkadaa en thambiGolden rod
Thanga kambiWrap her around and hold her
Valachu pudichukkadaaYour Valli, the colorful parrot
On valli vanna kiliDo it with full power, my younger brother
Nallaa veluthu kattikkadaa en thambiGolden rod
Thanga kambiWrap her around and hold her
Valachu pudichukkadaaYour Valli, the colorful parrot
On valli vanna kili

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This track from the 1988 Tamil film Paadatha Thenikkal is a playful musical drama depicting the classical folk legend of Valli Thirumanam (the divine courtings of Lord Murugan and Valli) presented in a comedic, stage-play format with theatrical dialogues. It begins with devotions to Lord Shiva and Narada setting the stage by informing Murugan about the beautiful Valli residing in her millet field garden. Murugan disguises himself first as a hunter searching for a special 'deer' (metaphor for Valli) and later as an old man flirting with her, leading to lighthearted banter, comedic mistakes, and devotional interventions. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly blends traditional devotional poetry with theatrical humor, creating an engaging folk operetta that captures Tamil folklore in a lively, contemporary cinematic style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ezhugai (Rhyme / Alliteration)

Aadhi andham illaadhavanae / Aandavanae sambo

Initial and end-rhyme pairing such as 'Aadhi andham' and 'Aandavanae' creating rhythm in devotional opening lines.

Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)

Meenu andha maanoda kannu rendum meenu

Comparing the eyes of the maiden (Valli) to fish ('kannu rendum meenu') and describing her as a deer wearing a floral sari.

Onomatopoeia (Sound symbolism)

Kuruviglae hei aaloolam

Use of rhythmic folk sound chants like 'Aaloolam' used traditionally to scare away birds from millet crop fields.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song dramatizes the iconic Valli Thirumanam folk play, a staple of traditional Tamil Therukoothu (street theatre) and drama troupe enactments, cleverly adapted into 1980s Tamil cinema music.

Keep listening

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