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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathorathile Aalamaram

From Kasi · 2001

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kasi2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Aadum nenjil aadum chinnaDancing in the swaying heart, little
Kannammaa kannammaaKannamma, Kannamma
Aadi vellam pola pongi paadalaamaaShall I sing overflowing like the monsoon floods of Aadi?
Male
Koodu katti nenjil vaazhumLiving in my heart by building a nest,
Ponnammaa ponnammaaPonnamma, Ponnamma
Konji konji konjam vanthu pesalaamaaShall we come and speak lovingly with sweet coaxing words?
Onnath thaanae paattil vechchaenI have kept only you in my song
Nenjukkulla pooti vechchaenI have locked you inside my heart
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Velli kolusu rendu thulli kulungaAs the pair of silver anklets jingle and bounce
Unthan kaaladiyin oosai mattum ketkkumOnly the sound of your footsteps is heard
Nenjil varainju vechcha unthan azhaaiYour beauty that was drawn in my heart
Kannil paarththirukka aasai ellaam theerumAll desires will be fulfilled when seeing it with my eyes
Male
Vaanin vadivam enna mannanin vanappum ennaWhat is the shape of the sky, what is the beauty of the king
Nee koduththa kannai kondu paarppaenI will see using the eye you donated to me
Kaadu malaigal engum odi kudhichchu vanthuRunning and jumping across forests and mountains
Ooivedukka un madiyai ketpaenI will ask for your lap to rest
Male
En vaanilae naan paarkkumIn my sky, that which I behold
Pon vasantha kaalamThe golden spring season
Needhaanammaa naan paadumIt is you, my dear, that I sing
En uyirin raagamThe melody of my soul
Kannmaniyin paavai enaLike the pupil inside the eye
Kannukkullae vanthavalaeO girl who came inside my eyes
Unnaththaanae paattil vechchaenI have kept only you in my song
Nenjukkullae pootti vechchaenI have locked you inside my heart
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Kangal iranduOut of two eyes
Adhil onna enakku thanthaYou gave one to me
Un kadana eppadi naan theerppaenHow will I repay your debt?
Rendu kural irunthaa onna unakku thanthuIf I had two voices, I would give one to you
Naanum unnai paada solli ketpaenAnd ask you to sing for me to listen
Male
Velli nilavil kooda ulla kalangam paththiAbout the blemishes even on the silver moon
Ooru solla kettathundu maanaeI have heard the townspeople talk, my deer
Kallam kabadam yaedhum illaa kuzhanthai endruLike an innocent child without any deceit or trickery
Thulli vantha kolli malai thaenaeO honey of Kolli Hills that came leaping
Male
Nettru varaikkumUntil yesterday
Naan paarththa karpanaigal yaavumAll the imaginations I had witnessed
Unmai enavae naan kaanaFor me to see them as reality
Kannil vantha oliyae….ae…O light that entered my eyes!
Kannmaniyin paavai enaLike the pupil inside the eye
Kannukkullae vanthavalaeO girl who came inside my eyes
Unnath thaanae paattil vechchaenI have kept only you in my song
Nenjukkullae pootti vechchaenI have locked you inside my heart
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!
Male
Aaththoraththilae aalamaram aalamaramBy the riverbank, there is a banyan tree, a banyan tree
Aalamaraththila thooli katti aada varumTied to the banyan tree, a cradle sways
SwarnakuyilaeO golden cuckoo!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful Tamil song expresses profound gratitude, deep love, and emotional devotion. The protagonist, a visually impaired man, sings to his beloved who selflessly sacrificed one of her eyes so that he could gain sight. He compares her pure affection to nature's treasures—golden springs, forest honey, and the swelling river floods of the Tamil month Aadi.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Aaththoraththilae aalamaram / Aalamaraththila thooli katti

Repetition of initial vowel sounds across lines for musical harmony.

Upamai (Simile)

Aadi vellam pola pongi paadalaamaa

Comparing the urge to sing to the surging floodwaters of the Aadi month.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Pon vasantha kaalam / Needhaanammaa naan paadum / En uyirin raagam

Directly metaphorizing the beloved as the golden spring season and the soul's melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Kasi' (2001) stars Vikram as a blind village singer. The song features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with deeply moving lyrics penned by veteran poet Pulamaipithan.

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