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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Aathi Adi Aathi

From Rojavanam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Rojavanam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Netru endhan kanavil vandhaalCame into my dream yesterday,
Nilavin oliyai udai uduthiWearing the moonlight as her dress.
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Nenjodu kollaiyadithaalShe robbed me right at my heart,
Netriyil sariyum mudi thiruthiAdjusting the hair falling on her forehead.
Male
Kandathum kaadhal kondenI fell in love the moment I saw her,
Kaadhalai solla thudithenI yearned to express my love,
Ull naakku otti kollaBut my inner tongue got stuck,
Oomaiyaai nindru thavithenAnd I suffered standing mute.
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Netru endhan kanavil vandhaalCame into my dream yesterday,
Nilavin oliyai udai uduthiWearing the moonlight as her dress.
Male
Lala laala laala lala laalaaLala laala laala lala laalaa
Lala laala laala lala laalaaLala laala laala lala laalaa
LalalaalalaalalalalalalalalalalalalalaLalalaalalaalalalalalalalalalalalalala
Male
Kanavilae vandhaval aiyooAlas, the girl who came in my dream,
Kaalaiyil neril vandhu tholaithaalAppeared in front of me this morning!
Minnalai ondraai korthuStringing lightnings together,
Punnagai seithu kannai parithaalShe smiled and dazzled my eyes.
Male
En nenjil ulladhai ellamEverything that was in my heart,
Eluthu kooti solla ninaithenI wanted to spell out and say.
Mundhaanai moonjiyil pattadhumBut when her saree end touched my face,
Moochu maranthu moochai adaithenI forgot to breathe and gasped for air.
Male
Aanmaiyai thirudum azhagiThe beauty who steals manhood,
Aval pol yaarum illaiThere is no one like her.
Aasaiyai sollaavittaalIf I don't express my desire,
Meesaikku artham illaThere is no meaning to my mustache.
Paarvaiyil pesiya vaarthaiThe words spoken through her eyes,
Naavilae veli vara villaiDidn't come out through my tongue.
Paarkadal pakkam irunthumEven when sitting right next to the ocean of milk,
Poonaikku thairiyam illaiThe cat lacks the courage to drink.
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Hoi adi aathi adi aathiHey, oh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Netru endhan kanavil vandhaalCame into my dream yesterday,
Nilavin oliyai udai uduthiWearing the moonlight as her dress.
Male
Viligalai thirudiya mangaiThe maiden who stole my eyes,
Ver engum illai ver engum illaiIs nowhere else, nowhere else.
koopidu dhoorathil nindraalShe stood within calling distance,
Koopida thaanae kural valai illaiYet I didn't have the vocal cord to call her.
Male
Aanukku naanam vandhaalWhen a man experiences shyness,
Adhai vida veru avasthaiyum illaiThere is no worse plight than that.
Ootiyil pachai thanneerilLike taking a bath in cold water,
Kulipadhu pol ithu oru thollaiUp in Ooty, this is such a torment.
Male
Vandugal vinnappam pottuJust because bees submit a petition,
Thirapavai mottugal illaiFlower buds do not open up.
Mounathil kaadhal purindhaalIf love is understood in silence,
Vaazhkaiyil valiyae illaiThere is no pain in life.
Aagaayam thirumbhi kondaalIf the sky turns away,
Bhoomikku mazhai thuli illaiThere is no drop of rain for the earth.
Aval ennai virumbaa vittaalIf she does not love me,
En vaazhvil micham illaiNothing will remain in my life.
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Netru endhan kanavil vandhaalCame into my dream yesterday,
Nilavin oliyai udai uduthiWearing the moonlight as her dress.
Male
Adi aathi adi aathiOh my, oh my!
Azhagaana penn oruthiA beautiful girl...
Nenjodu kollaiyadithaalShe robbed me right at my heart,
Netriyil sariyum mudi thiruthiAdjusting the hair falling on her forehead.
Male
Kandathum kaadhal kondenI fell in love the moment I saw her,
Kaadhalai solla thudithenI yearned to express my love,
Ull naakku otti kollaBut my inner tongue got stuck,
Oomaiyaai nindru thavithenAnd I suffered standing mute.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic track expresses the protagonist's profound infatuation with a enchanting young woman. Having first seen her in a dream draped in moonlight, he is stunned to encounter her in person the following morning. The lyrics portray his overwhelming stage fright and shyness—despite his strong desire to confess his feelings, his tongue ties and he stands completely speechless in her divine presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Nilavin oliyai udai uduthi

Describing her garment as moonlight itself ('Nilavin oliyai udai uduthi') elevates her beauty to a celestial metaphor.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Netru endhan kanavil vandhaal / Netriyil sariyum mudi thiruthi

The second consonant 't' in 'Netru' and 'Netriyil' creates a pleasing rhyming harmony characteristic of Tamil poetry.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Minnalai ondraai korthu / Punnagai seithu kannai parithaal

Comparing her smile to strung-together lightning that blinds the eyes exaggerates her dazzling beauty.

Analogy

Paarkadal pakkam irunthum / Poonaikku thairiyam illai

Comparing the hero's hesitation to express love despite being near her to a shy cat unable to drink from an entire ocean of milk.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Deeva for the 1999 Tamil film 'Rojavanam', directed by Selva and starring Prashanth and Laila. The lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu and sung by Unni Menon.

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