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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Aathirathil Sathirathai

From Palootti Valartha Kili · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Palootti Valartha Kili1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Adi aathirathil saathirathaiOh girl, in your haste, the scriptures and traditions,
Ammadi maranthaaiyooOh dear, did you forget?
Dhinam ariyaamal puriyaamalEvery day, without knowing or understanding,
Aiyaavai ninaithaaiyooDid you keep thinking of your lord?
Chorus
Adi paadhiyilae otti sellumOh girl, a palanquin moving halfway,
Pallaakku nulaiyaadhuWill not be able to enter.
Pengal palli kollumInside the house where women sleep,
Veetukullae sallabam nadakkadhuIntimacy cannot take place.
Chorus
Adi aathirathil saathirathaiOh girl, in your haste, the scriptures and traditions,
Ammadi maranthaaiyooOh dear, did you forget?
Dhinam ariyaamal puriyaamalEvery day, without knowing or understanding,
Aiyaavai ninaithaaiyooDid you keep thinking of your lord?
Female
Seedhai kannil raman thottramIn Sita's eyes, Rama's form appears,
Raadhai kannil kannan thottramIn Radha's eyes, Krishna's form appears.
Seedhai kannil raman thottramIn Sita's eyes, Rama's form appears,
Raadhai kannil kannan thottramIn Radha's eyes, Krishna's form appears.
Ellorukkum ullam ondru undaanadhuA single heart was created for everyone,
Ullaam thannil pathaam vaasal nindraadhuAnd in that heart stands the tenth entrance.
Chorus
Adi kathu konda vithaiellam katturaOh girl, you show off all the arts you learned,
Udal thathuvathai istathukku maathuraYou change bodily nature as per your whim.
Konda achathaiyum vittu vittu paakkuraShedding your fear, you keep watching,
Vandha vetkathaiyum vittu vittu kekkiraLeaving aside your bashfulness, you keep asking.
Female
Idhukku yaaradi vidhivilakkuWho is ever an exception to this, girl?
Adi aathirathil saathirathai ammadi maarndhaaiyooOh girl, in haste, did you forget traditions, dear?
Idhai ariyaamal puriyaamal pennaaga pirandhaayooWithout knowing or understanding this, were you born a woman?
Female
Kangal irandu kaatchi ondruTwo eyes, but one single vision,
Penmai endraal aatchi unduWhere there is womanhood, there is reign.
Poovanadhum angae vandhu vandaadudhuWhen it becomes a flower garden, bees come and hover there,
Koodathu endru sonnaal kooda kondaadudhuEven if forbidden, it celebrates.
Chorus
Idhu rombha rombha muthivitta paithiyamThis is a madness that has reached its extreme limit,
Ini nimidathil illaiyadi vaithiyamNow there is no quick cure, my girl.
Idhu andhi pagal illadha yaathiraiThis is a journey without night or day,
Ini aiyan vandhu thandhaal thaan maathiraiOnly if the master comes and gives, there is a pill/cure.
Female
Idhukku yaaradi vidhivilakkuWho is ever an exception to this, girl?
Adi aathirathil saathirathai ammadi maarndhaaiyooOh girl, in haste, did you forget traditions, dear?
Idhai ariyaamal puriyaamal pennaaga pirandhaayooWithout knowing or understanding this, were you born a woman?
Female
Adi pasiyaale oosi koruThread a needle through sheer hunger,
Pallaakku vadivaagumAnd it takes the shape of a palanquin.
Pengal palli kondaalWhen women go to sleep,
Karpanaiyil sallabam uruvaagamIntimacy takes shape in their imagination.
Female
Adi aathirathil saathirathaiOh girl, in your haste, the scriptures,
Ammadi maranthaaiyooOh dear, did you forget?
Idhai ariyaamal puriyaamalWithout knowing or understanding this,
Pennaaga pirandhaaiyooWere you born a woman?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Palootti Valartha Kili' (1976) is a playful, folk-infused lyric teasing a young woman lost in the overwhelming emotions of love and longing. The lyrics contrast traditional rules and modest propriety with the relentless nature of romantic passion, observing how love makes one forget societal norms and caution.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Internal Rhyme / Assonance (Iyalbu Monai & Edhugai)

Adi aathirathil saathirathai

The pairing of 'aathirathil' (haste) and 'saathirathai' (tradition/scripture) provides a rhythmic sound pattern while emphasizing the thematic conflict between emotion and tradition.

Parallelism & Allusion

Seedhai kannil raman thottram / Raadhai kannil kannan thottram

Compares human romantic longing to divine devotion using legendary mythological couples (Sita-Rama and Radha-Krishna).

Couplet End Rhyme (Edhugai)

Kangal irandu kaatchi ondru / Penmai endraal aatchi undu

The second letter harmony and end-rhyming structure of 'kaatchi ondru' and 'aatchi undu' creates a lyrical balance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja in 1976 during the early phase of his musical career, this track features lyrics by Kannadasan, who masterfully blended philosophical idioms about human desire and traditional social boundaries into a accessible folk style.

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