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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adipodi Paithiyakari Naan

From Thamarai Nenjam · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thamarai Nenjam1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan arindhaval thaanI am one who knows;
Unnai purindhaval thaanI am one who understands you.
Naan arindhaval thaanI am one who knows;
Unnai purindhaval thaanI am one who understands you.
Female
Ninaithathellam mudithu vittenI have fulfilled everything I ever wished for,
Ini veru aasai illaiI have no other desires left now.
Ninaithathellam mudithu vittenI have fulfilled everything I ever wished for,
Ini veru aasai illaiI have no other desires left now.
Nilai maara povadhillaiMy status will not change,
Nizhal thedum ennam illaiI have no intention of seeking a shadow.
Nilai maara povadhillaiMy status will not change,
Nizhal thedum ennam illaiI have no intention of seeking a shadow.
Nizhal thedum ennam illaiI have no intention of seeking a shadow.
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Female
Naan arindhaval thaanI am one who knows;
Unnai purindhaval thaanI am one who understands you.
Female
Iraivan oru naal thoongi vittaanGod fell asleep one day,
Ezhuthai konjam mattri vittaanAnd slightly altered my written destiny.
Iraivan oru naal thoongi vittaanGod fell asleep one day,
Ezhuthai konjam mattri vittaanAnd slightly altered my written destiny.
Ezhuthai konjam mattri vittaanAnd slightly altered my written destiny.
Ezhudhum kadhaiyai maattri ezhudhaTo rewrite the story being written,
Ennai engae thoodhu vittaanWhy did He send me as a messenger here?
Unnai kandu pesa vittaanAnd make me speak upon seeing you?
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Female
Naan arindhaval thaanI am one who knows;
Unnai purindhaval thaanI am one who understands you.
Female
Kangal arugae imai irundhumThough the eyelid is right next to the eye,
Kangal imaiyai paarthathillaiThe eye has never seen the eyelid.
Kangal arugae imai irundhumThough the eyelid is right next to the eye,
Kangal imaiyai paarthathillaiThe eye has never seen the eyelid.
Kangal imaiyai paarthathillaiThe eye has never seen the eyelid.
Indha uvamai konjam pudhumaiThis simile is a bit novel;
Innum unakken puriyavillaiWhy do you still not understand it?
Verenna solven theriyavillaiI don't know what else to say.
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan arindhaval thaanI am one who knows;
Unnai purindhaval thaanI am one who understands you.
Female
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Female
Vilakkin oliyaai nee irundhalIf you exist as the light of the lamp,
Vizhundha nizhalaai naan iruppenI will remain as the cast shadow.
Female
Nizhalum oliyum servadhillaiThe shadow and the light do not unite,
Nilavum vaanum pirivadhillaiYet the moon and the sky never part.
Female
Thiyaaga nenjam deiva nenjamA self-sacrificing heart is a divine heart;
Naanum deivam aavenooWill I also become a divine being?
Female
Naan paadhai maari povenooOr will I change my path and wander away?
Female
Adi podi paithiyakkariGo away, crazy girl!
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?
Naan ariyaadhavala sinnansirusaDon't I know the mind of this young girl?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Thamarai Nenjam' (1968) is a musical dialogue between two close female characters, sung by P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari. One friend teasingly chides the other as 'crazy' while claiming to know her innermost thoughts and emotions. In response, the other friend reflects deeply on fate, selflessness, and love, questioning why destiny has brought them into each other's lives and expressing a willingness to make personal sacrifices. Through poetic allegories—such as the eye being unable to look at its own eyelid, and light being inextricably linked with shadow—the song explores proximity, unfulfilled desires, and divine sacrifice. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance turns a playful interaction into a profound exploration of human relationships and silent devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Kangal arugae imai irundhum / Kangal imaiyai paarthathillai

The lyrics compare human proximity and emotional blindness to the eye being unable to see its adjacent eyelid.

Contrast / Antithesis

Vilakkin oliyaai nee irundhal / Vizhundha nizhalaai naan iruppen

The interplay between 'light' (oli) and 'shadow' (nizhal) creates a striking poetic contrast to highlight inseparable yet distinct destinies.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Nizhalum oliyum servadhillai / Nilavum vaanum pirivadhillai

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds ('Nizhalum' and 'Nilavum') across lines.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Iraivan oru naal thoongi vittaan / Ezhuthai konjam mattri vittaan

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'ra' across lines 'Iraivan' and 'Ezhuthai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Directed by K. Balachander, 'Thamarai Nenjam' (1968) featured music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan. This song stands out as a classic female duet pairing P. Susheela's soulful voice with L. R. Eswari's expressive, playful vocal texture to reflect two contrasting emotional mindsets.

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