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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ambikapathy

From Ambikapathy · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Naresh Iyer
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Ambikapathy2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oo… gangaiyilaeOh... in the Ganges
Oru vanna paravaiA colorful bird
Muzhgiyathae neeroduWas submerged along with the water
Andha paravai karai vandhathaeThat bird came to the shore
Andha paravai karai vandhathaeThat bird came to the shore
Adhisayamana… devathaiyaa…Is it a miraculous angel?
Male
Andha gangai aatrilIn that Ganges river
Oru vanna paravaiA colorful bird
Muzhigiyathae neeroduWas submerged along with the water
Athu karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Kangal koosum devathaiyaagaAs a dazzling angel blinding the eyes
Male
Avala avala paaruLook at her, look at her
Aval amaravathiya keluAsk if she is Amaravathi
Ambikapathi thaan naanuI am indeed Ambikapathi
Amaravathi thaan yaaroWho then is Amaravathi?
Ambikapathi thaan naanuI am indeed Ambikapathi
Amaravathi thaan yaaroWho then is Amaravathi?
Oo.. amaravathi thaan yaaroOh.. who then is Amaravathi?
Male
Andha gangai aatrilIn that Ganges river
Oru vanna paravaiA colorful bird
Muzhigiyathae neeroduWas submerged along with the water
Athu karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Kangal koosum devathaiyaagaAs a dazzling angel blinding the eyes
Male
Adi enakku enakku endruHey, claiming 'for me, for me'
Thudikkum thudikkum manamThe heart that beats, beats
Unakku unakku endrathaeNow said 'for you, for you'
Dhinam thanakku thanakku enaDaily yearning 'for oneself, for oneself'
Thavikkum thavikkum ullamThe heart that suffers, suffers
Namakku namakku endru solluthaeNow says 'for us, for us'
Male
Ennai kavignan kavignanConsidering myself a poet, a poet
Endru karuthi kidanthaThe pride that lay within me
Oru garvam alinthu vittathaeHas been completely destroyed
Unnai kadakkum pozhuthuWhen passing by you
Kannil adikkum azhaguThe beauty striking in your eyes
Ennai kadaiyan kadaiyanPushes me down, calling me the lowest of the low
Endru thalluthaePushes me down
Male
Kaasinagar veedhiStreet of the city of Kashi
Pakkam vaadiCome to this side
Kannil ondrai pichaiGive a glance as alms
Pottu podiToss it and go
Male
Avala avala paaruLook at her, look at her
Aval amaravathiya keluAsk if she is Amaravathi
Oo.. amaravathiya keluOh.. ask if she is Amaravathi
Male
Pala kuzhigal kadanthuCrossing many pits
Vazhi nadanthu nadanthuWalking on and on
Manam vizhiyil vizhunthu vidumaeThe mind will fall into the eyes
Siru pookal thodupatharkkuTo string small flowers together
Katthi unakkedharkkuWhy do you need a knife?
Oosi ondru pothumaeA single needle is enough
Male
Unnai ninaithu ninaithuThinking of you, thinking of you
Vizhi nanaithu nanaithuDrenching the eyes with tears
Udal ilaithu ilaithu vittadhaeThe body has grown thin and weak
Uyir therikka therikkaAs the soul shatters and scatters
Unai thurathi thurathiChasing you, chasing you
Enai varuthi varuthiTormenting myself, tormenting myself
Moochu muttuthaeMy breath feels choked
Male
Mannil vanthomWe came to this earth
Innoru paathi thediSearching for our other half
Nee thedum paathiThe half that you search for
Naan pennae vaadiIs me, girl, come here
Male
Andha gangai aatrilIn that Ganges river
Oru vanna paravaiA colorful bird
Muzhigiyathae neeroduWas submerged along with the water
Athu karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Kangal koosum devathaiyaagaAs a dazzling angel blinding the eyes
Male
Avala avala paaruLook at her, look at her
Aval amaravathiya keluAsk if she is Amaravathi
Ambikapathi thaan naanuI am indeed Ambikapathi
Amaravathi thaan yaaroWho then is Amaravathi?
Ambikapathi thaan naanuI am indeed Ambikapathi
Amaravathi thaan yaaroWho then is Amaravathi?
Oo.. amaravathi thaan yaaroOh.. who then is Amaravathi?
Male
Andha gangai aatrilIn that Ganges river
Oru vanna paravaiA colorful bird
Muzhigiyathae neeroduWas submerged along with the water
Athu karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Karaiyil vanthathaeIt came to the shore
Kangal koosum devathaiyaagaAs a dazzling angel blinding the eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Ambikapathy' (the Tamil adaptation of Raanjhanaa) expresses the protagonist's profound, transcendent love set against the spiritual backdrops of Varanasi and the river Ganges. The lyrics depict the beloved as a radiant, heavenly bird emerging from the holy river, so dazzling that she captures his entire soul and humbles his ego completely. The protagonist compares his devotion to the historic love legend of Ambikapathi and Amaravathi, portraying how his selfish heart shifted to purely caring for her. He willingly surrenders his pride, begging on the streets of Kashi for just a single look from her, conveying a deep yearning where love becomes an irreplaceable lifelong pursuit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Andha gangai aatril oru vanna paravai... Karaiyil vanthathae kangal koosum devathaiyaaga

Compares the beloved stepping out of the Ganges to a colorful bird emerging as a dazzling angel.

Classical Historical Allusion (வரலாற்று உருவகக் குறிப்பு)

Ambikapathi thaan naanu Amaravathi thaan yaaro

Refers to the legendary epic lovers Ambikapathi (son of poet Kambar) and Amaravathi to symbolize eternal devotion.

Epizeuxis / Repetition (அடுக்காக்கம்)

Adi enakku enakku endru thudikkum thudikkum manam unakku unakku endrathae

Repeats words like 'enakku', 'thudikkum', and 'unakku' to intensify emotional longing and create a rhythmic cadence.

Rhetorical Question & Contrast (வினா அணி)

Siru pookal thodupatharkku katthi unakkedharkku oosi ondru pothumae

Uses the contrast between a sharp knife and a thin needle to illustrate how delicate love requires gentle care rather than harshness.

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Trivia

This track is the Tamil version of 'Banarasiya' from the original Hindi movie 'Raanjhanaa' (2013), composed by A.R. Rahman. The movie was retitled 'Ambikapathy' in Tamil as a nod to the classic 12th-century romantic legend of poet Ambikapathi and princess Amaravathi.

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