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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amman Koyil Therazhagu

From Sondham 16 · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sondham 161986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.
Ennudaiya karpanaiyilIn my imagination,
Vandhu nirkkum vanna mayilShe stands as a colorful peacock.
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.
Ennudaiya karpanaiyilIn my imagination,
Vandhu nirkkum vanna mayilShe stands as a colorful peacock.
Male
Neerodaiyil neendhum senthaamaraiLike a red lotus swimming in a stream,
Malar thaan yena mugam thaan kondaIs the face possessed by this maiden,
Pen paavai thaanThis doll-like maiden.
Mel vaanilae thondrum moondraam piraiLike the third-day crescent moon in the high sky,
Puruvam yena amaiyum ilamAre the eyebrows shaped on this young,
Poonthogai thaanFlowery peacock-like lady.
Male
Idai thaan mannil vandhaHer waist sways like lightning,
Minnal endru aadaThat descended onto the earth,
Nadai thaan mandram vandhaHer walk flows like the southern breeze,
Thendral endru odaThat arrived at the assembly,
Kendai meenum vanna maanumWon't the carp fish and colorful deer,
Kann irandil thullaadhoLeap within her two eyes?
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.
Ennudaiya karpanaiyilIn my imagination,
Vandhu nirkkum vanna mayilShe stands as a colorful peacock.
Male
Meenaatchi thaanShe is like Goddess Meenakshi,
Kaanji kaamaatchi thaanAnd Kanchi Kamakshi,
Manjal dhinam poosumHer face daily smeared with turmeric,
Mugam dheiveegam thaanPossesses a divine radiance.
Thennaadu thaan pesum panpaadu thaanShe embodies the culture spoken of in the South,
Kaakkum gunam naalumAnd the protective virtue every single day,
Andha pennodu thaanResides with that woman.
Male
Aval thaan ennodu thaanShe is with me,
Poo maalai thaan soodaTo wear the flower garland in marriage;
Adadaa engae andha pen thaanOh, as I searched where that woman was,
Endru thaedaLooking for her everywhere,
Ennai thaedi sindhu paadiSearching for me while singing a melody,
Soppanathil vandhaalaeShe came into my dream!
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.
Ennudaiya karpanaiyilIn my imagination,
Vandhu nirkkum vanna mayilShe stands as a colorful peacock.
Male
Amman koyil thaerazhaguThe beauty of a chariot at the Goddess's temple,
Aayirathil orazhaguA unique beauty among a thousand,
Naanam ulla kannazhaguThe beauty of eyes filled with bashfulness,
Naan virumbum pennazhaguThe beauty of the woman I desire.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic Tamil song celebrates the divine beauty, grace, and traditional virtues of the protagonist's dream woman. He compares her physical features to sacred and natural elements—her face to a lotus in a stream, her eyebrows to a crescent moon, her waist to lightning, her gait to a gentle breeze, and her eyes to playful fish and deer. He elevates her presence by connecting her to divine deities like Goddess Meenakshi and Kamakshi, praising her modesty and adherence to South Indian cultural values. Ultimately, he expresses his longing to unite with her in marriage, noting how she arrives in his dreams singing melodies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Neerodaiyil neendhum senthaamarai / Malar thaan yena mugam thaan konda

Compares the woman's face to a blooming lotus floating in a stream.

Uvamai (Simile)

Mel vaanilae thondrum moondraam pirai / Puruvam yena amaiyum ilam

Compares her eyebrows to the third-day crescent moon in the sky.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naanam ulla kannazhagu / Naan virumbum pennazhagu

The starting letters 'Naa' rhyme across consecutive lines ('Naanam', 'Naan').

Anupiraasam (Alliteration)

thaerazhagu / orazhagu / kannazhagu / pennazhagu

Repetition of the 'azhagu' suffix across multiple lines creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics of this track from the 1986 film 'Sondham 16' were penned by the prolific lyricist Vaali. The imagery relies heavily on Sangam and traditional Tamil literary tropes, comparing feminine grace to temple chariots, crescent moons, and classical deities.

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