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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amuthe Thamizhe Azhagiya Mozhiye

From Koyil Puraa · 1981

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Susheela, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Koyil Puraa1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Saa…Sa… (Musical note)
Female
Saa…Sa… (Musical note)
Female
Ree…Re… (Musical note)
Female
Ree…Re… (Musical note)
Female
Gaa…Ga… (Musical note)
Female
Gaa…Ga… (Musical note)
Female
Paa…Pa… (Musical note)
Female
Paa…Pa… (Musical note)
Female
Sarigaa…Sa-Ri-Ga… (Musical notes)
Female
Sarigaa…Sa-Ri-Ga… (Musical notes)
Female
Sari sari gapa gari sarigaa…Sari sari gapa gari sarigaa… (Swara passage)
Female
Sari sari gapa gari sarigaa…Sari sari gapa gari sarigaa… (Swara passage)
Female
Amudhae thamizhaeSweet nectar, Tamil language!
Azhagiya mozhiyae enadhuyiraeBeautiful language, my very life!
Female
Amudhae thamizhaeSweet nectar, Tamil language!
Azhagiya mozhiyae enadhuyiraeBeautiful language, my very life!
Female
Sugam pala tharum thamizh paaTamil verse that bestows many pleasures,
Female
Sugam pala tharum thamizh paaTamil verse that bestows many pleasures,
Female
Suvaiyodu kavidhaigal thaaGrant me poetry filled with sweet taste,
Female
Suvaiyodu kavidhaigal thaaGrant me poetry filled with sweet taste,
Female
Thamizhae naalum nee paaduOh Tamil, sing every single day,
Female
Thamizhae naalum nee paaduOh Tamil, sing every single day,
Male
Aah apdi illa paa…Ah, not like that, my dear…
Thambi evlo nallaaSee how wonderfully and beautifully
Azhagaa paadinaan paathiyaaThe younger brother sang, did you see?
Male
Thamizhae naalum nee paadu… enga paaduOh Tamil, sing every day… come on, sing!
Female
Thamizhae naalum nee paaduOh Tamil, sing every single day,
Male
Amudhae thamizhaeSweet nectar, Tamil language!
Azhagiya mozhiyae enadhuyiraeBeautiful language, my very life!
Enga paadungaCome on, all of you sing now,
Female
Thaen oorum thaevaaramThe sweet, honey-dripping Thevaram hymns
Isai paattin aadhaaramAre the bedrock and foundation of musical songs,
Female
Thaen oorum thaevaaramThe sweet, honey-dripping Thevaram hymns
Isai paattin aadhaaramAre the bedrock and foundation of musical songs,
Female
Thamizh isaiyaeTamil music,
Female :Thani isaiyaeFemale: Is an unparalleled music,
Female
TharaniyilaeIn this entire world,
Female :Mudhal isaiyaeFemale: It is the primordial music,
Female
Oon mezhugaai urugum karaiyumThe body melts and dissolves like wax,
Adhil ulagam marandhu pogumIn which the entire world gets forgotten,
Female
Oon mezhugaai urugum karaiyumThe body melts and dissolves like wax,
Adhil ulagam marandhu pogumIn which the entire world gets forgotten,
Female
Poonguyilae ennoduOh sweet cuckoo bird, along with me,
Thamizhae naalum nee paaduOh Tamil, sing every single day,
Female
Pon alla poo alla porul alla selvangalNeither gold, nor flowers, nor material objects are true wealth,
Female
Pon alla poo alla porul alla selvangalNeither gold, nor flowers, nor material objects are true wealth,
Female
Kalai palavumTo practice and learn
Female :Payila varumFemale: The various arts,
Female
Arivu valamThe richness of knowledge
Female :Perumai tharumFemale: Brings true pride,
Female
En kanavum ninaivum isaiyaeMy dreams and memories are all music,
Isai irundhaal maranam yaedhuIf music exists, where is death?
Female
En kanavum ninaivum isaiyaeMy dreams and memories are all music,
Isai irundhaal maranam yaedhuIf music exists, where is death?
Female
En manadhil thaen paayaSo that honey flows within my heart,
Thamizhae naalum nee paaduOh Tamil, sing every single day,
Female
Sugam pala tharum thamizh paaTamil verse that bestows many pleasures,
Female
Thamizh paaTamil verse,
Female
Suvaiyodu kavidhaigal thaaGrant me poetry filled with sweet taste,
Female
Kavidhaigal thaaGrant me poetry!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high praise of the Tamil language, its classical music traditions, and the transcendent nature of art. Comparing Tamil to divine nectar ('Amudhu'), the lyrics emphasize that Tamil devotional music—specifically ancient hymns like the Thevaram—forms the foundational bedrock of all musical expression. The song illustrates how listening to or singing pure Tamil music causes one to lose self-awareness as the mind melts in bliss. Furthermore, the song redefines real wealth, asserting that material possessions like gold and status are superficial compared to knowledge, artistic practice, and musical expression. Music is portrayed as an eternal, immortal entity; as long as music resides within a person's thoughts and dreams, physical death loses its sting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Amudhae thamizhae / Azhagiya mozhiyae enadhuyirae

Tamil is directly equated to nectar ('Amudhae Thamizhae') and life ('Enadhuyirae'), emphasizing its absolute sweetness and importance.

Anaphora / Parallelism (Edhugai and Monai)

Pon alla poo alla porul alla selvangal

Repetition of 'alla' to negate material possessions, setting up a rhythmic parallel structure.

Rhetorical Question

Isai irundhaal maranam yaedhu

A dramatic assertion that music bestows spiritual immortality, making death non-existent.

Simile / Imagery (Uvamai)

Oon mezhugaai urugum karaiyum

Visual and physical imagery comparing human consciousness melting in musical devotion to wax over heat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1981 film 'Koyil Puraa', this song seamlessly blends Carnatic swara solfege with traditional Tamil poetic meter. It explicitly references 'Thevaram', the 7th-8th century Tamil Saivite devotional hymns, acknowledging their pivotal historical role in structuring South Indian classical music and melody.

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