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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbae Idhu

From Rhythm · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Sadhana Sargam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Rhythm2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Anbae idhu nijamdhaanaa…My love, is this really true?
En vaanil pudhu vinmeenaa…Is it a new star in my sky?
Yaarai kettadhu idhayamWhom did the heart ask permission from
Unnaith thodarndhu pogaTo follow after you?
Enna thunichchal adharkuWhat courage does it possess
Ennai marndhu pogaTo completely forget about me?
Irundhum avai iniya valigalae…Yet, these are sweet pains...
Female
Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyumPouring down with a cheerful sound,
Megam engu selludhooWhere is the cloud heading to?
Oliyillaamal malarum malaraiThe flower that blooms without sound,
Ulavu paarkka selludhooIs it going to spy on it?
Female
Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyumPouring down with a cheerful sound,
Megam engu selludhooWhere is the cloud heading to?
Oliyillaamal malarum malaraiThe flower that blooms without sound,
Ulavu paarkka selludhooIs it going to spy on it?
Female
Viral thodavillaiyae…The finger hasn't touched...
Nagam padavillaiyae…The fingernail hasn't touched...
Viral thodavillaiyae nagam padavillaiyaeNeither finger nor fingernail has touched,
Udal thadaiyillaiyaeBody is not an obstacle,
Idhu pol oru inaiyillaiyaeThere is no match like this!
Female
Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyumPouring down with a cheerful sound,
Megam engu selludhooWhere is the cloud heading to?
Oliyillaamal malarum malaraiThe flower that blooms without sound,
Ulavu paarkka selludhooIs it going to spy on it?
Female
Aaaa…haaaa…Ah... ha...
Vizhiyum vizhiyumEye and eye
Kalandhu kalandhuMerging and mingling,
Paarvai ondru aanadhaeThe gaze became one.
Female
Uyirum uyirumSoul and soul
Kalandha podhuWhen they merged together,
Ulagam nindu ponadhaeThe world stood still.
Female
Vizhiyum vizhiyumEye and eye
Kalandhu kalandhuMerging and mingling,
Paarvai ondru aanadhaeThe gaze became one.
Uyirum uyirumSoul and soul
Kalandha podhuWhen they merged together,
Ulagam nindu ponadhaeThe world stood still.
Aaaaaaaa…aaaaaaaa…Ah... ah...
Aaaaaaaa…aaaa….aaaa…..Ah... ah... ah...
Female
Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyumPouring down with a cheerful sound,
Megam engu selludhooWhere is the cloud heading to?
Oliyillaamal malarum malaraiThe flower that blooms without sound,
Ulavu paarkka selludhooIs it going to spy on it?
Female
Aaaaa…aaa….aaaa…aaa….Ah... ah... ah... ah...
AzhaikkumbodhuWhen called upon,
Udhikka mudindhaalIf it could rise on command,
Adharku peyarum nilavillai…ae….ae….Then its name wouldn't be the moon...
Female
NinaikkumbodhuWhen thought of,
Nilavu udhikkumThe moon rises,
Nilavu azhaikka kuralillai…ae…ae……But the moon has no voice to call...
Female
AzhaikkumbodhuWhen called upon,
Udhikka mudindhaalIf it could rise on command,
Adharku peyarum nilavillai…Then its name wouldn't be the moon...
NinaikkumbodhuWhen thought of,
Nilavu udhikkumThe moon rises,
Nilavu azhaikka kuralillai…But the moon has no voice to call...
Female
Yaarai kettadhu idhayam…mmm…Whom did the heart ask permission from...
Yaarai kettadhu idhayam…mmmWhom did the heart ask permission from...
Aaaaaaaa…aaaaaaaa…aaaaaaaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Vizhi thoduvadhu viral thodavillaiWhat the eyes touch, the fingers do not touch.
Female
Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyumPouring down with a cheerful sound,
Megam engu selludhooWhere is the cloud heading to?
Oliyillaamal malarum malaraiThe flower that blooms without sound,
Ulavu paarkka selludhooIs it going to spy on it?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the delicate, transcendent feelings of newfound love and intimate spiritual connection. The speaker marvels at how their heart has chosen to follow their beloved without permission, describing the sweet pain of surrender. The connection between the lovers is so profound that it transcends physical contact; eyes meeting and souls merging bring the entire world to a complete standstill.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia

Kalagalavena pozhiyum pozhiyum

'Kalagalavena' is an onomatopoeic word capturing the cheerful, cascading sound of rainfall or streaming water.

Metaphor

En vaanil pudhu vinmeenaa…

Compares the beloved's arrival in the protagonist's life to a brand new star appearing in their personal sky.

Personification

Oliyillaamal malarum malarai / Ulavu paarkka selludhoo

Personifies the rainclouds as curious spies traveling silently to watch quiet flowers bloom.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Viral thodavillaiyae / Nagam padavillaiyae

The second consonant sound 'ra' in 'Viral' matches with 'ga' in 'Nagam', creating traditional Tamil second-syllable harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2000 Tamil movie 'Rhythm', directed by Vasanth. 'Rhythm' is a concept album where each of the five songs represents one of the Pancha Bhootas (five classic elements of nature); this song, centered on rain and clouds, represents the Sky/Water dynamic.

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