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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbe Thilagam

From Thilagam · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Thilagam1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbe thilagam azhagae thilagamMark of love, mark of beauty,
Endrum neethaan enthan ulagamForever you alone are my world.
Female :Naayagan neeyoru veerathilagamFemale: Hero, you are a mark of valor,
Intha naayagi nee konjum vanjith thilagamThis heroine whom you caress is a graceful mark of womanhood.
Male
Aahaa naan thanthu ne vaiththa netriththilagamAha, the vermilion mark on my forehead that I gave and you placed,
Entha naalum en vaazhvukku vetri thilagamIs a mark of victory for my life on any given day.
Female
Anbin thilagam panbin thilagamMark of affection, mark of character,
Endrum neethaan enthan ulagamForever you alone are my world.
Female
Lala laa lala laa….aaa….Lala laa lala laa….aaa….
Aaa…..aa….la lala laa….Aaa…..aa….la lala laa….
Male :Aaa…..Male: Aaa…..
Male
Niram maari vidum pookkalFlowers will change their color,
Maranthodi vidum naatkalDays will fly away forgotten,
Maaraatha maraiyaatha thilagam idhuThis is an unchanging, everlasting mark.
Female :Nilam vaanam ulla kaalamFemale: As long as the earth and sky exist,
Nizhal pola unnai naalumLike a shadow, every single day with you,
Neengaatha uravaadum idhayam idhuThis heart forms an inseparable bond.
Male
Azhagaana aalayam nam naaduOur country is a beautiful temple,
Adhil vaazhum ambigai neeAnd you are the goddess living inside it.
Female :Dhinanthorum dhevanin per solliFemale: Chanting the name of God every day,
Manam paadum keerthanaiyaeThis is a musical hymn sung by the heart.
Male :Shruthiyodu layam polaMale: Like rhythm blending seamlessly with pitch,
Saernthaen naanthaanaeI joined hands with you on my own.
Female
Anbin thilagam panbin thilagamMark of affection, mark of character,
Male :Endrum neethaan enthan ulagamMale: Forever you alone are my world.
Female
Tamil Moondru vagaiyaagumTamil is categorized into three types,
Adhai pola ingu naamumSimilarly, here we are three too,
Naan ondru nee ondru magan ondruthaanI am one, you are one, and our son is one.
Male :Namai saernthoru pillaiMale: A child who joined us,
Nadai pottu varum killaiA parrot walking with tender steps,
Maganalla manam veesum malar senduthaanHe is not just a son, but a fragrant bouquet of flowers.
Female
Pirai polae pillaiyum valarnthaalaeIf the child grows like a crescent moon,
Varungaalam pournamiyaagumThe future will turn into a full moon.
Male :Orupothum theipirai kaanaathuMale: Never seeing a waning phase,
Ulavum nam vennilavuOur bright white moon wanders around.
Female :Magan vaazha manai vaazhaFemale: For the son to prosper, for the home to prosper,
Paadum poongaattruThe gentle breeze sings.
Male
Anbe thilagam azhagae thilagamMark of love, mark of beauty,
Endrum neethaan enthan ulagamForever you alone are my world.
Female :Naayagan neeyoru veerathilagamFemale: Hero, you are a mark of valor,
Intha naayagi nee konjum vanjith thilagamThis heroine whom you caress is a graceful mark of womanhood.
Male
Aahaa naan thanthu ne vaiththa netriththilagamAha, the vermilion mark on my forehead that I gave and you placed,
Entha naalum en vaazhvukku vetri thilagamIs a mark of victory for my life on any given day.
Female
Anbin thilagam panbin thilagamMark of affection, mark of character,
Endrum neethaan enthan ulagamForever you alone are my world.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Anbe Thilagam is a harmonious romantic duet celebrating marital love, mutual respect, and family bliss. The lyricist Vaali extensively uses the word 'Thilagam'—which signifies both a sacred forehead mark (bindi) and an exemplar or crowning glory—to describe the noble qualities of the couple. The husband and wife praise each other's virtue, strength, and devotion, deeming their bond everlasting and unaffected by the passage of time. In the second stanza, the focus expands to family and parenthood. The family unit of father, mother, and child is beautifully compared to 'Mutthamizh'—the three classic divisions of the Tamil language (Iyal, Isai, Natakam). The song concludes with hopeful imagery of their child growing up like a crescent moon into a full moon, bringing joy and prosperity to their home.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyming Refrain)

Anbe thilagam azhagae thilagam / Veerathilagam / Vanjith thilagam

The repetitive ending of lines with the word 'Thilagam' creates a strong rhythmic cadence and highlights the song's thematic title.

Upamai (Simile)

Pirai polae pillaiyum valarnthaalae / Nizhal pola unnai naalum

Compares the child's growth to the waxing crescent moon and the wife's devotion to a shadow.

Uruvakam (Metaphor)

Tamil Moondru vagaiyaagum / Adhai pola ingu naamum / Naan ondru nee ondru magan ondruthaan

Compares the family triad of father, mother, and son to the three branches of the Tamil language (Mutthamizh).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Magan vaazha manai vaazha

Matching opening consonant/vowel sounds in adjacent words for musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The word 'Thilagam' repeatedly serves as a metaphor throughout the song, referring both to the vermilion bindi representing auspiciousness and to a crowning achievement or exemplar (e.g., 'Veerathilagam' as the symbol of valor).

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