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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbe Un Per

From Idhaya Malar · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Idhaya Malar1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoOr are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Female :Manmathan sonnathuFemale: That which Cupid declared...
Male :Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoMale: Or are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Female :Pongiyae vanthathuFemale: That which overflowed...
Male :Kannae un sollenna amuthoMale: My darling, are your words sweet nectar?
Female :Senthamizh thanthathuFemale: That which pure Tamil bestowed...
Male :Kaanatha kolangal edhuvoMale: What are these unseen beautiful forms?
Female :Kaaviyam solvathuFemale: That which epic poetry describes...
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Female :Manmathan sonnathuFemale: That which Cupid declared...
Male :Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoMale: Or are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Female :Pongiyae vanthathuFemale: That which overflowed...
Male
Ponmaalai neraththil sabai koodalaamIn the golden evening hour, the assembly can gather.
Poomaeni mandraththil kavi paadalaamIn the court of your flower-like body, poetry can be sung.
Ponmaalai neraththil sabai koodalaamIn the golden evening hour, the assembly can gather.
Poomaeni mandraththil kavi paadalaamIn the court of your flower-like body, poetry can be sung.
Female
Un paadal santhangal idhazh sollumoWill your lips speak the rhythms of your song?
Ooyamal kettaalum sugam allavoIs it not divine pleasure even if listened to ceaselessly?
Un paadal santhangal idhazh sollumoWill your lips speak the rhythms of your song?
Ooyamal kettaalum sugam allavoIs it not divine pleasure even if listened to ceaselessly?
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Female :Manmathan sonnathuFemale: That which Cupid declared...
Male :Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoMale: Or are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Female :Pongiyae vanthathuFemale: That which overflowed...
Female
Aattrodu vellaththai anai podalaamOne can dam the floodwaters of a river...
Anbaana ullaththai thadai podavaaBut can one place a barrier on a loving heart?
Aattrodu vellaththai anai podalaamOne can dam the floodwaters of a river...
Anbaana ullaththai thadai podavaaBut can one place a barrier on a loving heart?
Male
: Kaattrodu melaadai pagai aanathoHas the upper garment become an enemy to the wind?
Kai kondu naan mella thirai podavoShall I gently draw a curtain with my hands?
Kaattrodu melaadai pagai aanathoHas the upper garment become an enemy to the wind?
Kai kondu naan mella thirai podavoShall I gently draw a curtain with my hands?
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Female :Manmathan sonnathuFemale: That which Cupid declared...
Male :Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoMale: Or are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Female :Pongiyae vanthathuFemale: That which overflowed...
Male
Kann konda vannaththai idhazh kondathuThe lips have taken on the radiance that the eyes captured.
Female :Kannodu than vannam adhu thanthathuFemale: It bestowed its own radiance upon the eyes.
Male :Penn konda nanangal suvaiyallavaaMale: Is not the modesty of a woman delightful?
Female :Pesamal mounaththil kadhai sollavaaFemale: Shall I tell a story in silence without speaking?
Male
Anbae un per enna rathiyoMy love, is your name Rathi?
Female :Manmathan sonnathuFemale: That which Cupid declared...
Male :Anantha neeraadum nadhiyoMale: Or are you a river flowing with blissful waters?
Female :Pongiyae vanthathuFemale: That which overflowed...
Male :Kannae un sollenna amuthoMale: My darling, are your words sweet nectar?
Female :Senthamizh thanthathuFemale: That which pure Tamil bestowed...
Male :Kaanatha kolangal edhuvoMale: What are these unseen beautiful forms?
Female :Kaaviyam solvathuFemale: That which epic poetry describes...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a classical romantic duet from the film 'Idhaya Malar' (1976), featuring an intricate call-and-response lyric structure between the male and female leads. The male protagonist praises the heroine's beauty, comparing her to Rathi (the goddess of love) and comparing her speech to sweet nectar and classical Tamil poetry. The female lead playfully completes his sentences, affirming that their romance is decreed by Cupid (Manmatha) and described in ancient epics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Poomaeni mandraththil kavi paadalaam

Compares the heroine's delicate physique to a blossom ('Poomaeni') and a royal court ('mandram') where poetry is recited.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Aattrodu vellaththai anai podalaam / Anbaana ullaththai thadai podavaa

Repetition of the initial sound 'Aa' ('Aattrodu' / 'Anbaana') creating a melodic rhythmic cadence.

Rhetorical Question

Anbaana ullaththai thadai podavaa

Asking whether a loving heart can ever be restricted or dammed like a river, emphasizing the unstoppable nature of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, 'Anbae Un Per Enna Rathiyo' stands out for its unique conversational structure where the female singer completes the half-lines posed by the male singer. The song showcases the vocal harmony of P. Jayachandran and Vani Jayaram.

Keep listening

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