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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Andru Vandhadhum Sad

From Periya Idathu Penn · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Periya Idathu Penn1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Andru vandhadhum idhae nilaaThe moon that arrived that day is this same moon.
Indru vandhadhum adhae nilaaThe moon that arrived today is that same moon.
Inbam thandhadhum orae nilaaThe moon that gave happiness is the one same moon.
Yenga vaippadhum orae nilaa …The moon that makes us yearn is the one same moon...
AaaaaaaaAaaaaaaa
Yenga vaippadhum orae nilaaThe moon that makes us yearn is the one same moon.
Male
Andru vandhadhum idhae nilaaThe moon that arrived that day is this same moon.
Indru vandhadhum adhae nilaaThe moon that arrived today is that same moon.
Inbam thandhadhum orae nilaaThe moon that gave happiness is the one same moon.
Yenga vaippadhum orae nilaa …The moon that makes us yearn is the one same moon...
Female
Kaadhal thandhadhu vanna nilaaThe colorful moon bestowed love upon us.
Kalangamillaa kanni nilaaThe flawless maiden moon.
Kaadhal thandhadhu vanna nilaaThe colorful moon bestowed love upon us.
Kalangamillaa kanni nilaaThe flawless maiden moon.
Male
Megam moodiya velli nilaaThe silver moon veiled by clouds.
Vellai ullam konda nilaa ..The moon that possesses a pure white heart...
AaaaaaAaaaaa
Vellai ullam konda nilaa ..The moon that possesses a pure white heart...
Male
Pesa chonnadhu anbu nilaaThe loving moon asked us to speak.
Piriya chonnadhu thunba nilaaThe sorrowful moon asked us to part.
Pesa chonnadhu anbu nilaaThe loving moon asked us to speak.
Piriya chonnadhu thunba nilaaThe sorrowful moon asked us to part.
Female
Thoonga sonnadhu kaadhal nilaaThe moon of love told us to sleep.
Thudikka vittadhu kaala nilaa …The moon of time left us throbbing in pain...
AaaaaaAaaaaa
Thudikka vittadhu kaala nilaaThe moon of time left us throbbing in pain.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Periya Idathu Penn (1963) uses the timeless presence of the moon as a metaphor for the changing emotional states of lovers. While the moon itself remains unchanged across time, the lovers experience varying emotions under its glow—from joyful romance and togetherness to deep longing, separation, and heartache.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Pesa chonnadhu anbu nilaa / Piriya chonnadhu thunba nilaa

Human qualities and actions (speaking, instructing to part or sleep) are attributed to the moon.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Andru vandhadhum idhae nilaa / Indru vandhadhum adhae nilaa

Tamil poetic rhyming where the second letter of consecutive lines match ('nd' in Andru and Indru).

Metaphor

Vellai ullam konda nilaa

Comparing a pure heart and innocence directly to a pristine white silver moon.

Anaphora / Epiphora

Inbam thandhadhum orae nilaa / Yenga vaippadhum orae nilaa

Repeated use of the phrase 'orae nilaa' at the end of successive lines to emphasize constancy despite changing moods.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi starrer 'Periya Idathu Penn' (1963), this timeless track was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, penned by Kannadasan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. Kannadasan's 'Nila' (moon) lyrics are revered as classic examples of metaphor in Tamil film music.

Keep listening

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