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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anthi Karukkayilae

From Alli Thandha Vaanam · 2001

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Alli Thandha Vaanam2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Anthi karukkaiyilaeDuring the twilight dusk,
Adi podum un nenaipuYour memory dances steps inside me.
Munthi sorugaiyilaeWhile tucking in the pleats of my saree,
Mudi podum un nenaippuYour memory ties a knot around me.
Female
Manjal araikkaiyilaeWhile grinding turmeric,
Maravaak kulikkaiyilaeWhile bathing without fail,
Manjal araikkaiyilaeWhile grinding turmeric,
Maravaak kulikkaiyilaeWhile bathing without fail,
Nenjaang kuzhikkullaeDeep within the hollow of my chest,
Nindraadum un nenaippuYour memory sways and lingers.
Female
Machchan unga nenaippuOh my beloved, thoughts of you,
Adhu anjaangaayi sirippuAre like the cheerful joy of a five-stone game!
Machchan unga nenaippuOh my beloved, thoughts of you,
Adhu anjaangaayi sirippuAre like the cheerful joy of a five-stone game!
Female
Orappaa kozhambu vachchuCooking a spicy curry,
Oodhiththaan thingaiyilaeAnd blowing on it gently while eating,
Parakkum soottodaAlong with the steaming heat,
Paanji varum un nenaippuYour memory comes leaping towards me.
Female
Thingaiyilae vikkal varumHiccups arrive while eating,
Thiththippaa kobam varumA sweet anger wells up inside,
Thingaiyilae vikkal varumHiccups arrive while eating,
Thiththippaa kobam varumA sweet anger wells up inside,
Female
Pongi poraiyerumFood goes down the wrong pipe from overflowing emotions,
Posukkunnu un nenaippuYour memory suddenly flashes brightly,
Pongi poraiyerumFood goes down the wrong pipe from overflowing emotions,
Posukkunnu un nenaippuYour memory suddenly flashes brightly,
Female
Machchan unga nenaippuOh my beloved, thoughts of you,
Adhu anjaangaayi sirippuAre like the cheerful joy of a five-stone game!
Machchan unga nenaippuOh my beloved, thoughts of you,
Adhu anjaangaayi sirippuAre like the cheerful joy of a five-stone game!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a tender folk expression of a woman's intense longing for her beloved in her everyday rural life. She describes how thoughts of him invade every simple chore—from tucking her saree and grinding turmeric to cooking spicy curry and eating. The lyricist skillfully uses traditional Tamil village motifs like hiccups, steam from hot food, and traditional games to illustrate how love permeates every breath and mundane act of her day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Anthi karukkaiyilae / Adi podum un nenaipu

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels across lines creates a rhythmic, melodic flow typical of Tamil folk poetry.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Anthi karukkaiyilae / Munthi sorugaiyilae

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'n' in Anthi and Munthi.

Metaphor / Cultural Imagery

Adhu anjaangaayi sirippu

The phrase 'anjaangaayi sirippu' compares her lover's thoughts to the playful delight of 'Anjaankal' (a traditional Tamil game played with five stones), evoking innocent rural joy.

Personification

Parakkum soottoda / Paanji varum un nenaippu

Thoughts are personified as active entities that leap forward ('paanji varum') with the steam of hot curry.

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Trivia

Composed by Vidyasagar for the 2001 film 'Alli Thandha Vaanam', this song stands out for Swarnalatha's vibrant vocal delivery paired with lyricist Arivumathi's authentic Tamil folk vocabulary and domestic imagery.

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