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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arugil Vanthaal

From Kalathur Kannamma · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
A. M. Rajah
Music director
Sudharsanam
Details
Kalathur Kannamma1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthaeGiving me a life devoid of peace,
Engu sendraaloWhere has she gone?
Pirivaalae modhum thuyarThis grief inflicted by separation,
Podhum podhumaeIt is enough, quite enough.
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthaeGiving me a life devoid of peace,
Engu sendraaloWhere has she gone?
Pirivaalae modhum thuyarThis grief inflicted by separation,
Podhum podhumaeIt is enough, quite enough.
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.
Male
{Malarae malarae nee yaaroO flower, O flower, who are you?
Vanjanai seithavar thaan yaaro} (2)Who is the person who betrayed you?
Unai soodi mudithathum pen thaanoWas it a woman who adorned herself with you?
Pin thooki erinthathum aval thaanooWas it also her who discarded you afterwards?
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.
Male
{Idhayam enbadhu oru veeduThe heart is a home,
Andrum indrum aval veedu} (2)Then and now, it is her home.
Adhu maaligai aanadhum avalaalaeIt became a mansion because of her,
Verum mann medaanathum avalaalaeAnd it became a mere mound of dirt because of her.
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthaeGiving me a life devoid of peace,
Engu sendraaloWhere has she gone?
Pirivaalae modhum thuyarThis grief inflicted by separation,
Podhum podhumaeIt is enough, quite enough.
Male
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraalShe came near and melted with affection,
Anbu thanthaalaeShe gave me her love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from 'Kalathur Kannamma' expresses the deep sorrow and heartbreak of a lover separated from his beloved. He reminisces about how she once drew near with immense love, melting his heart, but subsequently left him with a life devoid of peace. He questions where she has gone and laments that the anguish of separation has become unbearable. Through classic Tamil poetic imagery, he compares his condition to a flower that a woman adores and wears, only to discard later. He reflects on his heart being a home reserved entirely for her—a heart that she elevated into a grand palace with her love, but ultimately reduced to a mound of dirt through her absence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal

Matching of the second consonant in consecutive words or lines to create rhythm ('Arugil' / 'Urugi').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhayam enbadhu oru veedu

Comparing the heart to a home ('veedu'), a mansion ('maaligai'), and a mound of dirt ('mann medu').

Adukku Thodar (Anaphora / Repetition for emphasis)

Podhum podhumae

Repetition of words like 'Malarae' and 'Podhum' to emphasize emotional anguish.

Contrast (Erhukottai / Sol-Muran)

Adhu maaligai aanadhum avalaalae / Verum mann medaanathum avalaalae

Juxtaposition of positive and negative states ('maaligai' / 'mann medu' - palace vs. mound of dirt).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalathur Kannamma (1960) marked the iconic film debut of Kamal Haasan as a child artist, earning him the Rashtrapati Award (President's Gold Medal). The song features music composed by R. Sudarsanam, with soulful vocals by A.M. Rajah and deeply evocative lyrics by Kannadasan.

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