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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aruvi Karai Orathile

From Azhagu Nila · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Azhagu Nila1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aruvi karai orathilaeBy the banks of the waterfall
Amaidhi kollum nerathilaeIn the moments of serene quietness
Paruva kaathu veesudhuThe seasonal breeze blows
Pala kadhaigal pesudhuSpeaking many stories
Female
Aruvi karai orathilaeBy the banks of the waterfall
Amaidhi kollum nerathilaeIn the moments of serene quietness
Paruva kaathu veesudhuThe seasonal breeze blows
Pala kadhaigal pesudhu hoo oo ooSpeaking many stories, hoo oo oo
Female
Uruvamilla oruvan ulagilA formless Creator in this world
Onnai padaichaanamCreated one unique creation
Andha onnukkullae pala porulaiAnd within that single creation
Unara vechaanaamMade us experience many wonders
Female
Uruvamilla oruvan ulagilA formless Creator in this world
Onnai padaichaanamCreated one unique creation
Andha onnukkullae pala porulaiAnd within that single creation
Unara vechaanaamMade us experience many wonders
Female
Kannukkullae thullumWithin the eyes, leaping
Meenai kaana vechaanamHe made us see fish-like eyes
Kannukkullae thullumWithin the eyes, leaping
Meenai kaana vechaanamHe made us see fish-like eyes
Kannathilae rojaa poovaiUpon her cheeks, a rose flower
Minna vechaanaam…He made to glow...
Kannathilae rojaa poovaiUpon her cheeks, a rose flower
Minna vechaanaam..He made to glow..
Female
Aruvi karai orathilaeBy the banks of the waterfall
Amaidhi kollum nerathilaeIn the moments of serene quietness
Paruva kaathu veesudhuThe seasonal breeze blows
Pala kadhaigal pesudhu hoo oo ooSpeaking many stories, hoo oo oo
Female
Annathaiyum nadaiyinilaeThe grace of a swan in her walk
Amara vechaanaamHe seated upon her gait
Kaatril aadugindra poongodi polLike a flowering vine swaying in the breeze
Idaiya amaichanaamHe sculpted her waist
Female
Annathaiyum nadaiyinilaeThe grace of a swan in her walk
Amara vechaanaamHe seated upon her gait
Kaatril aadugindra poongodi polLike a flowering vine swaying in the breeze
Idaiya amaichanaamHe sculpted her waist
Female
Vanna nila thannai polaJust like the vibrant moon
Mugam amaichaanaamHe fashioned her face
Vanna nila thannai polaJust like the vibrant moon
Mugam amaichaanaamHe fashioned her face
Vaanavillai puruvamagaTransforming the rainbow
Maathi vechaanaamHe placed it as her eyebrows
Vaanavillai puruvamagaTransforming the rainbow
Maathi vechaanaamHe placed it as her eyebrows
Female
Aruvi karai orathilaeBy the banks of the waterfall
Amaidhi kollum nerathilaeIn the moments of serene quietness
Paruva kaathu veesudhuThe seasonal breeze blows
Pala kadhaigal pesudhu hoo oo ooSpeaking many stories, hoo oo oo
Female
Kovai kani thannai udhattilThe redness of the ivy gourd fruit
Kulavi vittanaamHe smoothed onto her lips
Inbam konjam kili mozhiyaiThe joyful sweet speech of a parrot
Naavil ulava vittaanaamHe set free to wander on her tongue
Female
Kovai kani thannai udhattilThe redness of the ivy gourd fruit
Kulavi vittanaamHe smoothed onto her lips
Inbam konjam kili mozhiyaiThe joyful sweet speech of a parrot
Naavil ulava vittaanaamHe set free to wander on her tongue
Female
Megathaiyum koondhalaagaAnd the dark clouds as long tresses
Meiya vittanaamHe allowed to trail freely
Megathaiyum koondhalaagaAnd the dark clouds as long tresses
Meiya vittanaamHe allowed to trail freely
Andha dhegathukku pen ennumAnd to that divine body, 'Woman'
Perai ittaanaamIs the name He bestowed
Andha dhegathukku pen ennumAnd to that divine body, 'Woman'
Perai ittaanaamIs the name He bestowed
Female
Aruvi karai orathilaeBy the banks of the waterfall
Amaidhi kollum nerathilaeIn the moments of serene quietness
Paruva kaathu veesudhuThe seasonal breeze blows
Pala kadhaigal pesudhu hoo oo ooSpeaking many stories, hoo oo oo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Aruvi karai orathilae' from the 1962 Tamil movie 'Azhagu Nila' is a poetically evocative ode to divine craftsmanship and the beauty of womanhood. Set against the peaceful backdrop of a waterfall and a gentle seasonal breeze, the narrator muses on how a formless God crafted a singular masterpiece—woman—and adorned her with nature's finest elements.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai) / Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kaatril aadugindra poongodi pol

Compares female physical features directly to elements of nature, such as eyes to leaping fish, waist to a swaying vine, face to the moon, eyebrows to a rainbow, lips to ivy gourd, and hair to dark clouds.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Aruvi karai orathilae / Amaidhi kollum nerathilae

Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter of consecutive lines matches (e.g., Aruvi / Amaidhi, Uruvamilla / Onnai).

Personification

Paruva kaathu veesudhu / Pala kadhaigal pesudhu

Attributes human traits to nature, describing the seasonal wind as telling many stories.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by R. Sudharsanam with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi and sung by P. Susheela, 'Aruvi karai orathilae' is a classic example of early 1960s Tamil film songs that blended classical nature imagery (Cangam poetry tropes like fish-eyes and swan-gaits) with soft melody.

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