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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athaan Kaditham

From Ninaipatharkku Neramillai · 1963

Lyricist
Thanjai Vaanan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Ninaipatharkku Neramillai
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
29 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
Androru naal azhagudanae
Arugil nindren naan
Aasaiyudan anaikka vandhaal
Aalai kaanomaam
Androru naal azhagudanae
Arugil nindren naan
Aasaiyudan anaikka vandhaal
Aalai kaanomaam
Innoru naal ennai
Katti mutham ittaram
Ezhundha pinnae kanavadhuvaai
Irukka kandaaraam
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
Neer nilaiyin nelivinilae
Ennai kandaaraam
Nerungiyadhil iranginaalo
Kulirchi illaiyaam
Neer nilaiyin nelivinilae
Ennai kandaaraam
Nerungiyadhil iranginaalo
Kulirchi illaiyaam
Adhai viduthu nadantha bodhu
Thodarnthu sendraenaam
Aasaiyodu anbae endraal
Yaarum illaiyaam
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
Irandu naal irukku endrae
Yengi ilaikkindraar
Enna thaan anbudanae
Ennullae nirkkindraar
Irandu naal irukku endrae
Yengi ilaikkindraar
Enna thaan anbudanae
Ennullae nirkkindraar
Ennai pola adhirstasaali
Yaar irukkindraar
Endru vandhu kaanbaen endre
Ezhuthi irukkindraar
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu
Ahaa en anbu malar kothu kothu
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
One day, looking beautiful,
I stood right beside him, he says!
When he reached out eagerly to hug me,
No one was there, he says!
One day, looking beautiful,
I stood right beside him, he says!
When he reached out eagerly to hug me,
No one was there, he says!
Another day, he says,
He held me tight and kissed me!
But after waking up,
He found it was only a dream!
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
In the ripples of the water,
He saw my reflection, he says!
But when he stepped close and went in,
He felt no coolness at all, he says!
In the ripples of the water,
He saw my reflection, he says!
But when he stepped close and went in,
He felt no coolness at all, he says!
When he gave up and walked away,
I followed right behind him, he says!
When he called out eagerly, "My love,"
There was no one there, he says...
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
Saying, "Just two more days left,"
He pines away longing for me,
With so much tender love,
He lives within my heart!
Saying, "Just two more days left,"
He pines away longing for me,
With so much tender love,
He lives within my heart!
Who could be as lucky as I am?
Who else could there be?
Asking, "When will I come to see you?"
He has written in this letter!
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
My beloved's letter is like precious pearls,
Ah, bouquets of blooming love!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the joyful delight of a woman reading a love letter sent by her partner. She playfully narrates the experiences and dreams he described in his letter: how he imagined her presence beside him, dreamed of embracing her, saw her reflection in water, and mistook shadows for her presence during their separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Reduplication)

“Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu”

The words 'muthu muthu' and 'kothu kothu' use repetition for poetic rhythm and visual imagery, comparing handwriting to pearls and love to flower clusters.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Androru naal azhagudanae”

Repetition of the vowel sound 'A' across the lines ('Androru', 'Arugil', 'Aasaiyudan', 'Aalai').

Uvamaani (Simile/Metaphor)

“Athan kaditham nalla muthu muthu”

Comparing the lover's neat and precious handwriting to beautiful pearls ('muthu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1963 film 'Ninaipatharkku Neramillai', this romantic melody rendered by P. Susheela remains a timeless classic celebrating Tamil romantic epistolary tradition.

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