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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Azhagam Kodi Sirithu

From Sathyam – 1976 Film · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Sathyam – 1976 Film1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haaa…. aaaaa….Vocalizing melody.
Male :Oh oooh…..Male vocalizing melody.
Female :Haa haaa….Female vocalizing melody.
Male :Oh ho oo hoMale vocalizing melody.
Female :Haaa.haa haa haaaa….Female vocalizing melody.
Male :Oh ho aa haaMale vocalizing melody.
Male
Azhagaam kodi siridhuThe beautiful creeper is small,
Adhilum undhan idai siridhuand even smaller than that is your slender waist;
Nadayaai nadandhu sendraalif you keep walking continuously with such grace,
Nalla idai vaadaatho…won't that beautiful waist wither away?
Male
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Female
Nadaiyum idaiyum kanduSeeing your graceful gait and slender waist,
Naadiyengum soodu kandu…feeling heat pulse through every nerve...
Kadaiya virikiriyeyou are setting up a store of charms,
Kadhai kadhaiyaa alakiriye…spinning tale after tale to measure me up...
Female
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Male
Yaethamittu neer erachaen…I drew water using the water-picottah...
Naathu kaalu nattu vachaen…and planted four rows of paddy saplings...
Yaethamittu neer erachaenI drew water using the water-picottah
Naathu kaalu nattu vachaen…and planted four rows of paddy saplings...
Aruvadaikku neramachi ammadi…It is now harvest time, my dear girl...
Aasai konjam adhikamaachi ammadi…and my desires have grown deeper, my dear girl...
Female
Neeruthi varampumittuSupplying water and building field boundaries,
Neram paathu kadhir aruthu…waiting for the right time to harvest the grain...
Neeruthi varampumittuSupplying water and building field boundaries,
Neram paathu kadhir aruthu…waiting for the right time to harvest the grain...
Aadharipaar illaiyinaa aththaaneIf there is no one to support me, my dear cousin,
Yaar tharippaar ivvuyirai aththaane…who else will sustain this life of mine, my cousin?
Male
Azhagaam kodi siridhuThe beautiful creeper is small,
Adhilum undhan idai siridhuand even smaller than that is your slender waist;
Nadaiyaai nadandhu sendraalif you keep walking continuously with such grace,
Nalla idai vaadaatho…won't that beautiful waist wither away?
Female
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Male
Maalai varumadiyoThe wedding garland will surely come, girl,
Magamaayi thunai iruppaGoddess Magamaayi will stand by us as support;
Maalai varumadiyoThe wedding garland will surely come, girl,
Magamaayi thunai iruppaGoddess Magamaayi will stand by us as support;
Naalum nadakkumadi ammadi…Everything will fall into place in due time, my dear girl...
Nambikkaiyum pizhaikumadi ammadi…and our hopes will survive and flourish, my dear girl...
Female
Kaaliyamma sathiyamaI swear by Goddess Kali,
Kai pidikavillaiyina…if you do not take my hand in marriage...
Kaaliyamma sathiyamaI swear by Goddess Kali,
Kai pidikavillaiyina…if you do not take my hand in marriage...
Aathula udal kidakkum aththaane…my lifeless body will lie in the river, my cousin...
Aaviyellam unnai suthhum aththane.and my spirit will forever haunt around you, my cousin.
Male
Azhagaam kodi siridhuThe beautiful creeper is small,
Adhilum undhan idai siridhuand even smaller than that is your slender waist;
Nadaiyaai nadandhu sendraalif you keep walking continuously with such grace,
Nalla idai vaadaatho…won't that beautiful waist wither away?
Male
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Female
Nadaiyum idaiyum kanduSeeing your graceful gait and slender waist,
Naadiyengum soodu kandu…feeling heat pulse through every nerve...
Kadaiye virikiriyeyou are setting up a store of charms,
Kadhai kadhaiyaa alakiriye…spinning tale after tale to measure me up...
Female
Thanthana thanthana thaalamThanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!
Both :Ah ah thanthana thanthana thaalamAh ah, Thanthana thanthana rhythm,
Kottu thattida thattida maelamas the drums beat and strike the rhythm!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Azhagaam kodi siridhu from the 1976 Tamil film Sathyam is a playful romantic duet composed by K. V. Mahadevan and written by Kannadasan. Sung energetically by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela, the song depicts a passionate conversation between two rural lovers filled with complimentary banter, folk rhythm, and deep emotional bonding. The lovers playfully tease each other about physical grace, patience, and commitment while celebrating their rural life style. Agricultural allegories—such as drawing water with a picottah, planting paddy seedlings, and waiting for harvest time—are poetically woven into the lyrics to reflect the maturation of their love. The song balances playful flirtation with solemn vows under the witness of local deities like Magamaayi and Kaaliyamma.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

Azhagaam kodi siridhu / Adhilum undhan idai siridhu

Compares the heroine's slender waist to a small, delicate creeper plant (kodi).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Nadaiyum idaiyum kandu / Naadiyengum soodu kandu…

Repetition of the initial 'Na' sound across lines to create rhythmic harmony.

Agricultural Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Aruvadaikku neramachi ammadi… / Aasai konjam adhikamaachi ammadi…

Uses farming acts of irrigation and harvesting as a metaphor for the growth and fulfillment of romantic love.

Santha Nayagam (Folk Rhythm Refrain)

Thanthana thanthana thaalam / Kottu thattida thattida maelam

Use of folk rhythmic vocables 'Thanthana thanthana thaalam' to maintain a brisk beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song highlights K. V. Mahadevan's skill in blending native Tamil folk song formats (Nattupura Paatu) into mainstream cinema scoring. It showcases Kannadasan's mastery in using authentic agrarian terminology like 'Yaetham' (water-picottah) and 'Naathu' (paddy sapling) to capture the true essence of rural Tamil life.

Keep listening

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