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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Azhagu Ratham

From Karpooram · 1957

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singers
P. Susheela, Tharapuram Sundarajan
Music director
D. B. Ramachandran
Details
Karpooram1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Azhagu ratham porakkum adhuA beautiful chariot will be born
Asanji asanji nadakkumIt will walk swayingly
Azhagu ratham porakkum adhuA beautiful chariot will be born
Asanji asanji nadakkumIt will walk swayingly
Female
Thamizhai pola inikkumIt will be sweet like Tamil
Thagappan pola sirikkumIt will smile like its father
Thamizhai pola inikkumIt will be sweet like Tamil
Thagappan pola sirikkumIt will smile like its father
Male
Azhagu ratham porakkum adhuA beautiful chariot will be born
Asanji asanji nadakkumIt will walk swayingly
Female
Thathi thathi nadakkum bothuWhen it walks with tottering steps
Bharathakalai pirakkum porakkumThe art of Bharatanatyam is born
Thathi thathi nadakkum bothuWhen it walks with tottering steps
Bharathakalai pirakkum porakkumThe art of Bharatanatyam is born
Thanga silaiyai anaikkum podhuWhen embracing that golden statue
Sandhanam pol manakkumIt will fragrance like sandalwood
Thanga silaiyai anaikkum podhuWhen embracing that golden statue
Sandhanam pol manakkumIt will fragrance like sandalwood
Male
Mutheduthu koduthu veithaLike a painting crafted out of pearls
Sithiram pol irukkumIt will look like a masterwork
Mutheduthu koduthu veithaLike a painting crafted out of pearls
Sithiram pol irukkumIt will look like a masterwork
Muppirappil seidhadhellamAll that was accumulated in previous births
Mothamaaga kidaikkumWill be obtained altogether
Naam muppirappil seidhadhellamAll that we accumulated in previous births
Mothamaaga kidaikkumWill be obtained altogether
Female
Azhagu ratham porakkumA beautiful chariot will be born
Male :Adhu asanji asanji nadakkumMale : It will walk swayingly
Female
Pinni vitta sadaiyinilaeIn her braided hair
Poovai sootuven andhaI will adorn flowers, and pointing to
Pirai nilavai kaati kaatiThat crescent moon again and again
Sooru ootuvenI will feed rice
Pinni vitta sadaiyinilaeIn her braided hair
Poovai sootuven andhaI will adorn flowers, and pointing to
Pirai nilavai kaati kaatiThat crescent moon again and again
Sooru ootuvenI will feed rice
Male
Irandu kaiyai serthuJoining my two hands together
Vaithu thottilaakkuvenI will make a cradle
Irandu kaiyai serthuJoining my two hands together
Vaithu thottilaakkuvenI will make a cradle
Deivam engae endru ketkkum bothuWhen asked where God is
Unnai kaattuvenI will point to you
Deivam engae endru ketkkum bothuWhen asked where God is
Unnai kaattuvenI will point to you
Male
Azhagu ratham porakkumA beautiful chariot will be born
Female :Adhu asanji asanji nadakkumFemale : It will walk swayingly
Female
Chinna chinna kangalukkuFor those tiny little eyes
Maiyai theettuven adhuI will apply kohl
Chinna chinna kangalukkuFor those tiny little eyes
Maiyai theettuven adhuI will apply kohl
Sirikkum podhu sindhuvadhaiThe pearls spilled when it laughs
Maalai aakkuvenI will weave into a garland
Sirikkum podhu sindhuvadhaiThe pearls spilled when it laughs
Maalai aakkuvenI will weave into a garland
Male
Maalaiyaakki tharuvadhai naanWhat I weave into a garland
Unakku soottuvenI will adorn upon you
Maalaiyaakki tharuvadhai naanWhat I weave into a garland
Unakku soottuvenI will adorn upon you
En manasai anbu kovil aakkiMaking my heart a temple of love
Soodam kaattuvenI will offer sacred camphor light
En manasai anbu kovil aakkiMaking my heart a temple of love
Soodam kaattuvenI will offer sacred camphor light
Female
Azhagu ratham porakkumA beautiful chariot will be born
Male :Adhu asanji asanji nadakkumMale : It will walk swayingly
Female
Paalodu serthu nambaAlong with mother's milk
Panbai oottuvenI will feed our virtues
Namba pazhaiya kadhaiyai solliBy telling our ancient stories
Nenjai suthamakkuvenI will purify the heart
Paalodu serthu nambaAlong with mother's milk
Panbai oottuvenI will feed our virtues
Namba pazhaiya kadhaiyai solliBy telling our ancient stories
Nenjai suthamakkuvenI will purify the heart
Male
Aararoo paadumpodhu naanum paaduvenWhen you sing a lullaby, I too will sing
Aararoo oLullaby...
Female :Aararoo oFemale : Lullaby...
Both :Raariraari raariraari raaroo aararooBoth : Raariraari raariraari raaroo lullaby
Male :Aararoo paadumpodhu naanum paaduvenMale : When you sing a lullaby, I too will sing
Ini adutha adutha piriviyilumIn future upcoming births too
Sernthu vaazhuvenWe shall live together

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic duet from the 1957 Tamil movie 'Karpooram' expresses the tender joy and anticipation of an expectant couple looking forward to the birth of their child. They poetically compare the unborn child to a graceful chariot, a golden idol, and a sweet embodiment of the Tamil language. Through loving promises, both father and mother share how they will nurture, dress, feed, and instil cultural values and virtues in their child while celebrating their own eternal bond across future births.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thamizhai pola inikkum

Compares the sweetness of the child to the sweetness of the Tamil language ('Thamizhai pola inikkum') and the child's smile to the father's smile ('Thagappan pola sirikkum').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Azhagu ratham porakkum adhu

Refers to the child metaphorically as a 'beautiful chariot' ('Azhagu ratham') and a 'golden statue' ('Thanga silai').

Anaphora / Repetition (Ettudhal / Erattai Kilavi)

Asanji asanji nadakkum

Uses rhythmic echo words like 'asanji asanji' (swaying) and 'thathi thathi' (tottering steps) to vividly capture a toddler's movements.

Rhyme (Edhai / Monai)

Thamizhai pola inikkum

Employs Tamil poetic second-letter rhyming (Edhukai) such as Thamizhai / Thagappan.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Azhagu Ratham Porakkum' from Karpooram (1957) was composed by D. B. Ramachandran with lyrics written by Mayavanathan. Rendered by P. Susheela and Tharapuram Sundarajan, it remains one of the earliest cherished lullaby-duets in Tamil cinema celebrating parenthood.

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