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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Brinthavanathil Pooveduthu

From CID Sankar · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
CID Sankar1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Brindhavanathil pooveduthuPlucking flowers from Brindavan,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumaO young girl, shall I adorn your hair with them?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuScooping up the gushing, rippling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumaShall I mix sandalwood paste and apply it on you?
Female
Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuSailing a boat in Kannambadi,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumaShall I hold you safely within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of this tightly bound beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumaShall I embrace you until your bangles crush?
Female
Thulli kudhikkum neeroottruA water fountain leaping and dancing,
Adhai thottu thazhuvum poongaattruA gentle breeze touching and caressing it,
Thulli kudhikkum neeroottruA water fountain leaping and dancing,
Adhai thottu thazhuvum poongaattruA gentle breeze touching and caressing it,
Mella nanaindhadhu melaadaiSlowly, her upper garment got drenched,
Adhu verenna seiyum noolaadaiWhat else can a simple cotton cloth do?
Mella nanaindhadhu melaadaiSlowly, her upper garment got drenched,
Adhu verenna seiyum noolaadaiWhat else can a simple cotton cloth do?
Female
Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuSailing a boat in Kannambadi,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumaShall I hold you safely within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of this tightly bound beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumaShall I embrace you until your bangles crush?
Male
Brindhavanathil pooveduthuPlucking flowers from Brindavan,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumaO young girl, shall I adorn your hair with them?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuScooping up the gushing, rippling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumaShall I mix sandalwood paste and apply it on you?
Male
Kaaveri pennukku silai veithaanHe erected a statue for the Kaveri maiden,
Aval kaadhalukkenna vilai veithaanWhat value did he place on her love?
Kaaveri pennukku silai veithaanHe erected a statue for the Kaveri maiden,
Aval kaadhalukkenna vilai veithaanWhat value did he place on her love?
Kaalangal dhoorum ilamai irukkaSo that youthfulness remains eternal across time,
Kallai irukkum nilai veithaanHe made her stand frozen into a stone statue,
Kaalangal dhoorum ilamai irukkaSo that youthfulness remains eternal across time,
Kallai irukkum nilai veithaanHe made her stand frozen into a stone statue,
Male
Brindhavanathil pooveduthuPlucking flowers from Brindavan,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumaO young girl, shall I adorn your hair with them?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuScooping up the gushing, rippling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumaShall I mix sandalwood paste and apply it on you?
Female
Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuSailing a boat in Kannambadi,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumaShall I hold you safely within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of this tightly bound beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumaShall I embrace you until your bangles crush?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet captures an affectionate outing between two lovers set against the picturesque backdrop of the Brindavan Gardens and the Krishna Raja Sagara dam across the Kaveri river. The hero lovingly asks to adorn his beloved with flowers, apply sandalwood paste from the cool spring waters, and embrace her closely while boating across the lake. Through vivid imagery of spraying fountains and playful breezes, lyricist Kannadasan blends sensory romantic affection with references to the eternal beauty of the Kaveri statue at the gardens.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeic Doubling)

Sala sala neerai alli eduthu

The phrase 'Sala sala' mimics the gentle, rippling sound of flowing water.

Personification

Thulli kudhikkum neeroottru / Adhai thottu thazhuvum poongaattru

The spring water is described as jumping playfully, while the gentle breeze is depicted as tenderly touching and caressing it.

Edukku / Rhyme (Second Letter Agreement)

Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamal / Kaivalai norunga anaikkattuma

The repetition of 'tti' in 'Kattiya' and 'Kaivalai' creates melodic harmony between consecutive lines.

Metaphor

Kaaveri pennukku silai veithaan / Kallai irukkum nilai veithaan

The river Kaveri and her eternal flow are metaphorically depicted as a beautiful maiden sculpted into a timeless stone statue.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song's lyrics explicitly reference real geographic features: 'Brindhavan' refers to the famous Brindavan Gardens, and 'Kannampaadi' refers to the historical Kannambadi Dam (Krishna Raja Sagara) built across the Kaveri river near Mysore, Karnataka.

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