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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chedi Maraivile

From Amarakavi · 1952

Lyricist
Suratha
Singers
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar, P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Amarakavi1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
O..o…o…o…o..o..o…o…O..o…o…o…o..o..o…o…
Male
Chedi maraivilae oru poongodiA flowering vine behind the bushes,
Maraindhae maayam seivadhaenwhy does it hide and perform magic?
Chedi maraivilae oru poongodiA flowering vine behind the bushes,
Maraindhae maayam seivadhaenwhy does it hide and perform magic?
Female
Pidikka vandhaalae oodiduvenaeIf you come to catch me, I will run away!
Pidikka vandhaalae oodiduvenaeIf you come to catch me, I will run away!
Nijamae idhu enaiyae thoda mudiyaadhu ummaaleTruly, you will not be able to touch me!
Nijamae idhu enaiyae thoda mudiyaadhu ummaaleTruly, you will not be able to touch me!
Male
Paadum kuyilae paaru ippodhaeSinging cuckoo, look at this right now!
Paadum kuyilae paaru ippodhaeSinging cuckoo, look at this right now!
Female :Thulli odum pulli maanaiFemale: The spotted deer that leaps and runs,
Thulli odum pulli maanaiThe spotted deer that leaps and runs,
Neengal pidikka mudiyumoocan you ever catch it?
Male :Aamaiyalla naanaeMale: I am not a slow tortoise!
Female :Muyal endru sollamattenFemale: I won't call you a hare either!
Female
HaaHaa
Vanna malar soodiya en jaadai pinnalaiIf you pull my braided hair adorned with colorful flowers,
Pidithizhuthaal valikkaadhowon't it hurt me?
Vanna malar soodiya en jaadai pinnalaiIf you pull my braided hair adorned with colorful flowers,
Pidithizhuthaal valikkaadhowon't it hurt me?
Male
AdadadadaaOh my my!
Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idaiYour slender waist, which shares a friendship with lightning,
Ooduvadhaal odiyaadhoo…hoowon't it snap if you run so fast?
Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idaiYour slender waist, which shares a friendship with lightning,
Ooduvadhaal odiyaadhoo…won't it snap if you run so fast?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romantic song from Amarakavi (1952) depicts a playful hide-and-seek chase between two lovers in a garden setting. The hero lovingly compares the heroine to a delicate flowering vine hiding among bushes, while she playfully taunts him, comparing herself to a swift spotted deer that he will never be able to capture. As their lighthearted banter continues, the hero refutes being slow like a tortoise, while the heroine warns him not to pull her flower-adorned braided hair. In response, the hero poetically admires her delicate waist, comparing its slenderness to lightning and teasingly expressing worry that running too fast might break it.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Chedi maraivilae oru poongodi

The heroine hiding behind bushes is metaphorically addressed as a 'poongodi' (flowering vine).

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Thulli odum pulli maanai

The second consonant 'lli' rhymes across both words 'Thulli' and 'pulli', creating rhythmic harmony.

Personification / Hyperbole (Uvamai)

Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idai

Her extremely slender waist is poetically described as having 'friendship with lightning' and being so fragile it might snap when running.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amarakavi (1952) was among the notable post-prison comeback films of legendary Carnatic music star M. K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT). The song's lyricist, Suratha (Subburathinamidasan), was renowned in Tamil literature as 'Uvamai Kavinjar' (The Poet of Similes) for his effortless use of vivid allegories and metaphors as demonstrated in this song.

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