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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Soga Kathiya Kelu

From Thooral Ninnu Pochu · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Krishnamoorthy
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thooral Ninnu Pochu1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamaeListen to my sad story, O mothers
Chorus :Aamaam thaaikulamae..Chorus: Yes, O mothers..
Male :Namma thaaikulamae..Male: Our mothers..
Chorus :Namma thaaikulamae..Chorus: Our mothers..
Male :Atha ketaathaan thaangathammaMale: Only if you listen to it, your heart will not bear it
Unga manamaeYour heart
Chorus :Aamaam unga manamaeChorus: Yes, your heart
Male :Aamaam unga manamaeMale: Yes, your heart
Male
Intha ooru ponna nambiTrusting a girl from this village
En manasa thoranthu vechenI opened my heart to her
Sontha ooru saathi sanamMy own native village and my relatives
Athanaiyum maranthu vanthenI forgot all of them and came here
Male
En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamaeListen to my sad story, O mothers
Chorus :Aamaam thaaikulamae..Chorus: Yes, O mothers..
Male :Namma thaaikulamae..Male: Our mothers..
Male
Aathangarai thoppukkullaInside the grove on the riverbank
Odi vilayaandathumHow we ran around and played
Yaarumilla samayathulaWhen no one was around
Jaadayila sirichathumHow she smiled at me through sly glances
Thoppukkulla varapukkullaInside the grove and across the field ridges
Thottu thottu pudichathumHow we played tag and caught each other
Thoondil pottu meena chuttuCatching fish with a hook and roasting it
Rendu perum kadichathumHow both of us shared and ate it
Male
Athanaiyum maranthu puttuForgetting all of that now
Ivan nenja vathaikiraaShe torments this man's heart
Appanoda pecha mattumOnly her father's words
Perusaaga nenaikiraaShe considers as paramount
Aasaipatta maapilaiyoThe prospective groom who loved her
Ambonu muzhikiraanIs left staring helplessly
Chorus :Aasaipatta maapilaiyoChorus: The prospective groom who loved her
Ambonu muzhikiraan…Is left staring helplessly...
Male
En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamaeListen to my sad story, O mothers
Chorus :Aamaam thaaikulamae..Chorus: Yes, O mothers..
Male :Namma thaaikulamae..Male: Our mothers..
Chorus :Namma thaaikulamae..Chorus: Our mothers..
Male :Atha ketaathaan thaangathammaMale: Only if you listen to it, your heart will not bear it
Unga manamaeYour heart
Chorus :Aamaam unga manamaeChorus: Yes, your heart
Male :Aamaam unga manamaeMale: Yes, your heart
Male
Aasai vacha aambala naanI am a man who fell deeply in love
Aandiyaa alaiyurenNow I wander around like a pauper
Allum pagal unna enniDay and night thinking of you
Theruvula thiriyurenI wander aimlessly through the streets
Nethuvara nadantha ellaamEverything that happened until yesterday
Deivam senja sothanaiWas just a trial sent by God
Nee mattum manasu vechaIf only you open your heart
Theenthuvidum vethanaThis torment will come to an end
Male
Naan mattum illaiyinaaIf not for me
Sanyaasam vangirupaanHe would have renounced the world and taken sannyasa
Kaasi muthal rameswaramFrom Kashi to Rameswaram
Kaavi katti poyirupaanHe would have left wearing saffron robes
Mangalatha pethavanaeO man who fathered Mangalam
Un manasa maathikadaChange your stubborn heart!
Chorus :Mangalatha pethavanaeChorus: O man who fathered Mangalam
Un manasa maathikada…Change your stubborn heart...
Male
En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamaeListen to my sad story, O mothers
Chorus :Aamaam thaaikulamae..Chorus: Yes, O mothers..
Male :Namma thaaikulamae..Male: Namma thaaikulamae..
Chorus :Namma thaaikulamae..Chorus: Namma thaaikulamae..
Male :Atha ketaathaan thaangathammaMale: Only if you listen to it, your heart will not bear it
Unga manamaeYour heart
Chorus :Aamaam unga manamaeChorus: Yes, your heart
Male :Aamaam unga manamaeMale: Yes, your heart
Male
Intha ooru ponna nambiTrusting a girl from this village
En manasa thoranthu vechenI opened my heart to her
Sontha ooru saathi sanamMy own native village and my relatives
Athanaiyum maranthu vanthenI forgot all of them and came here
Chorus
En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamaeListen to my sad story, O mothers
Aamaam thaaikulamae..Yes, O mothers..
Namma thaaikulamae..Our mothers..
Atha ketaathaan thaangathammaOnly if you listen to it, your heart will not bear it
Unga manamaeYour heart
Aamaam unga manamaeYes, your heart

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Thooral Ninnu Pochu' (1982) is a dramatic, humorous street play-style appeal (Therukoothu format) delivered by the protagonist. Addressing the village women ('thaaikulamae') as his sympathetic audience, he laments his romantic plight. Having left his native village and relatives behind out of love for a local girl named Mangalam, he feels heartbroken because she now ignores their fond childhood memories and blindly obeys her strict father's demands.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Therukoothu / Call-and-Response Format

En soga kathaiya kelu thaaikulamae / Chorus: Aamaam thaaikulamae..

The lead singer sings a line and the chorus echoes or responds ('Aamaam thaaikulamae'), simulating traditional Tamil folk theater storytelling.

Imagery (Visual and Olfactory)

Thoondil pottu meena chuttu / Rendu perum kadichathum

Vivid rural scenes are painted using sensory details like fishing by the riverbank, roasting fish, and playing along field ridges.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Thoppukkulla varapukkulla / Thottu thottu pudichathum

Consonance in the second letter of consecutive lines (e.g., 'Aathangarai' / 'Odi', 'Thoppukkulla' / 'Thottu').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thooral Ninnu Pochu' (1982) was written and directed by K. Bhagyaraj, who also starred in the lead role. Although listed as 'Unknown' in the context, the music was actually composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran and vocals performed by Malaysia Vasudevan along with a chorus.

Keep listening

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