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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Endrum Illaamal Ondrum Sollamal

From Kalai Arasi · 1963

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kalai Arasi1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaenoWhy does this joy arise?
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaeno..oo..oooWhy does this joy arise?
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaenoWhy does this joy arise?
Female
Ennangal panpaadudhuMy thoughts are humming a melody,
Kangalum engo vazhi thaedudhuAnd my eyes are searching for a path somewhere.
Ennangal panpaadudhuMy thoughts are humming a melody,
Kangalum engo vazhi thaedudhuAnd my eyes are searching for a path somewhere.
Edhu vendiyo vaadudhu aadudhuLonging for something, it wilts and dances,
Edhu vendiyo vaadudhu aadudhuLonging for something, it wilts and dances.
Manam ennodu nillaamalWithout staying with me, my heart
Munnaal odudhuRuns ahead of me.
Manam ennodu nillaamalWithout staying with me, my heart
Munnaal odudhuRuns ahead of me.
Female
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaeno..ooo…ooWhy does this joy arise?
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaenoWhy does this joy arise?
Female
Veesum thendral kaadhodu pesidumThe blowing gentle breeze whispers in my ear,
Baashai naan ariyenae …ae…ae…..A language I do not know...
Veesum thendral kaadhodu paesidumThe blowing gentle breeze whispers in my ear,
Baashai naan ariyenaeA language I do not know.
Verum bodhaiyo aasaiyo maayamoIs it mere intoxication, desire, or an illusion?
Verum bodhaiyo aasaiyo maayamoIs it mere intoxication, desire, or an illusion?
Idhu vilangaamal varum kaadhalIs this the wonder of love
Vindhai thaanoThat comes without being understood?
Idhu vilangaamal varum kaadhalIs this the wonder of love
Vindhai thaanoThat comes without being understood?
Female
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaeno…oo..oooWhy does this joy arise?
Endrum illaamal ondrum sollaamalWithout it ever happening before, without saying anything,
Inbam undaavadhaenoWhy does this joy arise?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song beautifully articulates the sudden, unexplainable feeling of falling in love for the very first time. The protagonist experiences a sweet joy that arises silently without any prior warning. Her mind hums tunes of happiness, her eyes wander looking for an unseen beloved, and her heart leaps ahead of her, refusing to stay grounded.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Veesum thendral kaadhodu pesidum

The gentle breeze is personified as a person whispering sweet, mysterious words into the protagonist's ear.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Edhu vendiyo vaadudhu aadudhu

The verbs 'vaadudhu' and 'aadudhu' end with the same rhythmic suffix, creating an elegant internal and end rhyme.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Manam ennodu nillaamal / Munnaal odudhu

The 'M' sound is repeated at the start of 'Manam' and 'Munnaal', giving a rhythmic beat to the lines.

Assonance / Iyaipu

Verum bodhaiyo aasaiyo maayamo

The musical repetition of the '-o' ending in 'bodhaiyo', 'aasaiyo', and 'maayamo' evokes a sense of wonder and intoxication.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kalai Arasi' (1963), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, is historically notable as one of the earliest Tamil cinema attempts at sci-fi involving aliens and space travel. Legendary poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram penned the lyrics for this song before his untimely death in 1959, and the song was released posthumously when the film came out in 1963.

Keep listening

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