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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennadi Meenakshi

From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaarthai thavari vitaaiYou broke your word,
Kannama maarbu thudikuthadiOh Kannamma, my heart throbs with anguish!
Paartha idathil ellam unnaipolEverywhere I look, a maiden like you
Paavai theriyuthadiAppears right before my eyes!
Male
{ Ennadi meenakshi{ Hey Meenakshi, what is this?
Sonnadu ennachu } (2)What happened to what you promised? } (2)
Netrodu nee sonnaWhat you told me yesterday,
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachuHas it blown away with the wind?
Male
Ennadi meenakshiHey Meenakshi, what is this?
Sonnadu ennachuWhat happened to what you promised?
Netrodu nee sonnaWhat you told me yesterday,
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachuHas it blown away with the wind?
Male
{ Undhan udhatil{ Upon your lips,
Nirainthirukum pazharasamSweet fruit juice overflows,
Andha manathilBut inside that heart,
Marainthirukum thuli visam } (2)A drop of poison lies hidden! } (2)
Male
Nenjam thudithidum naazhiAt this moment when my heart aches,
Neeyo aduthavan thozhiYou have become another man's companion!
Male
Ennai maranthu povathum nyaayamoIs it fair for you to just forget me?
Indha kaadhal oviyathin paathai maariyathuHas the path of this painting of love diverted?
Kaalam seithuvita maayamoIs this an illusion created by time?
Male
Oru manam uruguthuOne heart melts in agony,
Oru manam vilaguthu heyWhile another heart drifts away, hey!
Male
Ennadi meenakshiHey Meenakshi, what is this?
Sonnadu ennachuWhat happened to what you promised?
Netrodu nee sonnaWhat you told me yesterday,
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachuHas it blown away with the wind?
Male
{ Anbil vilaintha{ The bond that blossomed in love
Uravu oru thodarkadhaiWas a never-ending saga,
Andha uravu unaku oru sirukadhai } (2)But that relationship was merely a short story to you! } (2)
Male
Kannan thanimayilae paadaWhile Krishna sings in solitude,
Raadhai than vazhiyae odaRadha runs away along her own path!
Male
Indha pirivai thaangumo enmanamCan my heart endure this painful separation?
Oru noolil aadugindra oonjal pondrathadiIt is like a swing hanging by a single thread,
Naalum maarugindra un manamYour heart that changes every single day!
Male
Enaku indru purinthadhuToday I finally understood,
Evan endru therinthadhu heyI figured out who you really are, hey!
Male
{ Ennadi meenakshi{ Hey Meenakshi, what is this?
Sonnadu ennachu } (2)What happened to what you promised? } (2)
Netrodu nee sonnaWhat you told me yesterday,
Vaarthai kaatrodu poyaachuHas it blown away with the wind?
Male
Vaarthai thavari vitaaiYou broke your word,
Kannama maarbu thudikuthadiOh Kannamma, my heart throbs with anguish!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic song captures the deep anguish, anger, and feelings of betrayal experienced by a lover whose partner broke her promises and chose someone else. It opens by invoking Mahakavi Bharathiyar's legendary line 'Vaarthai thavari vittai Kannamma', establishing the pain of broken trust. The song develops through vivid contrasts—juxtaposing the sweet words on her lips with the poison in her mind, and comparing his commitment to a lifelong saga against her treatement of it as a mere short story.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion

Vaarthai thavari vitaai Kannama maarbu thudikuthadi

Directly borrows and adapts Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous poem 'Vaarthai Thavari Vittai Kannamma', invoking timeless literary sorrow.

Metaphor / Contrast (Muran)

Undhan udhatil Nirainthirukum pazharasam Andha manathil Marainthirukum thuli visam

Contrasts nectar/fruit juice on her lips with poison hidden in her heart to illustrate outward sweet deception versus inward betrayal.

Contrast (Muran)

Uravu oru thodarkadhai / Andha uravu unaku oru sirukadhai

Contrasts 'Thodarkadhai' (never-ending serial story) with 'Sirukadhai' (short story) to highlight how deeply he valued the relationship compared to how lightly she discarded it.

Simile (Upamai)

Oru noolil aadugindra oonjal pondrathadi Naalum maarugindra un manam

Compares her fickle, constantly changing mind to a precarious swing hanging by a single frail thread.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu' (1978) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Performed on screen by Rajinikanth, lyricist Vaali famously blended classical poetic themes inspired by Bharathiyar with modern western pop-rock rhythms.

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