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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennudaya Jadhagathil

From Iru Medhaigal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Iru Medhaigal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ennudaiya jadhagaththilIn my horoscope,
Raaththirikku raaththirithaanNight after night,
Ketti melam kottugira saththam ketkkumThe sound of beating wedding drums is heard.
Female
Ennudaiya jadhagaththilIn my horoscope,
Raaththirikku raaththirithaanNight after night,
Ketti melam kottugira saththam ketkkumThe sound of beating wedding drums is heard.
Female
Mamankaaran machchaankaaranMaternal uncles, brothers-in-law,
Eththanaiyo sonthakkaaranAnd so many other male relatives,
Nerunga vanthu mayangaCome close and swoon with admiration.
Female
Mamankaaran machchaankaaranMaternal uncles, brothers-in-law,
Eththanaiyo sonthakkaaranAnd so many other male relatives,
Nerunga vanthu mayangaCome close and swoon with admiration.
Female
Paai virikka vendurathumAsking to lay out a sleeping mat,
Pakkam vanthu thoondurathumDrawing near to provoke desire,
Aalukkonnu pesurathumEach person uttering tempting words,
Ambugala veesurathumShooting arrows of longing at me—
Haa viragam thaangalaeAh, this agony of romantic desire is unbearable!
Antha naragam thaangalaeThat hellish pain of longing is unbearable!
Aaha aahaah ahaah….Aaha aahaah ahaah….
Female
Ennudaiya jadhagaththilIn my horoscope,
Raaththirikku raaththirithaanNight after night,
Ketti melam kottugira saththam ketkkumThe sound of beating wedding drums is heard.
Female
Viraal meenupolae vilaa thullumpothuWhen my ribs twitch like a fluttering butterfish,
Ho viraal meenupolae vilaa thullumpothuHo, when my ribs twitch like a fluttering butterfish,
Varaan paaru kaaman villil ambu podaLook, Cupid approaches to shoot arrows from his bow!
Yaedho naanum yaena yaarum illa thaangaLeft all alone with no one to hold or soothe me,
Orae moochchu vaanga thookkam ennai neengaBreathing heavily, sleep deserts me completely.
Female
Poo mudichcha ponnirukkaThere stands a golden girl adorned with flowers,
Thittam kondu ninnurukkaStanding with quiet intentions,
Vel vadichcha kannirukkaWith eyes shaped like sharp spears,
Vetkkam vittu kaaththirukkaWaiting patiently, casting away all shyness.
Haa viragam thaangalaeAh, this agony of romantic desire is unbearable!
Antha naragam thaangalaeThat hellish pain of longing is unbearable!
Haa viragam thaangalaeAh, this agony of romantic desire is unbearable!
Antha naragam thaangalaeThat hellish pain of longing is unbearable!
Aaha aahaah ahaah….Aaha aahaah ahaah….
Female
Ennudaiya jadhagaththilIn my horoscope,
Raaththirikku raaththirithaanNight after night,
Ketti melam kottugira saththam ketkkumThe sound of beating wedding drums is heard.
Female
Urangaathu ponnu oththaiyila ninnuThe girl stays awake, standing all by herself,
Ho urangaathu ponnu oththaiyila ninnuHo, the girl stays awake, standing all by herself,
Silrkkaatha thaegam chinna vaazha kannuWith a pristine body like a tender young banana sapling,
Kanichchaarum thaenum poththi vachcha kinnamA vessel holding fruit juice and sweet honey inside.
Inippaaga rasa unnudaiya ennamO My King, sweet are your thoughts!
Female
Kaal mulaichcha chiththiraththaLike a portrait that has grown legs,
Kann vizhikkum raththinaththaLike a precious gem that opens its eyes,
Kondu poeyyaa pattu meththaTake her away to the silk mattress,
Solli thaaiyyaa kattra viththaTeach her the master arts of love you possess!
Haa viragam thaangalaeAh, this agony of romantic desire is unbearable!
Antha naragam thaangalaeThat hellish pain of longing is unbearable!
Aaha aahaah ahaah….Aaha aahaah ahaah….
Female
Ennudaiya jadhagaththilIn my horoscope,
Raaththirikku raaththirithaanNight after night,
Ketti melam kottugira saththam ketkkumThe sound of beating wedding drums is heard.
Female
Mamankaaran machchaankaaranMaternal uncles, brothers-in-law,
Eththanaiyo sonthakkaaranAnd so many other male relatives,
Nerunga vanthu mayangaCome close and swoon with admiration.
Female
Paai virikka vendurathumAsking to lay out a sleeping mat,
Pakkam vanthu thoondurathumDrawing near to provoke desire,
Aalukkonnu pesurathumEach person uttering tempting words,
Ambugala veesurathumShooting arrows of longing at me—
Haa viragam thaangalaeAh, this agony of romantic desire is unbearable!
Antha naragam thaangalaeThat hellish pain of longing is unbearable!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ennudaiya Jadhagaththil' expresses the intense, agonizing romantic yearning ('viragam') of a young woman. She laments that according to her astrological destiny, every single night she hears the imaginary beating of wedding drums ('ketti melam'), driving away her sleep and stirring deep romantic desires within her. She feels surrounded by suitors and relatives who admire her beauty and tease her, comparing the torment of unfulfilled longing to a living hell. Throughout the verses, she describes her youth and physical beauty through evocative rural metaphors—comparing herself to a fresh banana sapling, a cup filled with juice and honey, a gemstone with eyes, and a painting with legs. She longs for her beloved to take her away to a bed of silk and initiate her into the arts of love, transforming her painful isolation into romantic union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Viraal meenupolae vilaa thullumpothu

Compares the fluttering/twitching sensation of longing in the ribs to a wriggling butterfish ('viraal meenu').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaal mulaichcha chiththiraththa

Metaphorically describes a young woman as a painting/portrait that has sprouted legs and walks.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Paai virikka vendurathum / Pakkam vanthu thoondurathum / Aalukkonnu pesurathum / Ambugala veesurathum

The consecutive lines end with the matching suffix '-urathum', establishing rhythmic harmony through end rhyme.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaal mulaichcha chiththiraththa / Kann vizhikkum raththinaththa

Initial consonant sound 'Ka' ('Kaal', 'Kann') is repeated across adjacent lines, creating Tamil Monai.

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Trivia

This track from the 1984 film 'Iru Medhaigal' features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Vaali. Rendered by the acclaimed playback singer Vani Jairam, the song showcases her versatility in handling playful, sensual folk-pop numbers alongside her classical repertoire. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly combine traditional astrological idioms ('jadhagam', 'ketti melam') with rustic metaphors ('viraal meenu', 'vaazha kannu') to convey youthful passion.

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