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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Malargal

From Oru Nadigai Nadagam Parkiral · 1978

Lyricist
Jayakanthan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Oru Nadigai Nadagam Parkiral
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muththinai pol panithuli irukkum
Muththirukkum thottaal mullirukkum
Female :Puththanai poloru puthiyilae
Silar pookkalar maranthaar bhoomiyilae
Intha pookkalai maranthaar bhoomiyilae
Neeyum naanum yaaro evaro
Nizhalaai uruvaai thunaiyaanom
Female :Thaayum thanthaiyum illaatha
Oru thanimaiyil kalanthu uravaanom
Thanimaiyil kalanthu uravaanom
Malarinum mellithu mellithu sila manangal
Female :Mayangiyum kuzhambiyum theliyum
Sila gunangal nalla gunangal
Male :Uravinil ezhum inba naatham kadhal geedham
Female :Olikkum maniyellaam uyarntha vedham
Udhirum malargal nallaasigal odhum
Udhirum malargal nallaasigal odhum
A dewdrop looks just like a pearl,
it holds a pearl, but touch it and there is a thorn.
With a mind like the Buddha's,
some people forgot the flowers on this earth.
They forgot these flowers on this earth.
You and I were once strangers,
yet we became companions, like form and shadow.
With neither mother nor father,
we came together in our loneliness and became family.
We came together in our loneliness and became family.
Softer than flowers are some human hearts,
confused and lost at first, yet clearing in the end—
such are some natures, truly good natures.
The sweet music rising from our bond is a song of love.
Every ringing bell is a sacred truth,
and the falling flowers whisper their blessings.
And the falling flowers whisper their blessings.
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This deeply philosophical duet reflects on human emotional bond, loneliness, and psychological transformation. Written by acclaimed author Jayakanthan for the film adaptation of his own novel, the song uses nature imagery—dewdrops, thorns, flowers, and shadows—to convey how two isolated individuals find meaning, companionship, and spiritual clarity through love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Muththinai pol panithuli irukkum”

Compares the appearance of a dewdrop to a shiny pearl using the explicit comparison word 'pol'.

Paradox / Contrast (Aran)

“Muththirukkum thottaal mullirukkum”

Contrasts the beauty of a pearl with the unexpected pain of hidden thorns upon contact, symbolizing hidden emotional baggage.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Malarinum mellithu mellithu sila manangal”

Repetition of the 'M' sound at the beginning of words ('Malarinum mellithu mellithu sila manangal') creates a soft, lyrical cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Nizhalaai uruvaai thunaiyaanom”

Metaphorically compares the bond of companionship to a body and its shadow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were penned by the legendary Tamil writer Jayakanthan himself, adapting his famous novel 'Oru Nadigai Nadagam Parkiral' into a film, featuring music composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

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