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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ezhudhugiren Oru Kaditham

From Kalki · 1996

Lyricist
Ilandevan
Singers
Anuradha Sriram, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Kalki1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Muthu muthu magalaeOh pearl-like daughter!
Mugam kaanaatha magalaeOh daughter whose face I have not seen!
Maadhangal pathu manadhinil sumandhuCarrying you in my heart for ten months,
Karpanaiyil petra kanmaniyaeOh precious eye-gem, birthed in my imagination!
Naan unakku kavidhayil yezhudhum kadithamThis is a letter I write to you in poetry...
Female
: Ezhudhugiren oru kaditham: I am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Vanathu malarae vaiyathu nilavaeOh flower of the sky, moon of the world,
Vaazhkayin porulae vaaOh meaning of my life, come!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Maladiyin magalaeDaughter of a barren woman,
Magal enum kanavaeOh dream named 'daughter',
Madiyinil vizha nee vaaCome fall into my lap!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Paarayil malarndha thaamaraiyaeLotus that bloomed upon a solid rock,
Iravanil yezhundha sooriyanaeSun that rose in the middle of the night,
Yezhaamalae yezhum nila neeyaeYou are the moon that rises without being summoned,
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Munooru naal garbathilaeFor three hundred days in the womb,
Vaaradha penn neeyadiYou are the girl who did not physically arrive,
Yennaalumae naan bommai thaanThough I remain merely a plaything/doll forever,
Yendraalum thaai thaanadiEven so, I am indeed a mother to you!
Female
Ullavum vaanampaadiyaaiSoaring freely like a skylark,
Panpaadi vaazhga kannaeLive singing sweet melodies, my dear!
Puravai pola saanthamaaiPeaceful as a gentle dove,
Panpaadu potru pennaeCherish culture and values, my girl!
Female
Naaloru mennmaiEvery day a new refinement,
Nee peruvaaiMay you attain it!
Naan petra inbamThe bliss that I have received,
Yaar peruvaarWho else could ever receive?
Peraamalae perum sugam neeyaeYou are the immense joy gained without physically bearing a child!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Sindhamani yen kanmaniOh precious jewel, apple of my eye,
Sitraadai nee kattadiWear a pretty little skirt,
Yen maaligai mutrathilaeIn the front yard of my home,
Pon oonjal nee aadadiSwing delightfully on a golden swing!
Female
Kulaavum anbu kokilamLike a joyful, loving cuckoo,
Yengeyum gaanam paadaSinging songs everywhere,
Kanaavil kooda sombalaeWithout any laziness even in your dreams,
Illaamal gnaanam thedaSeek wisdom constantly!
Female
Nallavalagha nadai poduWalk forward as a noble-hearted woman,
Vallaval aagida thadai yedhuWhat obstacle can stop you from becoming capable?
Vizhaamalae vizhum mazhai neeyaeYou are the rain that showers without falling!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Polladhadhu un bhoomi thaanThis world of yours is cruel,
Poraattam thaan vaazhvadiLife is a continuous struggle, my child!
Kollamalae kolvaaradiPeople will torture you without shedding blood,
Kutrangal solvaaradiThey will find faults in whatever you do!
Female
Varaadha thunbam vaazhvilaeUnexpected hardships in life,
Vandhaalum neril modhuEven if they come, face them directly!
Peraadha vetri illayaeThere is no victory that cannot be won,
Endrae nee vedham odhuRecite this truth as your sacred scripture!
Oomaikkum naakkugal vendumadiEven the mute need tongues to voice out,
Urimaikku porida thevayadiIt is necessary to fight for your rights!
Thodamalae sudum kanal neeyaeYou are the fire that burns without even touching!
Female
Vanathu malarae vaiyathu nilavaeOh flower of the sky, moon of the world,
Vaazhkayin porulae vaaOh meaning of my life, come!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Maladiyin magalaeDaughter of a barren woman,
Magal enum kanavaeOh dream named 'daughter',
Madiyinil vizha nee vaaCome fall into my lap!
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Female
Paarayil malarndha thaamaraiyaeLotus that bloomed upon a solid rock,
Iravanil yezhundha sooriyanaeSun that rose in the middle of the night,
Yezhaamalae yezhum nila neeyaeYou are the moon that rises without being summoned,
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...
Ezhudhugiren oru kadithamI am writing a letter...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ezhudhugiren Oru Kaditham' from the movie Kalki (1996) is a deeply poignant poetic letter written by a woman who cannot physically bear children to her imagined, unborn daughter. Though she never experienced a physical pregnancy, her maternal instincts nurture this child within her heart and imagination. She addresses her imaginary daughter as a miraculous impossibility—a lotus blooming on a rock or a sun rising at midnight. As the song unfolds, it shifts from maternal affection to profound life advice. She encourages her imaginary daughter to live with grace, joy, and wisdom like a skylark, while also warning her about the harsh, hypocritical realities of society. She urges her to be strong, stand up for her rights, face hardships head-on, and shine like an unyielding flame. It stands as a powerful blend of maternal tenderness, emotional longing, and female empowerment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran / Virudha Ani)

Maladiyin magalae

Presents a logical contradiction—a 'barren woman' having a 'daughter'—to emphasize emotional and spiritual motherhood over biological reality.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paarayil malarndha thaamaraiyae / Iravanil yezhundha sooriyanae

Directly compares the child to impossible phenomena (a lotus blooming on a rock, a sun rising at night) to highlight the miraculous nature of her imaginary presence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Puravai pola saanthamaai

Compares the child's desired demeanor to a peaceful dove ('puravai pola').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Muthu muthu magalae / Mugam kaanaatha magalae

Repetition of the initial sound 'Mu' across successive lines to create rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1996 Tamil drama film 'Kalki', directed by the legendary K. Balachander. Composed by Deva with lyrics by Ilandevan, the track evokes the signature emotional depth and progressive female perspective typical of K. Balachander's cinema.

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