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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Guruvayurappa Guruvayurappa

From Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Naan konda kaadhalukkuFor the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchiYou alone are the sole witness!
Female
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Vendaadha deivamillaiThere is no deity left unprayed to,
Neethaanae bakki…You alone remain as the final refuge...
Male
{Raadhai unaku sonna{What is the sacred truth or scripture
Vedham ennaaThat Radha bestowed upon you?
Naan pogum paadhaiThe path I walk upon
Ennaalum un paadhai} (2)Will forever be your path} (2)
Female
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Naan konda kaadhalukkuFor the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchiYou alone are the sole witness!
Male
Thaenaatran karayilOn the banks of the honeyed river,
Deiveegha kuralilIn a divine, ethereal voice,
Naanthaan oruIt was I who
PaatisaithaenSang a sweet melody.
Female
Dhinamdhorum iravilEvery single night,
Nadujaamam varayilUntil the midnight hour,
Naanthaanae adhaiIt was I alone who
KettirundhaenKept listening to it.
Male
Arangettram thaanWithout a debut performance
Aagaamal thaanEver taking place,
Alaipayum en jeevanthanMy soul wavers endlessly in turmoil!
Female
Vaa vaa en dhevaaCome, come, my beloved lord!
Sempoovaa en dhegamLike a blooming red flower, my body—
Seraadho un kaigalilae…Will it not reach into your hands?...
Male
Guruvayurappoo.. guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa... Guruvayurappa!
Naan konda kaadhalukkuFor the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchiYou alone are the sole witness!
Female
Yengaandha ninaivumUnfading, yearning memories
Erigindra nilavumAnd the burning moonlight
Enmel oru por thodukkaWage a war against me!
Male
Enai vandhu thaluvuCome and embrace me,
Yen indha pirivuWhy this painful separation?
Maanae vaa unaiCome, my deer-like lover, who is there
Yaar thadukkaTo stop you?
Female
ParimaaralaamWe can share our feelings,
Pasi aaralaamWe can satisfy our hearts' hunger,
Poomaalai nee soodum naalOn the day you wear the floral garland!
Male
Maadhu un meedhuOh lady, towards you,
Ippodhu en moghamWill my intense longing not surge right now? Tell me,
Paayaadho sol poongukuyilaeOh sweet singing cuckoo bird!
Male
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Naan konda kaadhalukkuFor the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchiYou alone are the sole witness!
Female
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Vendaadha deivamillaiThere is no deity left unprayed to,
Neethaanae bakki…You alone remain as the final refuge...
Male
Raadhai unaku sonnaWhat is the sacred truth
Vedham ennaaThat Radha bestowed upon you?
Naan pogum paadhaiThe path I walk upon
Ennaalum un paadhaiWill forever be your path.
Female
Guruvayurappa guruvayurappaOh Lord Guruvayurappa, Guruvayurappa!
Naan konda kaadhalukkuFor the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchiYou alone are the sole witness!
Male
{Naan konda kaadhalukku{For the love I hold in my heart,
Neethaanae saatchi} (3)You alone are the sole witness!} (3)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Guruvayurappa Guruvayurappa' from *Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal* (1989) is a iconic romantic duet that blends deep romantic devotion with spiritual devotion. The lovers invoke Lord Guruvayurappa (Krishna) as the sacred witness to their unyielding bond. Drawing parallels to the eternal love between Krishna and Radha, the female protagonist expresses her complete surrender and dedication, declaring that her journey in life will forever follow her beloved's path. The song captures the agony of separation, where restless nights and nostalgic memories turn even the gentle moonlight into a painful flame. Through evocative metaphors of blooming flowers, restless streams, and singing cuckoos, the song transitions between sweet emotional longing and passionate desire for union, culminating in a celebration of love sanctioned by divine grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Arangettram thaan / Aagaamal thaan

The deliberate repetition of the suffix word 'thaan' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor (Sempoovaa en dhegam)

Sempoovaa en dhegam / Seraadho un kaigalilae…

The heroine compares her youthful body to a red flower waiting to be tenderly gathered into the hands of her lover.

Oxymoron / Paradox (Erigindra nilavum)

Erigindra nilavum

The moon, traditionally associated with coolness and comfort, is paradoxically described as 'burning' to depict the heat of romantic longing and separation.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Naan konda kaadhalukku / Neethaanae saatchi

The initial 'N' sound ('Naan' and 'Neethaanae') creates a melodic connection across the phrase.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt leaves composer/singer context unspecified, this track is one of Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's classic hit duets, sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra with lyrics penned by Vaali. Directed by K. Balachander, *Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal* featured this song filmed on Rahman and Sitara. The song uses classical Carnatic influences blended with modern orchestration and remains one of the most famous Krishna-themed romantic duets in Tamil cinema.

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