Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Idhazhil Kathai

From Unnal Mudiyum Thambi · 1988

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Unnal Mudiyum Thambi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Inbangal azhaikudhu… aaaaaa….Pleasures are beckoning... ahhhh...
Female
Manadhil sugam malarum maalaiyidhuThis is an evening when joy blossoms in the heart
Maanvizhi mayangudhu aaaaaaa…..The doe-eyed woman is swooning... ahhhh...
Manadhil sugam malarum maalaiyidhuThis is an evening when joy blossoms in the heart
Male
Ilamai azhagai alli anaipadharkaeTo gather and embrace youthful beauty
Ilamai azhagai alli anaipadharkaeTo gather and embrace youthful beauty
Irukaram thudikudhu thanimaiyumBoth hands are eager, as solitude
Nerungida inimaiyum pirakkudhuDraws near, sweetness is born
Male
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Male
Kaadhal kiligal rendu jaadai pesakanduSeeing two lovebirds talking in signals
Yedhaedhoo ennam en nenjil udhikkumVarious thoughts arise in my heart
Female
Naanum neeyum serndhu ragam paadumbodhuWhen you and I sing a melody together
Neer oodai pola en nenjam inikkumMy heart feels sweet like a flowing stream
Male
Iniya paruvamulla ilanguyilaeOh sweet young cuckoo in her prime youth
Iniya paruvamulla ilanguyilaeOh sweet young cuckoo in her prime youth
Yen inum thaamadham manmadha kaaviyam ennudan ezhudhaWhy the delay to write the epic of Manmatha with me?
Female
Naanum ezhudhida ilamaiyum thudikkudhuMy youth is eager to write it too
Naanam adhai vandhu idaiyinil thadukkudhuBut shyness comes in between and stops it
Male
Yenghi thavikaiyil naanangal edharkadiWhy shyness when longing in distress, my dear?
Yekkam thanindhida oru murai thazhuvadiEmbrace me once to quell the yearning, my dear
Female
Kaalam varum varai poruthirundhaalIf you wait until the right time comes
kanni ival malar karam thazhuvidumaeThis maiden's flower-like hand will embrace you
Male
Kaalam endraikku kanindhidumooWhen will that right time ripen?
kaalai manam adhuvarai poruthidumooWill this energetic heart wait until then?
Female
Maalai malar maalai idum velai thanilAt the time when the evening flower garland is exchanged
Dhegam idhu virundhugal padaithidumThis body will serve a grand feast
Male
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Inbangal azhaikudhu… aaaaaa….Pleasures are beckoning... ahhhh...
Female
Manadhil sugam malarum maalaiyidhuThis is an evening when joy blossoms in the heart
Male
Thoghai polae minnum poovai undhan koondhalOh maiden, your hair shines like a peacock's plumage
Kaarmegham endrae naan solven kannaeI will call it a dark raincloud, my dear
Female
Paavai endhan koondhal vaasam yaavum andhaDoes that dark cloud possess all the fragrance of my hair?
Megham thanil yedhu nee solvaai kannaaTell me, my love!
Male
Azhagai sumandhu varum azhagarasiOh queen of beauty carrying loveliness
Azhagai sumandhu varum azhagarasiOh queen of beauty carrying loveliness
Aanandha poomugam andhiyil vandhidum sundhara nilavooIs your joyful flower face the beautiful moon arriving at twilight?
Female
Naalum nilavadhu theyudhu maraiyudhuEvery day that moon wanes and disappears
Nangai mughamena yaaradhai sonnadhuWho compared that to a maiden's face?
Male
Mangai un badhil manadhinai kavarudhuOh maiden, your witty response steals my heart
Maaran kanai vandhu maarbinil paayudhuLord Manmatha's arrow comes and pierces my chest
Female
Kaaman kanaigalai thaduthidavaeTo block the arrows of Kamadeva
Kaadhal mayil thunai ena varugiradhuThe peahen of love arrives as a companion
Male
Maiyal thandhidum vaarthaigalaeWords that grant passionate infatuation
Mogam enum nerupinai pozhigiradhuAre showering the fire called desire
Female
Mogam nerupaaga adhai theerkum oruIf desire is a fire, to quench it
Jeeva nadhi aruginil irukkudhuA river of life is nearby
Female
Manadhil sugam malarum maalaiyidhuThis is an evening when joy blossoms in the heart
Maanvizhi mayangudhu aaaaaaa…..The doe-eyed woman is swooning... ahhhh...
Male
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhuThis is the time to write a story on the lips
Inbangal azhaikudhu… aaaaaa….Pleasures are beckoning... ahhhh...
Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhu…This is the time to write a story on the lips...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Idhazhil Kadhai Ezhudhum Neramidhu' is a classic, poetic duet from Unnal Mudiyum Thambi depicting an intimate and romantic dialogue between lovers during a serene evening. Rich in classical metaphors and literary Tamil phrasing, the song captures the playfulness, anticipation, and deep affection between the couple as they compare each other's beauty to elements of nature such as rainclouds, the moon, and sweet streams. The dialogue subtly contrasts the hero's eager passion with the heroine's delicate shyness and poised wait for the right moment of marital union, weaving together themes of romantic longing and romantic playfulness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum neramidhu

Expressing intimacy poetically as 'writing a story on the lips' ('Idhazhil kadhai ezhudhum').

Simile (Uvamai)

Neer oodai pola en nenjam inikkum

Comparing the joy in the heart to a sweet flowing stream ('Neer oodai pola').

Alliteration (Monai)

Naanum ezhudhida ilamaiyum thudikkudhu / Naanam adhai vandhu idaiyinil thadukkudhu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines ('Naanum' / 'Naanam').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mogam enum nerupinai pozhigiradhu

Describing intense passion as a fire ('Mogam enum nerupinai').

Personification

Inbangal azhaikudhu… aaaaaa….

Attributing human actions to abstract feelings ('Inbangal azhaikudhu' - Pleasures beckon).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra, this iconic song is composed in the Carnatic raga 'Lalitha'. It remains one of the most celebrated classical-pop fusion duets in Tamil cinema history, renowned for its complex swara improvisations during the interlude.

Keep listening

More from Unnal Mudiyum Thambi