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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Idho Idho En Pallavi

From Sigaram · 1991

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Details
Sigaram1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idho idho en pallaviHere is my opening refrain
Eppodhu geetham aagumoWhen will it turn into a complete song?
Ival undhan saranam endraalIf she is your stanza and refuge
Appodhu vedham aagumoWill it then become sacred scripture?
Male
Idho idho en pallaviHere is my opening refrain
Female
En vaanam engum pournamiFull moon fills my sky everywhere
Idhu enna maayamoWhat kind of magic is this?
En kaadhala un kaadhalaalOh my lover, because of your love
Naan kaanum kolamoIs this the beautiful pattern I see?
Male
En vaazhkai ennum koppaiyilIn this cup called my life
idhu enna baanamoWhat kind of potion is this?
Pargaamalae rusiyeruthaeEven without tasting, it grows delicious
Idhu enna jaalamoWhat kind of miracle is this?
Female
Pasi enbathae rusi allavaIsn't hunger itself the real taste?
Adhu endru theerumo…When will that hunger ever be satisfied?
Female
Idho idho en pallaviHere is my opening refrain
Eppodhu geetham aagumoWhen will it turn into a complete song?
Ival undhan saranam endraalIf she is your stanza and refuge
Appodhu vedham aagumoWill it then become sacred scripture?
Female
Idho idho en pallaviHere is my opening refrain
Male
Antha vaanam theernthu pogalamThat sky over there may reach its end
Nam vaazhkai theerumaWill our life ever end?
Paruvangalum niram maaralaamSeasons may change their colors
Nam paasam maarumaWill our love ever change?
Female
Oru paadal paada vanthavalShe who came to sing a song
Un paadalaagirenI have become your song itself
Vidhi maaralaam un paadalilFate may change, but in your song
Sudhi maara koodumaa…Can the musical pitch ever go out of tune?
Male
Nee keerthanai naan praarthanaiYou are a musical hymn, I am a prayer
porunthaamal poguma..aa…Can they ever fail to align?
Male
Idho idho en pallaviHere is my opening refrain
Eppodhu geetham aagumoWhen will it turn into a complete song?
Female : Ival undhan saranam endraalFemale: If she is your stanza and refuge
Appodhu vedham aagumoWill it then become sacred scripture?
Male
Idho..Female :Hmmm…Here... Female: Hmmm...
Idho…Female :Hmmm…Here... Female: Hmmm...
En pallavi…Female :Hmmm…mmm…My refrain... Female: Hmmm...mmm...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Idho Idho En Pallavi from the 1991 movie Sigaram is a poetic exploration of love using Carnatic musical terminology as a central motif. The protagonist compares her life and budding romance to the opening lines (Pallavi) of a song, yearning for her lover to complete it into a full musical composition (Geetham) and transform her devotion into sacred text (Vedham). She marvels at the magical feeling of love that fills her life like a full moon in the sky and an intoxicating elixir in a cup. In the later verses, the lyrics highlight the timelessness and immutability of their connection. While physical elements like skies and seasons may change, their deep bond remains constant. By framing themselves as pitch and melody, hymn (Keerthanai) and prayer (Praarthanai), the song celebrates love as an elevated, divine artistic union that defies fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Double Entendre (Sledai)

Ival undhan saranam endraal

The word 'Saranam' plays on a double meaning: in Carnatic music, it refers to the verse following the Pallavi, while in a literary/spiritual context, it means 'surrender' or 'refuge'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En vaazhkai ennum koppaiyil

Life is explicitly conceptualized as a cup ('koppai') holding the potion of love.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)

Paruvangalum niram maaralaam Nam paasam maaruma

Uses a series of questions to emphasize the timelessness and permanence of love against natural changes.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Nee keerthanai naan praarthanai

The lines end with rhyming musical concepts ('keerthanai' and 'praarthanai'), reinforcing harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Sigaram' (1991) features legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam not only as the music composer and lead singer (alongside K. S. Chithra) for this song, but also as the lead actor and director of the movie. Vairamuthu's lyrics cleverly integrate classical musical concepts like Pallavi, Saranam, Geetham, Keerthanai, and Sudhi to draw parallels with life and love.

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