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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Idhukku Thaanaa Um Mela

From Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan · 1987

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oo….ooo….ooo…..oo…..ooo….Oo....ooo....ooo.....oo.....ooo....
Oo….ooo….ooo…..oo…..ooo….Oo....ooo....ooo.....oo.....ooo....
Oo….hooo….ooo…..hoo…..Oo....hooo....ooo.....hoo.....
Oo….hooo….ooo…..hoo…..Oo....hooo....ooo.....hoo.....
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Manasu ingae thudikkum podhuWhen my heart throbs here in pain,
Mayanga vandha uravum engaewhere is the loved one who came to enchant me?
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Male
Thunai seraamal sondham illaiThere is no relationship without a companion,
Unai kaanaamal inbam illaithere is no happiness without seeing you.
Thunai seraamal sondham illaiThere is no relationship without a companion,
Unai kaanaamal inbam illaithere is no happiness without seeing you.
Male
Ponnaana ennangalaeOh my golden thoughts,
Punnaaga kandenammaaI saw them turn into wounds, oh dear.
Ponnaana ennangalaeOh my golden thoughts,
Punnaaga kandenammaaI saw them turn into wounds, oh dear.
Unakku naanum enakku neeyumMe for you and you for me,
Nenachadhellaam kanavu thaanaawas everything we imagined just a dream?
Nenjodu vandhaayaeYou came close to my heart,
Ippodhu maanae nee engaewhere are you now, my beloved?
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Male
Oru poo poola pennai kandenI saw a woman like a delicate flower,
Adhu vaadaamal nenjil vaithenI kept her in my heart without letting her wither.
Oru poo poola pennai kandenI saw a woman like a delicate flower,
Adhu vaadaamal nenjil vaithenI kept her in my heart without letting her wither.
Male
Aasaikku vetkam illaiDesire knows no shame,
Nee thaan en pakkam illaionly you are not by my side.
Aasaikku vetkam illaiDesire knows no shame,
Nee thaan en pakkam illaionly you are not by my side.
Valarndha sondham marandhu ponaalIf a cherished relationship is forgotten,
Vaazhum kaalam enna laabamwhat is the point of living through time?
Ennaalum ondraagaAlways together as one,
Ippodhu maanae nee engaewhere are you now, my deer-like love?
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Manasu ingae thudikkum podhuWhen my heart throbs here in pain,
Mayanga vandha uravum engaewhere is the loved one who came to enchant me?
Male
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?
Idhukku thaanaaWas it only for this reason
Um mela aasa pattenthat I desired you so much?
Edhukku veenaa en vaazhvilWhy did I uselessly in my life
Kaadhalichenfall in love?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the deep anguish and sorrow of a lover grieving over the loss or separation from their beloved. The protagonist laments having fallen in love, questioning whether their devotion was meant to end in such heartbreak and loneliness. Reflecting on past golden dreams and tender affection, the speaker compares the beloved to a delicate flower sheltered carefully within the heart, emphasizing how meaningless life feels without companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Oru poo poola pennai kanden

Compares the beloved woman to a delicate flower ('Oru poo poola pennai kanden').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ponnaana ennangalae / Punnaaga kandenammaa

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Ponnaana' and 'Punnaaga'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thunai seraamal sondham illai / Unai kaanaamal inbam illai

Agreement of the second letter in successive lines, as seen in 'Thunai' and 'Unai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ippodhu maanae nee engae

Refers to the beloved affectionately as a gentle deer ('maane').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by veteran lyricist Panchu Arunachalam for the 1987 Tamil film 'Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan', this track illustrates his signature conversational yet deeply emotional lyricism, blending rhetorical questions with vivid poetic imagery.

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