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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ilam Vayadhu

From Kai Pidithaval · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kai Pidithaval
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
28 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilam vayathu vanthaal
Ellaa kadhaiyum varum
Antha nadagaththil naalu varum
Sippiyilae muththu varum
Vaazhaiyilae kandru varum
Kadavulathu padaippilae kadhalukku neram varum
Evar manathil yaar varuvaaro…oo….
Ilam vayathu vanthaal
Ellaa kadhaiyum varum
Antha nadagaththil naalu varum
Kamanukku radhi irunthaal
Ramanukku oruththi vanthaal
Mamanukko pillai illai
Maappillaithaan yaaradiyo….yo….
Thaamaraikkor vennilavu
Thaai vazhiyil sonthamilai
Kaaman vidum kanai vizhunthaal
Mamanukku panjamilai
Un kadhaiyai solladiyo
Un kadhaithaan ennadiyo
Ilam vayathu vanthaal
Ellaa kadhaiyum varum
Antha nadagaththil naalu varum
Oodalendru koodalendru
Ooril pala kadhaikal undu
Oodalathai naanarivaen
Koodalendraal ennadiyo
Isaiyudan suthi koodum
Illaraaththil sugam koodum
Idhuvaraiyil naanarivaen
Edhuvaraiyin nee arivaai
Un kadhaiyai solladiyo
Un kadhaithaan ennadiyo
Pon mazhaiyin thuli vizhunthaal
Bhoomiyellaam nanainthu vidum
Aasai enum mazhai vizhunthu
Anbu manam nanaiyuthadi
Nanaivathellaam kaaivathundu
Kaaivathellaam nanaivathundu
Ninaippathu pola nadappatharkku
Neram varum kaalam varum
Un kadhaiyai solladiyo
Un kadhaithaan ennadiyo
Ilam vayathu vanthaal
Ellaak kadhaiyum varum
Antha nadakaththil naalu varum
When youth arrives,
all kinds of stories begin.
In that drama, many scenes unfold.
A pearl forms inside an oyster shell,
a sapling sprouts from the plantain tree.
In God's creation, the time for love arrives.
Who knows who will enter whose heart... oh...
When youth arrives,
all kinds of stories begin.
In that drama, many scenes unfold.
Kamadeva (the god of love) had Rati,
for Rama, one woman came.
Your maternal uncle has no son,
so who will be your bridegroom, my friend?
To the lotus, the white moon
is no relation on the mother's side.
Yet once Kamadeva's arrow strikes,
there will be no shortage of suitors!
Tell me your story, girl,
what really is your story?
When youth arrives,
all kinds of stories begin.
In that drama, many scenes unfold.
Of lovers' quarrels and sweet unions,
there are many stories in this town.
I know what a lover's quarrel is,
but what is a union, my friend?
Music harmonizes with pitch,
and joy deepens in married life.
I know only this much—
how much do you know?
Tell me your story, girl,
what really is your story?
When drops of golden rain fall,
the whole earth gets drenched.
A rain called desire has fallen,
and this loving heart is drenched.
Whatever gets wet will dry,
and whatever dries will get drenched again.
For things to happen as we wish,
the right moment and time will come.
Tell me your story, girl,
what really is your story?
When youth arrives,
all kinds of stories begin.
In that drama, many scenes unfold.
Female
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Female
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and philosophical duet from the 1978 movie 'Kai Pidithaval' explores the blossoming of youth, love, and life's natural progression through a conversational banter between female friends. The song uses nature metaphors—pearls in oysters, shoots on banana plants, rain soaking the earth—to describe the inevitability of love and maturity when youth arrives. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends innocent curiosity about courtship and marriage with deep insights about life's cyclical nature, emphasizing that everything happens in its own sweet time as destined by divine rhythm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kamanukku radhi irunthaal / Ramanukku oruththi vanthaal / Mamanukko pillai illai”

The second consonant 'ma' rhymes across consecutive lines 'Kamanukku', 'Ramanukku', and 'Mamanukko'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Aasai enum mazhai vizhunthu / Anbu manam nanaiyuthadi”

Describing desire as rain ('Aasai enum mazhai') that drenches the heart in love.

Antithesis / Oxymoron (Maranpattamai)

“Nanaivathellaam kaaivathundu / Kaaivathellaam nanaivathundu”

Juxtaposing opposite concepts of wetting and drying to show the alternating cycles of life and emotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kai Pidithaval' (1978) featured this graceful duet performed by two legendary playback singers of South Indian cinema, P. Susheela and S. Janaki, set to music by the veteran composer duo Shankar-Ganesh and written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan.

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