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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ilamanathu Pala kanavu

From Selvi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Selvi1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Pala kanavuMany dreams
Vizhigalilae vazhigiradhaeAre overflowing in the eyes
Female
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Pudhu uravuA new relationship
Aruginilae varugiradhaeIs approaching near
Male
Indha manadhukkum vayadhukkumFor this heart and this age
Sugam ennavoWhat is this pleasure?
Ingu puriyattum puriyattumaeLet it be understood here
Female
Adhu iravukkum pagalukkumIs it not common
PodhuvallavoTo both night and day?
Indru theriyattum theriyattumaeLet it be known today
Male
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Pala kanavuMany dreams
Vizhigalilae vazhigiradhaeAre overflowing in the eyes
Female
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Pudhu uravuA new relationship
Aruginilae varugiradhaeIs approaching near
Chorus
……………………….....
Male
Kodiyidai naanathil neligidradhoDoes the creeper-like waist wriggle in shyness?
Kanigalin baarathil valaigiradhoDoes it bend under the weight of fruits?
Female
Manam oru mogathil vizhugiradhoIs the mind falling into an infatuation?
Maruvidum aasaigal varugiradhoAre desires overflowing anew?
Male
Viral pattu ila mottu viraiyattumaeLet the tender bud blossom at the touch of fingers
Vetkam vilagattum vilagattumaeLet the shyness fade away
Female
Iru kaiyum iru kaiyum ila nenjamLet both hands and the young heart
Anbai ezhudhattum ezhudhattumaeWrite love repeatedly
Male
Pudhu malarai mudhan mudhalaaiBy touching a fresh flower for the very first time
Thoduvadhinaal sudugiradhoDoes it burn?
Female
Pudhu malarai mudhan mudhalaaiBy touching a fresh flower for the very first time
Thoduvadhinaal sudugiradhaeIt burns indeed
Male
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Female :Pala kanavuFemale: Many dreams
Male :VizhigalilaeMale: In the eyes
Female :VazhigiradhaeFemale: Are overflowing
Male
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Female :Pudhu uravuFemale: A new relationship
Male :AruginilaeMale: Near
Female :VarugiradhaeFemale: Is coming near
Male
Indha manadhukkum vayadhukkumFor this heart and this age
Sugam ennavoWhat is this pleasure?
Ingu puriyattum puriyattumaeLet it be understood here
Female
Adhu iravukkum pagalukkumIs it not common
PodhuvallavoTo both night and day?
Indru theriyattum theriyattumaeLet it be known today
Male
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Female :Pala kanavuFemale: Many dreams
Male :VizhigalilaeMale: In the eyes
Female :VazhigiradhaeFemale: Are overflowing
Male
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Female :Pudhu uravuFemale: A new relationship
Male :AruginilaeMale: Near
Female :VarugiradhaeFemale: Is coming near
Chorus
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhananaRhythm syllables (Thandhanana)
Thandhanana thaanaaRhythm syllables (Thandhanana thaanaa)
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhananaRhythm syllables
Thandhanana thaanaaRhythm syllables
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhannannaaRhythm syllables
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhannannaaRhythm syllables
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhannannaaRhythm syllables
Thandhanana thandhanana thandhannannaaRhythm syllables
Thandhananaa handhananaa thandhananaaRhythm syllables
Female
Azhagiya vaasalgal thirandhidumoWill the beautiful doors open up?
Adhil oru aanandham pirandhidumoWill joy be born from within?
Male
Thalaiyanai dhegangal vilangidumoWill bodies serve as pillows?
Thodangiya raagangal thodarndhidumoWill the melodic ragas that started continue on?
Female
Ilamaikkul vilaigindra ezhil vannamaeOh beautiful color growing within youth
Ingu malarattum malarattumaeLet it blossom here
Male :Thanimaikkul erigindra thuyar vellamaeMale: Oh flood of sorrow burning in solitude
Indru vadiyattum vadiyattumaeLet it drain away today
Female
Pudhu ulagam adhisayamaaiIs a new world miraculously
Vizhigalilae virigiradhoUnfolding before the eyes?
Male
Pudhu ulagam adhisayamaaiA new world miraculously
Vizhigalilae virigiradhuUnfolds before the eyes
Female
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Pala kanavuMany dreams
Vizhigalilae vazhigiradhaeAre overflowing in the eyes
Male
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Pudhu uravuA new relationship
Aruginilae varugiradhaeIs approaching near
Female
Indha manadhukkum vayadhukkumFor this heart and this age
Sugam ennavoWhat is this pleasure?
Ingu puriyattum puriyattumaeLet it be understood here
Male
Adhu iravukkum pagalukkumIs it not common
PodhuvallavoTo both night and day?
Indru theriyattum theriyattumaeLet it be known today
Female
Ila manadhuYoung heart
Male :Pala kanavuMale: Many dreams
Female :VizhigalilaeFemale: In the eyes
Male :VazhigiradhaeMale: Are overflowing
Female
Siru vayadhuYoung age
Male :Pudhu uravuMale: A new relationship
Female :AruginilaeFemale: Near
Male :VarugiradhaeMale: Is coming near

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ila manadhu' captures the tender awakening of romance and desire between two young lovers. Through evocative imagery of overflowing dreams, blooming buds, and newfound intimacy, the lyrics paint a picture of passion dissolving shyness and solitude, replaced by shared happiness and mutual love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kodiyidai naanathil neligidradho

'Kodiyidai' compares a slender female waist to a thin creeper vine.

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Assonance)

Azhagiya vaasalgal thirandhidumo / Adhil oru aanandham pirandhidumo

Matching starting sounds in 'Azhagiya' and 'Adhil' across consecutive lines.

Emonai / Second letter rhyming (Edhugai)

Ila manadhu / Pala kanavu

The second consonant 'la' repeats in 'Ila manadhu' and 'Pala kanavu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by poet Vaali for the 1985 movie 'Selvi', the lyrics express quintessential 1980s Tamil romantic duet tropes, combining traditional classical poetry metaphors like 'Kodiyidai' with contemporary rhythm structures.

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