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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ilanguyil Paadutho

From Kaliyugam · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Kaliyugam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
17 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilanguyil paaduthoo
Yaar vara koovudhoo
Ilagiya maalaiyil thanimaiyil vaadudhoo
Male :Pattu padikkum poonguyil thaan
Koottai thirakkum neramidhu
Koottai thirandhu jodiyudan
Koodi kalakkum kaalamidhu
Ilanguyil paaduthoo
Yaar vara koovudhoo
Ilagiya maalaiyil thanimaiyil vaadudhoo
Mannam madiyil naan aada
Manjal kulithu poochooda
Male :Oomai kanavil naan vaada
Unnai ninaithu poraada
Ammadi unnalae
Thookkam yedhu raathiriyil
Male :Innum enna naanam vittu
Ennai thazhuvu
Female :Unnai vittu engae povum
Indha nilavu
Male :Mutham ondru veikka sollum
Pattu udhadu
Female :Ketti melam kotti thaanae
Kaattil uravu
Ilanguyil paaduthoo
Yaar vara koovudhoo
Female :Ilagiya maalaiyil thanimaiyil vaadudhoo
Veenai irukka meettaamal
Vendum swarangal koottaamal
Female :Andhapurathil nee meettu
Aadhi thaalathai nee pottu
Male :Kaiyodum meiyodum
Kaadhal devan keerthanai thaan
Poga poga ennaennavo
Raagam pirakkum
Male :Paada paada ponnulagin
Vaasam thirakkum
Female :Endha poovum vaasam veesum
Velai irukku
Male :Thendral vandhu poovai killa
Thaedhi edharkku
Ilanguyil paaduthoo
Yaar vara koovudhoo
Male :Ilagiya maalaiyil thanimaiyil vaadudhoo
Pattu padikkum poonguyil thaan
Koottai thirakkum neramidhu
Male :Koottai thirandhu jodiyudan
Koodi kalakkum kaalamidhu
Is the young cuckoo singing?
Calling out for whose arrival?
Is it wilting in loneliness this tender evening?
Male: The lovely cuckoo singing sweet songs,
Now is the time it opens its nest.
Opening its nest, together with its mate,
This is the time to unite as one.
Is the young cuckoo singing?
Calling out for whose arrival?
Is it wilting in loneliness this tender evening?
For me to rest playfully on my king's lap,
Bathing in turmeric and adorning flowers,
Male: While I pine away in silent dreams,
Struggling with thoughts of you...
Oh my dear, because of you,
There is no sleep through the night!
Male: Why hold onto this shyness? Cast it aside
And embrace me.
Female: Where could this moon ever go,
Leaving you behind?
Male: Asking for a kiss,
Are these soft, silky lips.
Female: Only after the wedding drums beat,
Can we share our love.
Is the young cuckoo singing?
Calling out for whose arrival?
Female: Is it wilting in loneliness this tender evening?
With the veena sitting unplayed,
Without weaving the desired notes together,
Female: Strum it in the private chamber,
Setting the primal beat.
Male: With our hands and bodies entwined,
It is the song of the god of love.
As moments pass, so many different
Melodies will be born.
Male: As we keep singing, the doorway
To a golden paradise will open!
Female: For any flower to spread its fragrance,
There is a proper time.
Male: For the gentle breeze to touch a blossom,
Why does it need a fixed date?
Is the young cuckoo singing?
Calling out for whose arrival?
Male: Is it wilting in loneliness this tender evening?
The lovely cuckoo singing sweet songs,
Now is the time it opens its nest.
Male: Opening its nest, together with its mate,
This is the time to unite as one.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ilanguyil Paaduthoo' from the 1988 film Kaliyugam is a romantic duet composed by Chandrabose and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra, with lyrics by Vaali. The song uses nature and musical metaphors—such as a lonely cuckoo calling for its mate, an unplayed veena waiting for notes, and breezes plucking flowers—to express romantic yearning and intense physical and emotional intimacy between two lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupakam)

“Ilanguyil paaduthoo / Veenai irukka meettaamal”

The female protagonist is metaphorically compared to a cuckoo ('Ilanguyil') and a veena waiting to be played ('Veenai irukka meettaamal').

Personification

“Unnai vittu engae povum indha nilavu”

Giving human actions and emotions to the moon ('Indha nilavu') and breeze ('Thendral vandhu poovai killa').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Ilanguyil paaduthoo ... Ilagiya maalaiyil”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in the same line for rhythmic flow, such as 'Ilanguyil' and 'Ilagiya'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track showcases lyricist Vaali's signature usage of musical terms (ragam, swarangal, aadhi thaalam, keerthanai) as double-entendres for romantic intimacy, perfectly set to Chandrabose's lush late-80s orchestration.

Keep listening

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