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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Indha Vanji Magal (Pathos)

From Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Enthan ullam enum chinnachiruFrom my tiny little heart,
Ival killi killi pariththu konda poovaiThe flower that she plucked away bit by bit,
Intha thogai mayil uravugalai naadiSeeking relationships like a peacock with spread feathers,
Konja thudiththirukkum kaalananin naadiWhile the pulse of Yama (Death) throbs playfully,
Male
Indha vanjimagal oru oodhaapooThis sly woman is a purple flower (or a flower that is blown away),
Isai vandugal vandhu oodhaapooA flower blown upon when musical bees arrive,
Indha kolamagal oru goiyaappooThis artistic maiden is a guava flower (or a flower to be plucked),
Thendral kaigalinaalae goiyaappooA flower plucked by the gentle hands of the breeze,
Aa…aa….ahaa….aa…aa…aa….Aa…aa….ahaa….aa…aa…aa….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this song segment from Thambathiyam Oru Sangeetham, the singer expresses complex emotions of attraction, vulnerability, and existential reflection. He describes his delicate heart being captivated and gradually broken by a charming yet deceptive woman, whom he compares to a magnificent peacock seeking bonds. Alongside this romantic intrigue, there is a haunting consciousness of time and mortality ticking away. Lyricist Vaali masterfully employs floral imagery and double entendres to portray the woman's elusive and captivating nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Sledai (Double Entendre)

Indha vanjimagal oru oodhaapoo / Indha kolamagal oru goiyaappoo

Vaali uses wordplay with 'Oodhaapoo' (meaning a purple flower, but also 'a flower blown away by wind/bees') and 'Goiyaappoo' (meaning a guava blossom, but homophonous with 'koyyapoo' - a flower to be plucked).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Enthan ullam enum chinnachiru / Ival killi killi pariththu konda poovai

Comparing the heart to a delicate flower that gets plucked away bit by bit, and comparing the maiden to a peacock displaying its feathers.

Rhyme / Ethirai (Second letter rhyming)

Indha vanjimagal oru oodhaapoo / Indha kolamagal oru goiyaappoo

The second letters 'ndha' match across lines creating a rhythmic harmony ('Indha vanjimagal' / 'Indha kolamagal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the veteran maestro M. S. Viswanathan and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this song highlights lyricist Vaali's signature talent for embedding clever Tamil wordplay (Sledai) into mainstream film music.

Keep listening

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