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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Inji Idupazhagi

From Thevar Magan · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Kamal Haasan, Minmini
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thevar Magan1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Inji iduppazhaga….manja sivapazhagaOh handsome man with a ginger-slender waist... fair and reddish handsome man
Kallach siripazhagaa…..kallla…injii..Handsome man with a sly smile... sly one... ginger-slender one...
Female
Verum kaathu thaangha varuthu…Male :HmmOnly a lonely breeze blows past... (Male: Hmm)
Male
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyae…rightMy heart simply refuses to forget you... (Male: right)
Female :Marunthiruvenigale…Male :Hmmm…hahaFemale: Have you forgotten me? (Male: Hmmm... haha)
Male
Inji idupazhagi manja sivapazhagiOh beautiful woman with a ginger-slender waist, fair reddish beauty
Kallach sirippazhagiBeauty with a sly, innocent smile
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyaeMy heart simply refuses to forget you
Marakkuma maaman ennam mayakkuthae panjavarnamWill thoughts of my uncle ever fade? The colourful parrot mesmerizes
Madiyilae oonjal poda maanae vaa..Come, my deer, to swing on my lap...
Male
Inji idupazhagi manja sivapazhagiOh beautiful woman with a ginger-slender waist, fair reddish beauty
Kallach sirippazhagiBeauty with a sly, innocent smile
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyae…aeiii…My heart simply refuses to forget you... hey...
Female
Thannanth thanichirukka thathalichu thanirukkaStaying all alone, floundering in solitude
Un ninaippil naan parichen thaamaraiyaeLost in your thoughts, I plucked a lotus
Male
Punnai vanathinilae pedai kuyil koovayilaeIn the grove of Punnai trees, when the female cuckoo calls
Unnudaiya vethanaiyai nan arinjenI came to realize your deep pain
Female
Un kazhuthil malaiyida unnirandu tholai thodaTo place a garland around your neck, to touch your two shoulders
Enna thavam senjeno en mamaaa….What penance did I perform, my uncle...
Male
Vannakili kaiyai thoda chinna chinna kolamidaWhen the colourful parrot touches my hands, drawing small kolams
Ullam mattum un vazhiyae naanaeMy heart follows only your path, it is me
Ullam mattum un vazhiyae… naanaaee…My heart follows only your path... yes it is...
Female
Inji iduppazhaga manja sivapazhagaOh handsome man with a ginger-slender waist, fair reddish handsome man
Kallach siripazhagaa…Handsome man with a sly smile...
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyae…aaaa..My heart simply refuses to forget you... ah..
Male
Inji idupazhagi manja sivapazhagiOh beautiful woman with a ginger-slender waist, fair reddish beauty
Kallach sirippazhagiBeauty with a sly, innocent smile
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyaeee…My heart simply refuses to forget you...
Female
Adikkira kaththai keluListen to the blowing wind
Asaiyura naththai keluListen to the moving snail
Nadakira aththai kelu..nee thana…Listen to the walking aunt... is it you...
Male
Inji idupazhagi manja sivapazhagiOh beautiful woman with a ginger-slender waist, fair reddish beauty
Kallach sirippazhagiBeauty with a sly, innocent smile
Marakka manam kooduthilaiyae…haaan…My heart simply refuses to forget you... haan...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Inji Iduppazhaga' is an iconic romantic duet from the 1992 Tamil film 'Thevar Magan', composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Vaali. Sung by Kamal Haasan and S. Janaki, the song depicts intimate emotional bonding and playfulness between two lovers in a rural Tamil backdrop.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Imagery

Inji iduppazhaga….manja sivapazhaga

Compares a slender, finely contoured waist metaphorically to ginger root (Inji), a classic folk poetic comparison in Tamil literature.

Alliteration (Monai)

Thannanth thanichirukka thathalichu thanirukka

Repetition of the 'tha' initial consonant sound across words creating rhythmic musicality.

Anaphora / Rhyme (Edugai)

Adikkira kaththai kelu / Asaiyura naththai kelu / Nadakira aththai kelu

Parallel phrasing with rhyming line endings ('kelu') forming a catchy folk rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja, the track features playful spoken-word improvisations by Kamal Haasan and S. Janaki, giving it an affectionate, conversational realism that made it one of Tamil cinema's most evergreen romantic anthems.

Keep listening

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