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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Intha Nadagam

From Palum Pazhamum · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Palum Pazhamum1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Palum pazhamumenaLike milk and fruit
Ondraaga serthaarThey united us as one
Paadhi vazhisendravalaiThe woman who went halfway
Marupadiyum azhaithaarThey called back once again
Kan koduthu kanparithaaiYou gave sight, then snatched eyes away
Kaanam vaithaayae thaayaeYou made me blind, oh Divine Mother
Kalaalaanavalai kannipolThe woman who had matured
AakivittaaiYou turned back into a maiden
Female
Indha nadagamThis drama
Andha medaiyilOn that stage
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Innum ethanai naalammaFor how many more days, Oh Mother?
Female
Indha nadagamThis drama
Andha medaiyilOn that stage
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Innum ethanai naalammaFor how many more days, Oh Mother?
Female
Avar iravaiyum pagalaiyumHis seeing night and day
Ondraaii kaanbadhuAs one and the same
Ethanai naalamma ..ammammaaHow many days, Oh Mother.. oh mother
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Female
Indha nadagamThis drama
Andha medaiyilAnd on that stage
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Innum ethanai naalammaFor how many more days, Oh Mother?
Female
Vaanum nilavumThe sky and the moon
Pirindhae iruppadhuRemaining separated
Ethanai naalamma ammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Idhil matroru vaanamIn this situation, another sky
Nilavai ketpadhuAsking for the moon
Ethanai naalamma.. amma…How many days, Oh Mother.. oh mother
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Female
Indha nadagamThis drama
Andha medaiyilOn that stage
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Innum ethanai naalammaFor how many more days, Oh Mother?
Female
Nilai kanndiyilHiding her face
Mugathai maraipadhuIn front of the mirror
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Avar neyyai pal polHis mistaking ghee
Enni iruppadhuTo be milk
Ethanai naalamma.. ammaHow many days, Oh Mother.. oh mother
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Female
Kattiya thaaliyaiHiding the sacred thali tied
Kannukku maraipadhuFrom everyone's eyes
Ethanai naalamma..How many days, Oh Mother..
Idhil matroru thaalikkuLooking for a groom
Maapillai paarpadhuFor another thali amidst this
Ethanai naalamma.. ammamma..How many days, Oh Mother.. oh mother..
Ethanai naalammaHow many days, Oh Mother?
Female
Nadagam aadidumThe heroine who plays
Nayagi neeyaeThis divine drama is you
Ennaiyum nadagamAnd me too in this drama
Aada vaithaayaeYou made me play a role
En gadhi eppadi ayinum neeyaeWhatever my fate turns out to be
En uyir thunaivarai kaathirupayaePlease protect my soulmate

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this poignant song from the film 'Paalum Pazhamum', the protagonist laments to the Goddess (Mother Divine) about the tragedy and tragic masquerade taking place in her life. Having been reunited with her beloved husband after being thought dead, circumstances now force her to conceal her true identity from him to preserve his happiness and medical stability. She questions how long this artificial 'drama' must continue on the stage of life, where night and day blur, the moon is separated from its sky, and a second marriage is being planned for her husband while her own sacred knot remains hidden. Ultimately, she submits to the divine will, declaring the Goddess as the director of this drama, and prays selflessly for the protection and well-being of her beloved husband, regardless of her own fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Palum pazhamumena

'Palum pazhamumena' compares the sweet, harmonious union of husband and wife to the classic blend of milk and fruit.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaanum nilavum

'Vaanum nilavum' compares the husband and wife to the sky and the moon, symbolizing inseparable companion celestial bodies now painfully separated.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Nadagam aadidum / Aada vaithaayae

Rhyming of the second consonant 'da' in 'Nadagam' and 'Aada' across consecutive lines.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Ethanai naalamma

Repeated rhetorical questioning 'Ethanai naalamma' emphasizes deep sorrow, exhaustion, and impatience with the charade.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Paalum Pazhamum' (1961) was a blockbuster classic directed by A. Bhimsingh, starring Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The iconic soundtrack was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and this song was sung beautifully by P. Susheela with deep emotional nuance written by Kannadasan.

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