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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iravingu Theevai

From 96 · 2018

Lyricist
Uma Devi
Singers
Chinmayi Sripada, Pradeep Kumar
Music director
Govind Vasantha
Details
962018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Iravingu theevaiThe night here, as an island,
Namai chooluthaeSurrounds us.
Vidiyalum irulaai varuthaeEven the dawn arrives as darkness.
Ninaivugal theeyaiMemories like fire,
Alai mothuthaeClash like crashing waves.
Udalingu saavaai azhuthaeThe body here cries like death.
Male
Malaigalin nadhipolLike a mountain river,
Manam vazhinthu vanthaaiYou came overflowing into my heart.
Varundidum nilathilUpon the suffering land,
Pala kadalgal thanthaaiYou gave many oceans.
Kanavae thunaiyaaiLet dreams be the companion
Ozhinthu pogattumAnd fade away into nothingness.
Male
Iravingu theevaiThe night here, as an island,
Namai chooluthaeSurrounds us.
Vidiyalum irulaai varuthaeEven the dawn arrives as darkness.
Female
Intha thamaraiThis lotus,
Kulam meeri thani aaguthaeExceeds the pond and becomes isolated.
Athan sooriyanIts sun,
Pagal indri veyil kaayuthaeBasks in heat without a day.
Oru padhayilOn a single path,
Iru jeevan thunai theduthaeTwo souls search for companionship.
Male
Thinam thinam uyirthezhumResurrecting day after day,
Manam andraadam maayumaeThe heart perishes every day.
Uyir varai nirainthunaiFilled with you up to the soul,
Manam kondaadi vazhumaeThe heart lives in celebration.
Male
Marangal saainthuEven when trees tilt,
Koodu veezhnthumAnd nests fall,
Kuyilgal raagam paadumaeCuckoos will still sing melodies.
Iravu theernthu ointha podhumEven when the night ends and rests,
Nilavu porumai kaakkumaeThe moon will maintain its patience.
Male
Mazhai vazhi kadal vidumYielding path through rain to the sea,
Vinkadhal mannai cherummaeThe sky's love will reach the earth.
Unai udal pirinthinumEven if my body separates from you,
En kadhal unnaiMy love for you,
Sernthu vaazhumaeWill join you and live on.
Nee poi vaa vaa vaaGoodbye, go and come back...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Iravingu Theevai is a deeply poignant track from the film '96', capturing the bittersweet agony of separation, nostalgia, and immortal love between the protagonists Ram and Jaanu. The lyrics express how the dark night surrounds the lovers like an isolated island, where even the break of dawn offers no relief from emotional darkness, and memories rage like fire within. Despite the pain of physical separation, the love they share remains infinite and transcendent. The song uses nature imagery—rivers overflowing on dry land, sky loving the earth through rain, and birds singing even after nests fall—to illustrate that true love survives adversity and physical distance. Ultimately, it reflects a deep acceptance of fate without diminishing the sanctity of their emotional bond, reassuring that love lives on beyond bodily presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Iravingu theevai

Comparing the overwhelming night to an isolated island ('theevai') where the lovers feel trapped.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Vidiyalum irulaai varuthae

Dawn (vidiyal), which symbolises light and hope, is paradoxically described as coming as darkness (irul).

Simile (Uvamai)

Malaigalin nadhipol

The flow of love and presence into the heart is compared directly to a river flowing from the mountains using 'pol'.

Personification / Nature Imagery

Vinkadhal mannai cherummae

The sky's love reaching the earth through rain personifies celestial bodies expressing devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

In the film '96', singer Chinmayi Sripaada not only rendered the soulful female vocals for the soundtrack composed by Govind Vasantha, but she also dubbed for the lead actress Trisha (Jaanu). Her voice became intimately synonymous with the character's emotional journey. The lyrics penned by Uma Devi delicately articulate the mature, selfless, yet unfulfilled romance of two high school sweethearts meeting after twenty years.

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