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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Javvathu Medaiyittu

From Panathottam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Panathottam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hmmm…haa…aa…haaHmmm…haa…aa…haa
Javvaadhu maedaiyittuSetting up a stage made of fragrant civet perfume,
Female :Hoo o o o oFemale: Hoo o o o o
Male :Sarkkaraiyil pandhalittuMale: Setting up a canopy made of sugar,
Male
Javvaadhu medaiyittuSetting up a stage made of fragrant civet perfume,
Sarkkaraiyil pandhalittuSetting up a canopy made of sugar,
Sevvaazhai kaaleduthu va va vaBring the red banana trees as pillars, come, come, come,
Semmaadhulai pilandhu tha tha thaSplit open the sweet red pomegranate, give, give, give,
Female
Naagalinga pooveduthu naalu pakkamTaking Nagalinga flowers on all four sides,
Kottai katti va va vaBuild a fortress and come, come, come!
Male :Haa..haaMale: Haa..haa
Female :Maambazhathu saareduthuFemale: Extracting the juice of mangoes,
Malligaiyil thaeneduthu va va vaGathering honey from jasmine flowers, come, come, come,
Female
Naagalinga pooveduthu naalu pakkamTaking Nagalinga flowers on all four sides,
Kottai katti va va vaBuild a fortress and come, come, come!
Maambazhathu saareduthuExtracting the juice of mangoes,
Malligaiyil thaeneduthu va va vaGathering honey from jasmine flowers, come, come, come,
Male
Haa..haa haaHaa..haa haa
Male
Vaelodu vizhi iranduSaying that your two spear-like eyes,
Velloottam ponadhendruHave gone for a trial run in battle,
Noolaaana idai yeduthuCarrying a thread-thin waist,
Poraada vandha pennaeOh woman who has come to wage a war of love!
Vaelodu vizhi iranduSaying that your two spear-like eyes,
Velloottam ponadhendruHave gone for a trial run in battle,
Noolaaana idai yeduthuCarrying a thread-thin waist,
Poraada vandha pennaeOh woman who has come to wage a war of love!
Female
Aalaana naal mudhalaaiRight from the day I came of age,
Achaaram koduthu vittuHaving given a promise as an advance,
Vaazhaamal vaadavittu paaraamalLeaving me to wither without living together, without even looking,
Sendra kannaaOh my beloved Kannaa who went away!
Aalaana naal mudhalaaiRight from the day I came of age,
Achaaram koduthu vittuHaving given a promise as an advance,
Vaazhaamal vaadavittu paaraamalLeaving me to wither without living together, without even looking,
Sendra kannaaOh my beloved Kannaa who went away!
Female
Kanna…haa haa haaOh Kannaa… haa haa haa
Male :HaaMale: Haa
Male
Poopola idhazh virithuOpening your flower-like lips,
Ponaana udal eduthuPossessing a golden body,
Thaer pola vandha kannaeOh my dear who came like a grand chariot,
Silai pola vandha pennaeOh maiden who came like a beautiful statue,
Female
Athaanin thuniyirukkaWith your cousin's protection at hand,
Muthaana mozhiyirukkaWith your pearl-like sweet words,
Pithaaga kidantha ennai kothaagaMe, who was lying driven mad in love, completely
Anaitha kannaOh Kannaa who embraced me!
Female
Kannaa…Oh Kannaa…
Male :Haa haa haaMale: Haa haa haa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Javvaadhu Maedaiyittu from the 1963 film Panathottam is a classic Tamil romantic duet featuring M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi, rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song is celebrated for its lush, imaginative imagery where the lovers build a metaphorical realm of romance out of sweet foods, flowers, and fragrances—a stage of civet perfume, a canopy of sugar, and pillars of red banana trees. As the duet unfolds, the lovers engage in tender banter. The female lead affectionately chides her lover for leaving her to languish despite his early promises, while the male lead praises her radiant beauty, comparing her grace to a chariot, her form to a sculpted statue, and her eyes to sharp spears. Kannadasan's lyrics beautifully capture the ecstasy of reunion and passionate embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvaagam (Metaphor)

Javvaadhu medaiyittu / Sarkkaraiyil pandhalittu

Directly metaphorizes sweet and fragrant elements into structural festive decorations (a stage made of civet, a canopy made of sugar).

Uvamai (Simile)

Vaelodu vizhi irandu

Compares eyes to sharp spears ('vel') used in battle.

Uvamai (Simile)

Thaer pola vandha kannae / Silai pola vandha pennae

Uses 'pola' (like) to compare the woman's stately presence to a temple chariot ('thaer') and a fine sculpture ('silai').

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Sevvaazhai kaaleduthu va va va / Semmaadhulai pilandhu tha tha tha

Repetition of the initial 'S' sound across words ('Sevvaazhai' and 'Semmaadhulai').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vaelodu vizhi irandu / Velloottam ponadhendru

The second consonant 'l' / 'll' matches between 'Vaelodu' and 'Velloottam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Panathottam (1963), directed by K. Shankar and starring M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi, features a iconic soundtrack composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Poet Kannadasan created this song using vivid sensory metaphors involving fruits, flowers, and sweets (sugar canopy, mango juice, jasmine honey) to denote opulent romantic joy.

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