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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jilu Jilukkum Pachaimalai

From Amuthavalli · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. V. Rathinam, A. P. Komala
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Amuthavalli1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Jilujilukkum pachai malaiThe glistening green mountain
Thendral porandha malaiThe mountain where the gentle breeze was born
Then podigai engal malai saamiyo saamiThe southern Podigai is our mountain, oh Lord
Female
Thaekku maram paakku maram engumTeak trees, betel nut trees everywhere
Thennai maram punnai maram engumCoconut trees, Alexandrian laurel trees everywhere
Engal vazhkaiyellam kattukullaeOur whole life is inside the forest
Yenjaamiyoo saamiOh my Lord!
Naanga vandhadhillae nattukullaeWe haven't come into the town outside
Yenjaamiyoo saamiOh my Lord!
Chorus
Thaiyana thaiyana thaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyana thaiyana thaana)
Thaiyaana thaiyannathaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyaana thaiyannathaana)
Thandhom thanaana kandhaiyaaRhythm beat (Thandhom thanaana), oh Kandha
Un perai paadi vandhom singaara kandhaiyaaWe came singing your name, beautiful Kandha!
Female
Vaengai thanai thurathi vilaiyaadumShe chases the tiger and plays with it
Marathi velan peru solli villai eduppaaInvoking the brave Velan, she takes up the bow
Vaengai thanai thurathi vilaiyaadumShe chases the tiger and plays with it
Marathi velan peru solli villai eduppaaInvoking the brave Velan, she takes up the bow
Female
Meeri varum puliyai veerathinaal adakkiSubduing the wild tiger with sheer courage
Yeri midhichikittu pallai eduppaaShe steps on it and pulls out its tooth!
Chorus
Thaiya thaiya thaiya thaiyaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiya thaiya thaiya thaiya)
Thaiya thandhina thaiyaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiya thandhina thaiya)
Thikkaellam suthi varuvaShe travels around in all directions
Female
Machaanai thediSearching for her beloved groom
Thendralai thoodhu viduvaaSending the southern breeze as a messenger
Machaanai thediSearching for her beloved groom
Thendralai thoodhu viduvaaSending the southern breeze as a messenger
Chorus
Thaiyanna thaiyanna thaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyanna thaiyanna thaana)
Thaiyaana thayanna thaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyaana thayanna thaana)
Thandhom thanaana kandhaiyaaRhythm beat (Thandhom thanaana), oh Kandha
Un perai paadi vandhom singaara kandhaiyaaWe came singing your name, beautiful Kandha!
Female
Mazhai megam pola koondham thanai kaattiShowing her hair that looks like a dark rain cloud
Mayangiyoda vacha mayil pidippaShe makes the peacock swoon and run, and catches it
Female
Madhura kavipola kovaiyidhal kaattiShowing her red lips like sweet poetry
Vannam paada vechu kuyil pidippaaShe makes the cuckoo sing colors and catches it
Chorus
Thaiyana thaiyana thaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyana thaiyana thaana)
Thaiyaana thaiyannathaanaFolk rhythm chant (Thaiyaana thaiyannathaana)
Thandhom thanaana kandhaiyaaRhythm beat (Thandhom thanaana), oh Kandha
Un perai paadi vandhom singaara kandhaiyaaWe came singing your name, beautiful Kandha!
Female
Singini singini singiniPlayful rhythmic refrain (Singini singini singini)
Thiramaiyulllavan eduthukooLet the skilled one claim it
Dingini mangini dingini manginiPlayful rhythmic refrain (Dingini mangini dingini mangini)
Ragasiyathai purinjikkaUnderstand the secret behind it!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-infused track from Amuthavalli (1959) celebrates the rich, secluded lifestyle of tribal dwellers living in the lush Podigai mountains. Praising Lord Murugan (Kandha), the song highlights the deep bond between the mountain people and their natural sanctuary filled with teak, coconut, and punnai trees. The lyrics vividly describe the extraordinary courage and enchanting charm of a young tribal maiden, who fearlessly tames wild tigers, outsmarts nature, sends breezes as love letters to her groom, and captivates wild birds with her beauty and verse.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mazhai megam pola koondham thanai kaatti

Compares dark, lush hair directly to rain clouds using the explicit imagery 'pola'.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thaekku maram paakku maram engum / Thennai maram punnai maram engum

Rhyming of the second letter 'k' across consecutive lines (Thaekku / Thennai).

Refrain / Chorus Repetition

Thandhom thanaana kandhaiyaa / Un perai paadi vandhom singaara kandhaiyaa

Rhythmic folk invocation to Lord Murugan acting as the musical anchor of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amuthavalli (1959) featured music composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram brought authentic Tamil folk cadence and tribal imagery into film lyrics, blending traditional rhythmic chants ('Singini singini') with profound praise of nature.

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