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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jwalamukhi Male

From 99 Songs · 2021

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singer
Sid Sriram
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
99 Songs2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Unnai vendumendru kettenaDid I ask that I wanted you?
Vendam podhumendru sonnenaDid I say I don't want you or that this is enough?
Oru kaviyam neeyum theetidaJust for you to compose an epic poem,
Endhan vazhkaiyae vilaiyaaIs my life merely a plaything?
Male
Jwalaamukhi nenjilaeA volcano in my heart,
Jwalaamukhi kannilaeA volcano in my eyes,
Jwalaamukhi ennilae..aeA volcano within me..
Yen yetrinaai nee kaadhalaeWhy did you ignite this love?
Male
Naan naan illaiI am not myself,
Idhu naan illaiThis is not me,
Aval illaamal adhu vaan illaiWithout her, there is no sky,
Oru poi solla en kaatrukkum yen naavillaiWhy do my breath and my tongue refuse to tell a lie?
Ellamae maarum ennam unmai yen illaiWhy is the belief not true that everything will change?
En kanneeril nee theervaayoWill you be extinguished in my tears?
Un sentheeyil naan theevenoOr will I burn into a flame in your red fire?
Paarpom vaa kaadhalaeLet us see, come O love!
Male
Jwalaamukhi nenjilaeA volcano in my heart,
Jwalaamukhi kannilaeA volcano in my eyes,
Jwalaamukhi ennilae..aeA volcano within me..
Yen yetrinaai kaadhalaeWhy did you ignite, O love?
Male
Jwaalamukhi nee engaeWhere are you, O volcano?
Jwaalamukhi oo jwaalamukhiVolcano, oh volcano!
Male
En vaanam boomi yaavumaeMy sky, my earth, and everything...
Yen uraindhu ponadhooWhy have they frozen over?
En vizhi neerum urainthu udainthu veezhaAs my tears freeze, shatter, and fall,
Un neruppaalae vaa urukki uyirkoduCome melt them with your fire and give me life!
Jwaalamukhi jwaalamukhiVolcano, volcano!
Male
Jwalaamukhi nenjilaeA volcano in my heart,
Jwalaamukhi kannilaeA volcano in my eyes,
Jwalaamukhi ennilae..aeA volcano within me..
Yen yetrinaai kaadhalaeWhy did you ignite, O love?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Jwalamukhi' (meaning 'Volcano' in Sanskrit/Tamil borrowings) captures the intense emotional anguish and fiery passion of a musician torn apart by love and heartbreak. The protagonist questions destiny, agonizing over how love was sparked within him only to turn his life into a chaotic arena of pain. He contrasts imagery of freezing grief with the consuming fire of devotion, pleading for the warmth of love to restore life to his frozen world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor

Jwalaamukhi nenjilae / Jwalaamukhi kannilae

The term 'Jwalamukhi' (Volcano) serves as a central metaphor for the protagonist's erupting passion, inner agony, and destructive love.

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

En vizhi neerum urainthu udainthu veezha / Un neruppaalae vaa urukki uyirkodu

Contrast between fire ('sentheeyil', 'neruppaalae') and ice/tears ('uraindhu', 'kanneeril') highlights the emotional extremes of longing and grief.

Anaphora

Jwalaamukhi nenjilae / Jwalaamukhi kannilae / Jwalaamukhi ennilae..ae

Repetition of 'Jwalaamukhi' at the beginning of successive lines creates an overwhelming rhythmic pulse mirroring a beating heart or surging eruption.

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Trivia

'99 Songs' marks A. R. Rahman's debut as a film producer and co-writer. 'Jwalamukhi' was released across multiple languages with Sid Sriram rendering the lead vocals for the Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada versions.

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