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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaayaa Pazhamaa Sollu Raja

From Anbu Engey · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Anbu Engey1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En vel vizhiyai kanduSeeing my spear-like eyes,
Maan vizhiyai padaiththaan brammaaBrahma created the eyes of a deer.
En thaen idhazhai kanduSeeing my honey-sweet lips,
Radhiyin silaiyai sedhukkinaal vishvakarmaaVishvakarma sculpted the statue of Rathi.
En sivantha meniyai kanduSeeing my fair complexion,
Deviyin oviyamae theettinaan ravivarmaaRaja Ravi Varma painted the portrait of the Goddess.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Nee kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaAre you unripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Mei kadhalum minjuthaeTrue love overflows,
Kangalum kenjuthaeMy eyes beg for you.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Thaen mahuvae tharuvaen thayangaathaeI shall offer sweet honey, do not hesitate,
Oyaa kavalaiyil moozhgaathaeDo not drown in endless sorrow,
Oyaa kavalaiyil moozhgaathaeDo not drown in endless sorrow.
Ondrey podhum manam thalaraathaeThis one thing is enough, do not lose heart,
Idhu ondrey podhum manam thalaraathaeThis alone is enough, do not lose heart.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Nee kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaAre you unripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Mei kadhalum minjuthaeTrue love overflows,
Kangalum kenjuthaeMy eyes beg for you.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Female
Maayaa valaiyena mayangaathaeDo not get dazzled thinking it is a net of illusion,
Maayaa valaiyena mayangaathaeDo not get dazzled thinking it is a net of illusion.
Female
Devarin adiyaarkal naangalandroAre we not the humble servants of the Gods?
Devarin adiyaarkal naangalandroAre we not the humble servants of the Gods?
Emmai tharisikkum paktharkal neengalandroAre you not the devotees who come to seek our sight?
Yaavumae ulagaththil veshamandroIsn't everything in this world mere pretension?
Sontham yaavumae ulagaththil veshamandroAren't all relationships in this world a disguise?
Ezhil maevum kili naanae inbamae thaaraaiI am a parrot graced with beauty, yield me bliss,
Ezhil maevum kili naanae inbamae thaaraaiI am a parrot graced with beauty, yield me bliss.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Nee kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaAre you unripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Mei kadhalum minjuthaeTrue love overflows,
Kangalum kenjuthaeMy eyes beg for you.
Female
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!
Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu rajaUnripe or ripe, tell me my king!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaayaa Pazhamaa from the 1958 film Anbu Engey is a captivating dance-based song where the protagonist playfully challenges her lover, asking if he is unripe (inexperienced/unready for love) or ripe (mature and ready). She boasts of her unmatched beauty, hyperbolically claiming that celestial creators like Brahma, Vishvakarma, and legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma modeled deer eyes, Goddess Rathi's sculpture, and divine paintings after her divine grace. Beneath the seductive flirtation lies philosophical commentary on the illusionary nature of the world. She reminds him that worldly attachments and disguises are temporary, inviting him to transcend his hesitations, embrace true love, and derive joy from the present moment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

En vel vizhiyai kandu / Maan vizhiyai padaiththaan brammaa

Extravagant exaggeration claiming divine creators (Brahma, Vishvakarma) and master artists (Ravi Varma) drew inspiration from her eyes, lips, and skin tone.

Metaphor (Uvamaatutogai / Uruvagathodai)

Kaayaa pazhamaa sollu raja

'Kaayaa pazhamaa' uses unripe versus ripe fruit as a metaphor for emotional maturity and readiness for love; 'Maayaa valai' compares worldly attraction to a net of illusion.

Metaphor (Metaphorical Comparison)

En vel vizhiyai kandu

'Vel vizhi' compares sharp, striking eyes to a deadly spear.

Monai / Alliteration

Mei kadhalum minjuthae

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels within consecutive words (e.g., 'Kaayaa pazhamaa', 'Mei' / 'Kangalum').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is penned by the renowned lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, famous for integrating traditional folk idioms, classical dance aesthetics, and philosophical double entendres into 1950s Tamil cinema songs. The phrase 'Kaayaa Pazhamaa' stems from a traditional Tamil children's hand game, cleverly reframed here as a romantic metaphor.

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