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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadalil Alaikal Pongum

From Magarantham · 1981

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Magarantham1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mmmm…..mm….Mmmm... mm...
Kadalil alaigal pongumWaves surge in the ocean,
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumoBut will they ever cross the shore?
Verum karaiyai theendumoOr will they merely touch the shore?
Male
Kadalil alaigal pongumWaves surge in the ocean,
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumoBut will they ever cross the shore?
Verum karaiyai theendumoOr will they merely touch the shore?
Male
En udalil unarvu pongumEmotions surge within my body,
Unthan uruvai thaandumoWill they ever go beyond your form?
Veru uravai theendumoOr will they ever touch another relationship?
Male
Chinna chinna kaaranaththaalFor trivial, minor reasons,
Kannamathil neerthuligalTears fall upon your cheeks.
Chinna chinna kaaranaththaalFor trivial, minor reasons,
Kannamathil neerthuligalTears fall upon your cheeks.
Male
Ennai mattum purinthu kondaalIf only you understand me,
Aththanaiyum thaen thuligalAll of them will turn into drops of honey.
Ennai mattum purinthu kondaalIf only you understand me,
Aththanaiyum thaen thuligalAll of them will turn into drops of honey.
Male
Thaen thuliyai serththu vaikkumGathering drops of honey within,
Thaamaraiyil idhayamammaaThe lotus flower is like a heart, my dear.
Thaen thuliyai serththu vaikkumGathering drops of honey within,
Thaamaraiyil idhayamammaaThe lotus flower is like a heart, my dear.
Thaamaraiyai malara vaikkumAnd what makes the lotus bloom,
Aadhavanin udhayammamaaIs the rising of the sun, my dear.
Male
Kadalil alaigal pongumWaves surge in the ocean,
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumoBut will they ever cross the shore?
Verum karaiyai theendumoOr will they merely touch the shore?
Male
Kangal sonna kavithai ellaamAll the poems spoken by the eyes,
Kallezhuththu pondrathammaaAre like inscriptions etched on stone, my dear.
Kangal sonna kavithai ellaamAll the poems spoken by the eyes,
Kallezhuththu pondrathammaaAre like inscriptions etched on stone, my dear.
Male
Kallezhuththu endrirunthaalIf it is etched on stone,
Kaalam enna seiyyummamaaWhat can time ever do to destroy it, my dear?
Kallezhuththu endrirunthaalIf it is etched on stone,
Kaalam enna seiyyummamaaWhat can time ever do to destroy it, my dear?
Male
Neeradiththu neer vizhagiWater struck by water never truly separates,
Paarththathillai bhoomiyilaeNever has such a sight been seen on this earth.
Neeradiththu neer vizhagiWater struck by water never truly separates,
Paarththathillai bhoomiyilaeNever has such a sight been seen on this earth.
Nee pirinthu naan irunthaalIf I am separated from you,
Vaazhkkaiyillai ponmagalaeThere is no life left for me, my golden girl.
Male
Kadalil alaigal pongumWaves surge in the ocean,
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumoBut will they ever cross the shore?
Verum karaiyai theendumoOr will they merely touch the shore?
Male
En udalil unarvu pongumEmotions surge within my body,
Unthan uruvai thaandumoWill they ever go beyond your form?
Veru uravai theendumoOr will they ever touch another relationship?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic track uses evocative metaphors from nature to convey deep devotion and fidelity. The lover compares his emotions to ocean waves that respect the boundary of the shore, assuring his beloved that his passion will never cross moral boundaries or seek another partner beyond her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை)

Kangal sonna kavithai ellaam / Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa

Compares love etched in the eyes to permanent stone inscriptions ('Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa'), emphasizing everlasting commitment.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme / எதுகை)

Kadalil alaigal pongum / En udalil unarvu pongum

Rhyming of the second letter 'da' in 'Kadalil' and 'Udalil'.

Proverbial Metaphor (பழமொழி/இயற்கை உவமை)

Neeradiththu neer vizhagi / Paarththathillai bhoomiyilae

Uses the Tamil proverb/observation 'Neeradiththu neer vizhagi paarththathillai' (water struck by water does not part) to symbolize unbreakable unity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by veteran poet A. Maruthakasi, this song features SPB's soulful vocals. The phrase 'Neeradiththu neer vizhagadhu' is a famous classical Tamil idiom signifying that true affection cannot be severed by temporary disagreements.

Keep listening

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