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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Tholvi

From Raja Bakthi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
G. Govindarajulu Naidu
Details
Raja Bakthi1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmm mmm mmmm[Humming]
Mmmm mmmmm[Humming]
Female
Kaadhal tholvi kandaThe plight of a maiden who suffered failure in love
Kanniyin paadu thindattamIs a severe struggle and agony.
Aval kannukkindha ulagam oruTo her eyes, this world is but a
Kadunchirai kottamHarsh prison cell.
Female
Kaadhal tholvi kandaThe plight of a maiden who suffered failure in love
Kanniyin paadu thindattamIs a severe struggle and agony.
Female
Kaalamellam irulaeDarkness prevails for all time,
Aval irundhum illaa porulaeShe is an entity that exists, yet does not exist.
Kaalamellam irulaeDarkness prevails for all time,
Aval irundhum illaa porulaeShe is an entity that exists, yet does not exist.
Female
Kavalaiyinaal anuanuvaaiAtom by atom, through sorrow,
Karaiyum aval udalaeHer body slowly melts away.
Female
Solai nizhalai pirindhuSeparated from the shade of the grove,
Sugavasamadhanai izhandhuHaving lost all her comfortable life,
Paalaivanathil sanjarikkumWandering endlessly in a barren desert,
Paravai aavaal avalaeShe has become a lonely bird.
Female
Kaadhal tholvi kandaThe plight of a maiden who suffered failure in love
Kanniyin paadu thindattamIs a severe struggle and agony.
Aval kannukkindha ulagam oruTo her eyes, this world is but a
Kadunchirai kottamHarsh prison cell.
Female
Kaadhal tholvi kandaThe plight of a maiden who suffered failure in love
Kanniyin paadu thindattamIs a severe struggle and agony.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song portrays the agonizing mental and emotional state of a young woman suffering from tragic heartbreak. Written by A. Maruthakasi, the lyrics describe how love failure transforms a person's entire world into a dark, suffocating prison. The maiden feels detached from her own existence, slowly consumed by grief and despair piece by piece. Through vivid imagery, she is compared to a bird that has been driven away from a cool, shady grove to wander endlessly in a scorching desert. P. Susheela's soulful singing combined with G. Govindarajulu Naidu's melancholic composition elevates the sense of sorrow, capturing the tragic essence of lost love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Aval kannukkindha ulagam oru Kadunchirai kottam

The lyrics equate the entire world to a harsh prison cell ('Kadunchirai kottam') for a woman suffering from heart break.

Imagery / Metaphor

Paalaivanathil sanjarikkum Paravai aavaal avalae

Comparing the heartbroken woman to a lonely bird wandering helplessly in a scorching desert after losing the shelter of a lush grove.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaalamellam irulae / Aval irundhum illaa porulae

The rhyming end sounds 'irulae' and 'porulae' create a poetic cadence and musical rhythm.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Solai nizhalai pirindhu / Paalaivanathil sanjarikkum

The second consonant 'la' matches in 'Solai' and 'Paalaivanathil', binding the stanzas rhythmically.

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Trivia

Raja Bakthi (1960) was a historical Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, P. Bhanumathi, and M. N. Nambiar. The music was composed by G. Govindarajulu Naidu, a pioneer in Tamil film music known for his rich classical compositions during the early era of Tamil cinema.

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