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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Tholvi

From Raja Bakthi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
G. Govindarajulu Naidu
Movie name
Raja Bakthi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
6 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmm mmm mmmm
Mmmm mmmmm
Kaadhal tholvi kanda
Kanniyin paadu thindattam
Aval kannukkindha ulagam oru
Kadunchirai kottam
Kaadhal tholvi kanda
Kanniyin paadu thindattam
Kaalamellam irulae
Aval irundhum illaa porulae
Kaalamellam irulae
Aval irundhum illaa porulae
Kavalaiyinaal anuanuvaai
Karaiyum aval udalae
Solai nizhalai pirindhu
Sugavasamadhanai izhandhu
Paalaivanathil sanjarikkum
Paravai aavaal avalae
Kaadhal tholvi kanda
Kanniyin paadu thindattam
Aval kannukkindha ulagam oru
Kadunchirai kottam
Kaadhal tholvi kanda
Kanniyin paadu thindattam
Hmm mmmm mmmm
Mmm mmmm...
Having suffered heartbreak,
A young woman's life is pure misery.
In her eyes, this entire world
Is just a harsh prison...
Having suffered heartbreak,
A young woman's life is pure misery.
Her whole life is filled with darkness;
Though she is alive, she is as good as gone.
Her whole life is filled with darkness;
Though she is alive, she is as good as gone.
Piece by piece, worn down by sorrow,
Her body slowly wastes away.
Separated from the comforting shade of the grove,
Having lost every sweet comfort,
Wandering through a barren desert,
She has become a lost bird...
Having suffered heartbreak,
A young woman's life is pure misery.
In her eyes, this entire world
Is just a harsh prison...
Having suffered heartbreak,
A young woman's life is pure misery.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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