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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaiyile Oru Dye

From Thayum Magalum · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
K. J. Jesudas, L. R. Eswari
Music director
P. S. Diwakar
Details
Thayum Magalum1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaiyile oru dye…. kaalile oru dye….A 'dye' in the hand... a 'dye' on the leg...
Thalaiyile oru dai…. manasile oru dai….A 'dye' on the head... a 'dye' in the heart...
Enna dye…..What dye...?
Male
Kaiyile oru dye….A 'dye' in the hand...
Female
Kudai…..Umbrella (Kudai)...
Male
Kaalile oru dye…..A 'dye' on the leg...
Female
Nadai…..Gait / Walk (Nadai)...
Male
Manasile oru dye..A 'dye' in the heart...
Female
Thadai…. thadai…. thadai….Obstacle... obstacle... obstacle (Thadai)...
Female
Ullathil oduthu thanneer odaiA stream of water flows inside the heart
Odambile veesuthu paneer vaadaiThe scent of rosewater wafts from the body
Ullathil oduthu thanneer odaiA stream of water flows inside the heart
Odambile veesuthu paneer vaadaiThe scent of rosewater wafts from the body
Male
Manasai parikkuthu maanikka mediaThe ruby-like charm steals the heart
Varacholli azhaikkuthu kannile jaadaiThe glance in the eyes beckons to come
Manasai parikkuthu maanikka mediaThe ruby-like charm steals the heart
Varach cholli azhaikudhu kannile jaadaiThe glance in the eyes beckons to come
Enna dye….What dye...?
Female
Aathukku oru dyeA 'dye' for the river
Male
Madai….Sluice gate (Madai)...
Female
Azhagukku oru dyeA 'dye' for beauty
Male
Idai…..Waist (Idai)...
Female
Poarukku oru dyeA 'dye' for war
Male
Padai…..Army (Padai)...
Female
Porulukku oru dyeA 'dye' for commodities
Male
Kadai… kadai… kadai….Shop... shop... shop (Kadai)...
Female
Pullile nellile kani kidaikaathuYou cannot get fruit from grass or paddy
Un buthikku en pol pen kidaikaathuFor your intellect, you won't get a woman like me
Pullile nellile kani kidaikaathuYou cannot get fruit from grass or paddy
Un buthikku en pol pen kidaikaathuFor your intellect, you won't get a woman like me
Male
Kuyilukku thunaiyaai kuyil irunthaalumEven if a cuckoo bird has another cuckoo as a mate
Kurangukku innoru kurangirukkaathaDoesn't a monkey have another monkey as a mate?
Kuyilukku thunaiyaai kuyil irunthaalumEven if a cuckoo bird has another cuckoo as a mate
Kurangukku innoru kurangirukkaathaDoesn't a monkey have another monkey as a mate?
Male
Ponathu pogattum poranthathu poronthomLet what is past be past, we were born as we were born
Female
Ponna aana irunthaathu irunthomAs woman and man, we lived as we lived
Male
Ponathu pogattum poranthathu poronthomLet what is past be past, we were born as we were born
Female
Ponna aana irunthaathu irunthomAs woman and man, we lived as we lived

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted duet from the movie 'Thayum Magalum' (1965) features witty banter and playful romantic teasing between the lead characters. Lyricist Kannadasan crafts clever wordplay using the English sound 'dye' to cue Tamil words ending with the phonetic suffix '-dai' (such as Kudai, Nadai, Thadai, Madai, Idai, Padai, and Kadai). The song progresses from playful riddles about everyday objects and beauty into humorous banter where the singers compare themselves playfully, accepting each other's flaws with light banter, and ultimately resolving to let bygones be bygones and embrace life together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme) / Wordplay

Kaiyile oru dye…. / Kudai….. / Kaalile oru dye….. / Nadai…..

Kannadasan plays with the sound 'dye' to rhyme seamlessly with Tamil words ending in the '-dai' sound such as Kudai, Nadai, Thadai, Madai, Idai, Padai, and Kadai.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ponathu pogattum poranthathu poronthom

Repetition of the starting letter 'Po' creates rhythmic melody and flow across the words in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thayum Magalum' (1965) was composed by P. S. Diwakar and features lyrics by Kannadasan. This comedic duet showcases early playback singing work by K. J. Yesudas alongside L. R. Eswari.

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