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Isaimozhi
Illara Jothi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalai Thenoorum Kanni Thamizh

From Illara Jothi · 1954

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Leela, A. M. Rajah
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Illara Jothi
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
20 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohooo ooo oooo
Male :Ohooo ooo oooo
Kalai thaeanoorum
Kanni tamil pesuven
Kalai thaeanoorum
Kanni tamil pesuven
Aaduven paaduven
Endhan aasai raajan arugae
Endhan aasai raajan arugae
Sirppi seiyaadha
Thangachilai annamae
Sirppi seiyaadha
Thangachilai annamae
Odivaa odivaa
Unnai thaedum devan arugae
Unnai thaedum devan arugae
{Kaalamum gnyaalamum
Jodi serndhae
Odudhae …vegamaai} (2)
Jeevanum maeniyum
Ondraai serndhaal
Odumae.. vegamaai
Odumae.. vegamaai
Haaaa…aaa….
Male :Ohoooo…ooo
Oooo….rajaa…rajaa….
Vaadidum jeevanai paaraai
Vaaraai…rajaa…
Deivam illaa aalayam polae
Paalaagavoo rajaa…
Oooo…rajaa..rajaa….
Vaadidum jeevanai paaraai
Vaaraai…rajaa…
Deivam illaa aalayam polae
Paalaagavoo rajaa…
Oooo…rajaaa….rajaa…..
Oho... oh... oh...
Male: Oho... oh... oh...
Dripping with the honey of art,
I will speak sweet, youthful Tamil,
Dripping with the honey of art,
I will speak sweet, youthful Tamil,
I will dance and sing
beside the king of my heart,
beside the king of my heart.
Uncrafted by any sculptor,
my golden statue, my graceful swan,
Uncrafted by any sculptor,
my golden statue, my graceful swan,
Come running, come running,
close to the lord who seeks you,
close to the lord who seeks you.
Time and the world,
paired together,
are rushing swiftly away!
When our soul and body
unite as one,
time will race along so fast,
it will race along so fast!
Haaa... aa...
Male: Oho... oh...
Oh... my king... my king...
Look at this fading soul,
Come to me, my king...
Like a temple without a deity,
should my life turn into ruins, my king?
Oh... my king... my king...
Look at this fading soul,
Come to me, my king...
Like a temple without a deity,
should my life turn into ruins, my king?
Oh... my king... my king...
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply romantic and poetic expression of devotion and yearning between lovers. The heroine compares her expression to sweet Tamil art and rejoices in singing and dancing by her beloved king's side. In turn, he praises her divine, natural beauty as a golden statue uncarved by human hands.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama Alankaram)

Deivam illaa aalayam polae

Compares a life devoid of love to a temple without a deity ('Deivam illaa aalayam polae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sirppi seiyaadha Thangachilai annamae

Metaphorically addresses the beloved as a golden statue unshaped by a sculptor ('Sirppi seiyaadha Thangachilai').

Rhyme / Assonance (Edukai)

Kaalamum gnyaalamum

Use of matching second syllables in 'Kaalamum' and 'Gnyaalamum' to create rhythmic harmony.

Repetition (Anaphora)

Odivaa odivaa

Repetition of words like 'Odivaa odivaa' and 'Rajaa... rajaa' to emphasize urgency and affection.

Did you know?

Trivia

Illara Jothi (1954) featured lyrics by Kannadasan during the early phase of his golden era in Tamil cinema, showcasing his signature style of blending classic Tamil literary metaphors with popular film song rhythms.

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