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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalaimaane

From Thaalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thaalam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannae nee pogumMy beloved, wherever you go,
Vazhi engu ponaalumNo matter where the path leads,
Ellaa vazhiyumAll paths
En veettu vaasalilAt my doorstep
Vanthudhaan mudiyum…Will ultimately end...
Male
Kaadhaliyae…Oh my beloved...
Male
Kalaimaanae…Oh gentle deer...
Kalaimaanae un thalai kodhavaaOh gentle deer, shall I stroke your hair?
Iragaalae un udal neevavaaShall I caress your body with a feather?
Un kaiyilae…In your hands...
Un kaiyilae poo valai podavaaShall I place a flower net on your hands?
Un kaiyilae poo valai podavaaShall I place a flower net on your hands?
Panju kaalgalai nenjil soodavaaShall I adorn my heart with your soft, cotton-like feet?
Male
Kaadhaliyae…Oh my beloved...
Male
Tholaivaanapodhu pakkamaanavalYou who became close when you were distant,
Pakkam vandha podhu tholaivaavadhoAre you drifting far away now that you are near?
Tholaivaanapodhu pakkamaanavalYou who became close when you were distant,
Pakkam vandha podhu tholaivaavadhoAre you drifting far away now that you are near?
Male
Mozhiyodu sollukku oodal ennavoWhy this playful rift between language and word?
Shirungaara poovukku sevai seiyavo…Shall I render tender service to the flower of romance?
Un kaiyilae poo valai podavaaShall I place a flower net on your hands?
Un paadhayil poo mazhai sindhavaaShall I shower a rain of flowers on your path?
Panju kaalgalai nenjil soodavaaShall I adorn my heart with your soft, cotton-like feet?
Male
Kaadhaliyae…Oh my beloved...
Male
Poonjolai amarndhu sendraaiYou sat in the flower garden and left
Konja neramaeJust for a little while,
Sondha vaasam marandha poovilIn the flowers that forgot their own scent,
Undhan vaasamaeNow lingers your fragrance.
Poonjolai amarndhu sendraaiYou sat in the flower garden and left
Konja neramaeJust for a little while,
Sondha vaasam marandha poovilIn the flowers that forgot their own scent,
Undhan vaasamaeNow lingers your fragrance.
Male
Nee ennai pirindhadhaaiThat you separated from me,
Yaar sonnadhuWho said that?
En uyir ulla pullidhaanIn the very point where my life resides,
Nee vaazhvadhuIs where you live.
Male
Un kaiyilae poo valai podavaaShall I place a flower net on your hands?
Un paadhayil poo mazhai sindhavaaShall I shower a rain of flowers on your path?
Panju kaalgalai nenjil soodavaaShall I adorn my heart with your soft, cotton-like feet?
Nenjil soodavaa nenjil soodavaaShall I adorn my heart, shall I adorn my heart?
Nenjil soodavaa ….nenjil soodavaaShall I adorn my heart, shall I adorn my heart?
Male
Kaadhaliyae…Oh my beloved...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply romantic expression of eternal love, intimacy, and spiritual connection. The protagonist reassures his lover that no matter where her life leads her, all paths will ultimately bring her back to him. He expresses his desire to gently cherish her, asking permission to adore her soft touch and shower her with floral affection. The poetic imagery highlights how her presence infuses everything around her with beauty—even the flowers in a garden forget their own fragrance in favor of hers. He dismisses the idea of physical separation, emphasizing that she resides permanently at the very core of his soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran)

Tholaivaanapodhu pakkamaanaval / Pakkam vandha podhu tholaivaavadho

Contrasts physical distance with emotional proximity to illustrate the paradox of love.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Panju kaalgalai nenjil soodavaa

Compares her tender feet to soft cotton ('Panju kaalgalai') to emphasize her delicacy.

Hyperbole & Personification

Sondha vaasam marandha poovil / Undhan vaasamae

Exaggerates her charm by describing garden flowers forgetting their natural scent in exchange for her fragrance.

Alliteration (Monai)

Un paadhayil poo mazhai sindhavaa

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Po' (Poonjolai) and 'Pa' (Panju, Paadhayil) creating a soft musical rhythm.

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Trivia

'Thaalam' (1999) is the Tamil dubbed version of Subhash Ghai's iconic Hindi musical blockbuster 'Taal'. The original music was composed by A.R. Rahman, and the Tamil lyrics were masterfully adapted by Vairamuthu to fit Tamil poetic traditions while retaining the soulful essence of the original soundtrack.

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