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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavae Kalaigirathe

From Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu · 2006

Lyricist
Rajamurugan
Singer
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu2006

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanavae kalaigirathaeThe dream is fading away
Kaatrena valigal nuzhaigirathaePain enters like the wind
Devathai siragil iragaaiLike a feather from an angel's wing
Uyirum uthirkirathae yeiThe soul sheds away, oh
Male
Kaadhal idhu thaanaIs this really love?
Ulagellam valigal podhu thaanaIs pain common to the whole world?
Manasukkul anil pillai polaLike a baby squirrel inside the heart
Azhuvadhum adhu thaana…aa..Is it that which cries out?
Male
Vaarthaigalai mounam kondruSilence killed my words
Thindrathil thanimaiyilaeAnd devoured them in solitude
Thinam kathi kathi unthanEvery day screaming loud
Peyar solli azhuthaenae..yeiI cried out calling your name
Kaatru vanthu kaadhal sonnadhaDid the wind come and whisper love?
Male
Idhu thaanaaaaIs it this?
Kaadhal idhu thaanaaaIs this what love is?
Ver arumbaeO root blossom
Veesum puyal thaanaIs it a blowing tempest?
Male
Idhu thaanaaaIs it this?
Kaadhal idhu thaanaaaIs this what love is?
Anu anuvaaiAtom by atom
Saagum vazhi thaanaaaIs it a path to die slowly?
Male
Kanavae kalaigirathaeThe dream is fading away
Kaatrena valigal nuzhaigirathaePain enters like the wind
Devathai siragil iragaaiLike a feather from an angel's wing
Uyirum uthirkirathae yeiThe soul sheds away, oh
Male
Kaadhal idhu thaanaIs this really love?
Ulagellam valigal podhu thaanaIs pain common to the whole world?
Manasukkul anil pillai polaLike a baby squirrel inside the heart
Azhuvadhum adhu thaana…aa..Is it that which cries out?
Female
Aaa…..aaa…Aaa.....aaa...
Aaa…..aa….aa…Aaa.....aa....aa...
Male
Azhaipadhai kaanal neeraalCalling out with a mirage
Ariyaadhu paravai kootamUnaware, the flock of birds approaches
Thoduvaanam polae kaadhalLove is like the horizon
Azhagaana maaya thotramA beautiful magical illusion
Male
Unaakaana vaarthaiThe words meant for you
Adi aayul sirayil vaazhgirathaeLive in a life-long prison
Namakkaana vinmeenThe star meant for us
Nee ariyum munbae uthirgirathaeFalls before you even realize
Male
Tharaiyil modhiHitting the ground
Mazhai thuli saagumA raindrop dies
Viralinai thediSearching for a finger
Imaiyodu kanneer kaayumTears dry on the eyelids
Male
Valikkindra podhumEven when it hurts
Sirikkira naanamShyness smiles
Unakaaga naalum theigirenI erode every day for you
Male
SarithaanaIs it right?
Kaadhal pizhaithaanaIs love a mistake?
Aayul varai thodarumContinuing until the end of life
Vali thaanaaIs it just pain?
Male
Idhu thaanaIs it this?
Kaadhal idhu thaanaIs this what love is?
Aiymbulanil aiyoOh, in the five senses
Thee aanaalIf it turns into fire
Male
Mazhai neer sudigirathaeRainwater burns
Manasukul anil pillai azhugirathaeInside the heart, the baby squirrel cries
Devathai siragil iragaaiLike a feather from an angel's wing
Uyirum uthirgirathae ..yeiThe soul sheds away, oh

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant track expresses the deep anguish, vulnerability, and sorrow that comes with tragic or unrequited love. The lyricist metaphorically captures how love, which initially arrives softly like a breeze or an angel's feather, transforms into an overwhelming storm that erodes one's spirit slowly atom by atom. The song continuously questions whether love is inherently destined to bring pain, comparing love to an alluring horizon or mirage that lures one in only to cause heartache.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Manasukkul anil pillai pola

Compares the fragile and aching heart to a helpless baby squirrel crying inside.

Personification

Vaarthaigalai mounam kondru thindrathil

Attributes the human actions of killing and devouring to 'silence' consuming spoken words.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thoduvaanam polae kaadhal Azhagaana maaya thotram

Directly identifies love as a beautiful magical illusion and an unyielding horizon.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Moonaai)

Kanavae kalaigirathae Kaatrena

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words creates a melancholic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film's soundtrack was actually composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, featuring soulful vocals by Vijay Yesudas and Shreya Ghoshal. The film's unique title 'Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu' was inspired by a popular dialogue delivered by Madhavan in Mani Ratnam's 2002 film 'Kannathil Muthamittal'.

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