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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannethire

From Iravin Nizhal · 2022

Lyricist
Radhakrishnan Parthiban
Singers
Sarthak Kalyani, Hiral Viradia
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Iravin Nizhal2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kann ethiraeRight in front of my eyes,
Endhan uyirai kaanbenooWill I behold my own soul?
Un punnagaiyilIn your tender smile,
Punitham aagi povenooWill I become sanctified?
Male
Semmalargal yaavumAll the vibrant red flowers
Un paadham pookumaeWill bloom at your feet.
Andha vaanamEven that expansive sky
UnadhanbaagumaeWill turn into your love.
Male
Thagumoo en jeevenaeIs my fragile life worthy?
Thagumoo en jeevenaeIs my fragile life worthy?
Male
Kann ethiraeRight in front of my eyes,
Endhan uyirai kaanbenooWill I behold my own soul?
Un punnagaiyilIn your tender smile,
Punitham aagi povenooWill I become sanctified?
Female
Haa..aaaa..aa…Haa..aaaa..aa…
Male
Paal veedhiyil aayiramIn the Milky Way, a thousand
Olinthidum nilavugalGlimmering moons
Thaazh panindhundhanBow down humbly,
Paal mugam paarthida yengumaeLonging to gaze at your radiant, pure face.
Male
Bhoomi saami motchamaeEarth, God, and spiritual liberation...
YaaiyinumYet above all,
Neeyae en thaaiyaeYou alone are my mother.
Male
Kann ethiraeRight in front of my eyes,
Endhan uyirai kaanbenooWill I behold my own soul?
Un punnagaiyilIn your tender smile,
Punitham aagi povenooWill I become sanctified?
Male
Semmalargal yaavumAll the vibrant red flowers
Un paadham pookumaeWill bloom at your feet.
Andha vaanamEven that expansive sky
UnadhanbaagumaeWill turn into your love.
Male
Thagumoo en jeevenaeIs my fragile life worthy?
Thagumoo en jeevenaeIs my fragile life worthy?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a deeply emotional and spiritual lullaby expressing reverence, pure devotion, and cosmic warmth toward a maternal figure. The protagonist questions whether their own soul is worthy of being blessed by the presence and smile of a mother whose love transcends all worldly and heavenly wonders. The lyrics elevate maternal love above divinity and salvation itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Thaazh panindhundhan Paal mugam paarthida yengumae

Celestial bodies like moons in the Milky Way are given human attributes of bowing down in humility to catch a glimpse of the mother's face.

Hyperbole & Metaphor

Andha vaanam Unadhanbaagumae

Comparing the mother's boundless affection to the vastness of the sky exaggerates and glorifies maternal warmth.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kann ethirae / Endhan uyirai kaanbenoo

The second consonant sound 'nn' matches across the lines (Kann / Endhan / Un), creating a harmonious acoustic flow in classical Tamil poetic style.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Iravin Nizhal' (2022), directed by Radhakrishnan Parthiban with music by A. R. Rahman, entered record books as the world's first non-linear single-shot feature film.

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