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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannil Vanthu Minnal

From Nadodi Mannan · 1958

Lyricist
Suratha
Singers
Jikki, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Nadodi Mannan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ohh…ohhh… ohh…Ohh... ohhh... ohh...
Ohh…ohhh….ohh…ohh..Ohh... ohhh... ohh... ohh..
Ohh… ohhh…Ohh... ohhh...
Female
{Kannil vanthu{Coming before my eyes, appearing like a flash of lightning, O blissful epic art, O portrait!} (2)
Minnal pol kaanuthaeMinnal pol kaanuthae - Appearing like a flash of lightning
Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae} (2)Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae - O blissful epic art, O portrait!
Male
{Sezhum kani pola{Like a luscious ripe fruit, a precious gem offering sweet taste, my singing sweet cuckoo!} (2)
Suvai tharum maamaniSuvai tharum maamani - A precious gem offering sweet taste
En paadidum poonguyilae} (2)En paadidum poonguyilae - My singing sweet cuckoo!
Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamaeInba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae - O blissful epic art, O portrait!
Female
Sudar minnal kanduSudar minnal kandu - Seeing the bright flash of lightning
Thaazhai malaruvathu polaThaazhai malaruvathu pola - Just as the screwpine flower blooms
Unai kandu ullamae magizhnthenaeUnai kandu ullamae magizhnthenae - Seeing you, my heart rejoiced!
Male
Ohh..ohhh….ohhh..Ohh..ohhh....ohhh..
Ohh..ohhh….ohhh..Ohh..ohhh....ohhh..
Female
Sudar minnal kanduSudar minnal kandu - Seeing the bright flash of lightning
Thaazhai malaruvathu polaThaazhai malaruvathu pola - Just as the screwpine flower blooms
Unai kandu ullamae magizhnthenaeUnai kandu ullamae magizhnthenae - Seeing you, my heart rejoiced!
Male
Neela vaanam illatha oorae illaiNeela vaanam illatha oorae illai - There is no place without a blue sky
Ulaginil mazhai indri yethum illaiUlaginil mazhai indri yethum illai - In this world, nothing exists without rain
Amudhae unai andri vaazhvae illaiAmudhae unai andri vaazhvae illai - O nectar, without you there is no life
Anbae ithu unmaiyaeAnbae ithu unmaiyae - My love, this is the truth
Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamaeInba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae - O blissful epic art, O portrait!
Female
Ah..ah..ah..aahh…aah..Ah..ah..ah..aahh…aah..
Aah..aahh…aah…Aah..aahh…aah…
Female
{Angum ingum vilaiyaadi{Playing here and there, mingling and bonding like waves} (2)
Alai pola uravaadi} (2)Alai pola uravaadi - Mingling and bonding like waves
Aanantham kaanum neram thaanaeAanantham kaanum neram thaanae - It is indeed the time to experience joy
Ullaththin aasaiyaeUllaththin aasaiyae - The desire of my heart
Unnai unnai theduthaeUnnai unnai theduthae - Is searching only for you
Unnai unnai theduthae….Unnai unnai theduthae… - Is searching only for you...
Male
{Konji pesum kizhiyae{O lisping parrot, O light that bestows grand happiness, O deer, love is softer than even a flower} (2)
Nal inbam tharum jothiyaeNal inbam tharum jothiyae - O light that bestows grand happiness
Maanae malarinumMaanae malarinum - O deer, than a flower
Melliyathu kaadhlae…ae} (2)Melliyathu kaadhlae…ae - Love is softer and more delicate
Female
Ah..ah..ah..aahh…aah..Ah..ah..ah..aahh…aah..
Aah..aahh…aah…Aah..aahh…aah…
Female
Magizhvom naamaeMagizhvom naamae - We shall rejoice
Male :Pudhumai vaazhvilaeMale: Pudhumai vaazhvilae - Male: In a new, renewed life
Female :Magizhvom naamaeFemale: Magizhvom naamae - Female: We shall rejoice
Male :Pudhumai vaazhvilaeMale: Pudhumai vaazhvilae - Male: In a new, renewed life

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Inba Kaaviya Kalaiyae from the 1958 classic Nadodi Mannan is a charming romantic duet expressing deep love, admiration, and poetic devotion. The lyricist uses nature-inspired similes to describe the beloved—comparing her presence to lightning that causes the fragrant Thaazhai flower to bloom, and her essence to rain and sky without which life cannot sustain. The lovers celebrate their joyous union, expressing that love is even softer and more delicate than flowers, looking forward to a bright new life together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Minnal pol kaanuthae / Thaazhai malaruvathu pola

Compares the sudden arrival of the beloved to a flash of lightning and the heart's delight to the blooming of the Thaazhai flower upon seeing lightning.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Inba kaaviya kalaiyae oviyamae / Amudhae

Directly addresses the beloved as a work of epic art, a living painting, and divine nectar.

Hyperbole (Ushuyarvu Navorchi)

Malarinum melliyathu kaadhlae

Exaggerates the softness of love by stating it is gentler and more delicate than a flower.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nadodi Mannan (1958) was a landmark film directed by and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song's lyrics were written by Kavignar Suratha, who was renowned in Tamil literature as 'Upamai Kavingar' (the Poet of Similes) due to his masterly usage of metaphors and comparisons.

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