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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kappaleri Poyaachu

From Indian · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Indian1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ohooo..ooo..hooooVocalizing (Ohooo..ooo..hoooo)
Ohooo..ooo..hooooVocalizing (Ohooo..ooo..hoooo)
Ohooo..hahah..Vocalizing (Ohooo..hahah..)
Ohoo..hahah…..Vocalizing (Ohoo..hahah.....)
Ohooo…oooo..hoooo…Vocalizing (Ohooo...oooo..hoooo...)
Hahhaaa..haaahhaa…Vocalizing (Hahhaaa..haaahhaa...)
Hahhaaa..haaahhaa…Vocalizing (Hahhaaa..haaahhaa...)
Male
Namma vaasal thediSeeking our doorstep
Saaral varumA cool drizzle will come
Nedu vaanam thoovumThe vast sky will scatter
Thooral varumSoft rain showers
Chorus :Vaazhvil soozhnthaChorus: All the sorrow that
Sogam yaavum….Surrounded our lives...
Female
Vanna maan vanjai maan neerkolamColorful deer, deceitful deer, drawing a water rangoli
Kangalaal kannathil podaDrawing it on the cheek with the eyes
Innuma innuma porkkolamIs there still a state of war?
Ingu nee angu naan poraadaFor you to fight here and me to fight there?
Female
Unai kettaa en nenjaiWhen asked for you, my heart
AllikkoduthenI gathered and gave away
Thinam naanthaan en anbaeEvery day, my love, I
Mullil paduthenSlept on a bed of thorns
Naanor.. theeva..An island...
Aanen vaa vaaI have become, come to me
Ammamma naalellaamOh my, all day long
Kaanal neerai kudiththenI drank a mirage
Chorus
La la lala la la la laVocalizing (La la lala la la la la)
La la lala la la la laVocalizing (La la lala la la la la)
Laa laaa…laa laaaVocalizing (Laa laaa...laa laaa)
Laa laa..la la la….Vocalizing (Laa laa..la la la....)
Male
Annamae annamae naan solliOh swan-like maiden, did the breeze
Vanthathaa thendralum netruCome yesterday carrying my words?
Unnaiyae unnaiyae naan enniThinking only of you, only of you,
Venthathai sonnathaa poongaattruDid the gentle wind tell how I burned in longing?
Male
Unthan kaalil metti polLike the toe-ring on your foot
Kooda nadappenI will walk alongside you
Unthan kannukku kanneer polLike tears guarding the eye
Kaaval iruppenI will protect you
Maalai soodi.. tholil aaadi..Wearing a garland, dancing on shoulders...
Kai thottu mei thottuTouching hands and touching body
Unnil ennai karaippenI will dissolve myself into you
Chorus
Ahaa…ahaaaaa…Vocalizing (Ahaa...ahaaaaa...)
Ahaa..aaa..haaaa..ahaaa..ahaaaa..Vocalizing (Ahaa..aaa..haaaa..ahaaa..ahaaaa..)
Haaa..aaaa..aaa..ha haaaa….Vocalizing (Haaa..aaaa..aaa..ha haaaa....)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply romantic duet depicting the anguish of separation and the comforting promise of reunion between lovers. Through evocative imagery of nature—drizzling rain, gentle breezes, and mirages—the lyrics capture the pain of longing where days feel like sleeping on thorns or chasing false hope. The protagonists express their desire to overcome this emotional distance and become an inseparable part of each other's existence, promising lifelong protection, togetherness, and complete devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thinam naanthaan en anbae / Mullil paduthen

Describing painful emotional longing as 'sleeping on thorns' (Mullil paduthen) and 'drinking a mirage' (Kaanal neerai kudiththen) vividly illustrates desperate, unfulfilled yearning.

Simile (Uvamai)

Unthan kaalil metti pol / Kooda nadappen

Comparing closeness to a toe-ring (metti) on the foot that travels along everywhere, symbolizing perpetual companionship.

Personification

Unnaiyae unnaiyae naan enni / Venthathai sonnathaa poongaattru

Attributing human actions to the southern breeze (thendral) and sweet wind (poongaattru) as messengers delivering love and heartaches.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Annamae annamae naan solli / Unnaiyae unnaiyae naan enni

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in consecutive lines ('Annamae' and 'Unnaiyae') creates classical Tamil phonetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the iconic 1996 blockbuster film 'Indian', directed by Shankar and starring Kamal Haasan. The film's soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by legendary poet Vaali, showcasing a seamless blend of traditional Tamil poetic tropes with modern musical arrangements.

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