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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karaiyeru Meen Vilaiyaadum

From Thirumal Perumai · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thirumal Perumai
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
7 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada
Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada
Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada
Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada
Madi yeri mazhalaiyar aadum
Mannavan vaazhga
Ponnai maraiyaamal vaari vazhangum
Thennavan vaazhga
Konjum thamizhil pulavargal
Kavidhai paada
Dhaadhaa nidhani panidhamaapa
Gamani dhaadhaa
Gopura kalaiyin sirpangal nadanamaada
Neenineeni nisa dhasaneedha
Manidha saasaa
Anjum pagaivar anji nadungi oda
Reeree gariga sagari nirisa dhani sagaree
Vaazhiya needu
Kaaviri naadu
Rathina magudam
Navamaniyodu
Naal vagai saenai
Nalam perum naadu
Kanniyar idaiyum vanna kodiyum
Annam pol varum azhagiya nadaiyum
Thendralilaadum thennavan naadu
Thithitthirukkum muthamizh naadu
Vaazhiya needu
Kaaviri naadu
As the tiger flag flutters high,
As fame rises over the hills,
As the tiger flag flutters high,
As fame rises over the hills,
With little children playing upon his lap,
Long live the king!
Giving away gold freely with open hands,
Long live the ruler of the south!
As poets in sweet Tamil
Sing their poetry,
Dha dha ni dha ni pa ni dha ma pa
Ga ma ni dha dha
As the temple tower sculptures dance,
Ni ni ni ni ni sa dha sa ni dha
Ma ni dha sa sa
As fearful enemies tremble and flee,
Ri ri ga ri ga sa ga ri ni ri sa dha ni sa ga ri
Long may it flourish,
Land of the Kaveri river!
With a crown of gems
And the nine precious stones,
With a four-fold army,
A land blessed with prosperity!
The waists of young women, the colorful flags,
And their graceful walk like swans,
All sway in the breeze across this southern land,
The sweet land of Muthamizh (the three forms of Tamil)!
Long may it flourish,
Land of the Kaveri river!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a grand panegyric praising a king and the eternal glory of his kingdom along the Kaveri river. It depicts a prosperous, culturally vibrant realm where royal tiger flags flutter high, children play happily on their parents' laps, and poets compose sweet Tamil verse. The king is celebrated for his boundless charity, his formidable army that strikes terror in enemies, and his patronage of temple arts and architecture. Interspersed with Carnatic solfa syllables (swaras), the lyrics capture the rhythm, beauty, and grace of the Southern land. Kannadasan weaves together imagery of nature, art, divine music, and martial strength, concluding with a prayer for the everlasting endurance and flourishing of the Kaveri region.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Annam pol varum azhagiya nadaiyum”

Compares the graceful walk of maidens to that of a swan ('Annam pol').

Initial Alliteration (Monaai)

“Madi yeri mazhalaiyar aadum / Mannavan vaazhga”

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words ('Madi', 'mazhalaiyar', 'Mannavan').

Swaraksharam / Musical Solkattu Integration

“Dhaadhaa nidhani panidhamaapa”

Integration of rhythmic Carnatic musical notation (swaras) as poetic verse structure.

Anaphora / Refrain

“Vaazhiya needu / Kaaviri naadu”

Repetition of benedictory lines celebrating the land and king ('Vaazhiya needu / Kaaviri naadu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in some song indexes, 'Thirumal Perumai' (1968) features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Kannadasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya in lead roles.

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