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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karisal Tharisal

From Taj Mahal · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Taj Mahal1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karisal tharisalArid land and barren soil
Nilavu kodhikkaAs the moon boils hot above
Usuru kadandhuTranscending life itself
Manasum kudhikkaAs the heart leaps in excitement
Varavaa oorum adangaShall I come as the village slumbers?
Female
Naalu theruvumAll four streets
Thorandhu kedakkaLie wide open and deserted
Naayum nariyumDogs and jackals
Mulichu kedakkaRemain wide awake
Mudiyuma enna nerungaWho could dare get close to me?
Male
Ooru malai ellaamPlaying marbles
Goli vilaiyaadiWith all the hills of the village
Varuven kozhi orangaI shall arrive when the roosting chickens sleep
KannupaduminduLest any evil eye fall upon us
Kaatthuruvam konduTaking the form of the invisible wind
Varuven nilavu mayangaI will arrive as the moon swoons in enchantment
Male
Karisal tharisalArid land and barren soil
Nilavu kodhikkaAs the moon boils hot above
Varavaa oorum adangaShall I come as the village slumbers?
Chorus
Aan haan aan haanAan haan aan haan
Aahaan..Aahaan..
Male :Yeh machakkanniyaeMale: Hey beauty with the mole!
Chorus :Aan haan aan haanChorus: Aan haan aan haan
Aahaann…Aahaann…
Male :Yeh machakkanniyaeMale: Hey beauty with the mole!
Female :Na naa na naa nanaaa…Female: Na naa na naa nanaaa…
Male :Yeh machakkanniyaeMale: Hey beauty with the mole!
Yeh machakkanniyae…Hey beauty with the mole!…
Female
Aa..aah..aa…Aa..aah..aa…
Haa ha ha .aaa..aaa..aaa..Haa ha ha .aaa..aaa..aaa..
Aaa..aaa…aaa..Aaa..aaa…aaa..
Female
En adi vaithil thaanIn the pit of my stomach
Puli karaikka vandhae puttanA churning tiger of butterflies has arrived
Enna konnae puttaanIt has completely slain me
En adi vaithil thaanIn the pit of my stomach
Puli karaikka vandhae puttanA churning tiger of butterflies has arrived
Enna konnae puttaanIt has completely slain me
Male
OoradangiduchuThe village has gone quiet
Por thodangiduchuThe battle of love has begun
Ella nesamAll the affection
Ini nee en vasamIs now entirely under your spell
Male
Naan varavaa kannaeShall I come my beloved?
Naan varavaShall I come?
Vaaipirundhaal vandhuIf an opportunity arises, coming near,
Vaai tharavaShall I offer a kiss?
Female
Ottu kooraiyilaOn the tiled roof
Enna nadakiradhoWhat is happening?
Kodukira dheivam thaanIs the god who grants blessings
Koorai pirikirathoTearing open the roof to bestow them?
Koorai pirichapadiHaving torn open the roof,
Mela azhaikiradho ooh…Is he calling me up to the heavens?
Male
Naan varavaa kannaeShall I come my beloved?
Naan varavaShall I come?
Vaaipirundhaal vandhuIf an opportunity arises, coming near,
Vaai tharavaShall I offer a kiss?
Female
Ottu kooraiyilaOn the tiled roof
Enna nadakiradhoWhat is happening?
Kodukira dheivam thaanIs the god who grants blessings
Koorai pirikiratho…ooTearing open the roof to bestow them?
Koorai pirichapadiHaving torn open the roof,
Mela azhaikiradho ooh…Is he calling me up to the heavens?
Male
Thunnanu theeriiiThunnanu theeriii
Thoriri theeri…Thoriri theeri…
Thaari thoori thu….Thaari thoori thu….
Theeriri thoori theeeeriri thoori…Theeriri thoori theeeeriri thoori…
Thaari thoori thu….Thaari thoori thu….
Thu thu thoririth thoorithtu…Thu thu thoririth thoorithtu…
Thu thu thoriri thoorithtuThu thu thoriri thoorithtu
Male
Mel kaattu moolaiyilaIn the corner of the western field
Megam illa minnallillaWithout clouds or lightning
Boomi nananjiruchuThe earth got soaked in rain
Mel kaattu moolaiyilaIn the corner of the western field
Megam illa minnallillaWithout clouds or lightning
Boomi nananjiruchuThe earth got soaked in rain
Male
Pazham nazhuviThe ripe fruit slipped
Paalil vizhundhachuAnd fell right into the milk
Adhu nazhuviThat fruit slipped further
Vaayil vizhundhachuAnd fell straight into the mouth
Female
Ada vaanodum seramaWithout joining the sky above
Mannodum koodamaNor merging with the earth below
Maththiyil medhandhaachuIt floated right in the middle
Ada vaanodum seramaWithout joining the sky above
Mannodum koodamaNor merging with the earth below
Maththiyil medhandhaachuIt floated right in the middle
Male
Sunnambhu ketkapoyiI went to ask for mere limestone
Sokka thaangam vaangi vanthenAnd returned with pure refined gold
Kaalam kaninjiruchi…The right time has ripened…
Sunnambhu ketkapoyiI went to ask for mere limestone
Sokka thaangam vaangi vanthenAnd returned with pure refined gold
Kaalam kaninjiruchi…The right time has ripened…
Female
Ada vaanodum seramaWithout joining the sky above
Mannodum koodamaNor merging with the earth below
Maththiyil medhandhaachuIt floated right in the middle
Ada vaanodum seramaWithout joining the sky above
Mannodum koodamaNor merging with the earth below
Maththiyil medhandhaachuIt floated right in the middle

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Taj Mahal' (1999) depicts a covert, nocturnal meeting between two young lovers in a southern Tamil rural setting. The hero eagerly anticipates sneaking out late at night when the village sleeps, claiming he will move quietly like the wind to reach his beloved unnoticed. The heroine expresses her nervousness, intense yearning, and ecstasy, using vivid rural metaphors to describe her emotional state.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming) & Assonance

Karisal tharisal

Matching second consonants across lines creates a natural folk rhythm, seen in 'Karisal / Tharisal' and 'Ooradangiduchu / Por thodangiduchu'.

Uvamai & Urubagam (Metaphor and Proverbial Imagery)

Pazham nazhuvi Paalil vizhundhachu

Uses the famous Tamil idiom 'Pazham nazhuvi paalil vizhundhachu' (The fruit slipped and fell into milk) to represent unexpected joy and fortunate love.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Megam illa minnallilla Boomi nananjiruchu

Exaggeration of love's intensity, describing rain falling without clouds or lightning as a metaphor for sudden, unprompted passion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for director Bharathiraja's film 'Taj Mahal' (1999), the song features lyrics by Vairamuthu that reflect the authentic folk dialect and cultural imagery of the 'Karisal' (black soil) region of southern Tamil Nadu.

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