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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kizhakke Nandavanam

From Taj Mahal · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Ganga Sitharasu, Febi Mani
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Taj Mahal1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Machcha kanni mayilukunjuGirl with fish-like eyes, young chick of a peacock,
Oththakanni sokka vaayiOne-eyed girl, enchanting mouth,
Pechi maayi raaki vaarigalaPechi, Maayi, Raaki, won't you all come?
AdiyaathiOh my goodness!
Chorus
Kizhakkae nandavanamTo the east lies the flower garden,
Kili araiyum aala maramThe banyan tree where parrots chatter,
Aalamara oonjal kattiTying a swing to the banyan tree,
Aada porom vaariyaadiWe are going to swing, come along!
Chorus
{Variyaadi vaariyaadi{Come along, come along,
Vaariyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vayasuppulla vaariyaadi} (2)Young girl, come along!} (2)
Female :VaariyaadiFemale: Come along,
Chorus
Vadakkae sokku kulamTo the north lies the enchanting pond,
Thaamara poo vasa vasannuFragrant with lotus flowers blooming,
Thaamara poo parikkaTo pluck the lotus flower,
Thaavani pooA girl wearing a half-saree,
Chorus
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vaariyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vayasuppulla vaariyaadiYoung girl, come along,
Chorus
Ammi aracha cha cha chaGrinding on the stone, cha cha cha,
Cha cha cha ammi arachaCha cha cha, grinding on the stone,
Arabattu pogaathaeDon't let it grind away completely,
Molagaa podichen chin chin chinCrushing the red chillies, chin chin chin,
Chin chin chin molagaa podichenChin chin chin, crushing the red chillies,
Idi pattu pogaathaeDon't let it get pounded completely,
Chorus
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vaariyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, comealong,
Vayasuppulla vaariyaadiYoung girl, come along,
Chorus
Eee kaakka kurivikkumThis sky that gives space,
Edam kodukkum aagaasamEven to the crow and sparrow,
Enakkum unakkumWould it ever say no,
Illainna solli pudumTo you and me?
Mmm…mm…mmm…mmmm..Mmm...mm...mmm...mmmm..
Mmm…mmm….mmm…mmm…Mmm...mmm....mmm...mmm...
Chorus
Vannak kizi alakkuthuThe colorful parrot invites,
Varik kuruvi koopiduthuThe striped sparrow calls out,
Chorus
Vanna kizi alaikuthuThe colorful parrot invites,
Vari kuruvi koopiduthuThe striped sparrow calls out,
Ku ku kuCuckoo cuckoo cuckoo,
Vanna kizi alaikuthuThe colorful parrot invites,
Vari kuruvi koopiduthuThe striped sparrow calls out,
Sinnanjiru sittaeO tiny little sparrow,
Sivvunnu odi vaadiCome running swiftly,
Chorus
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vaariyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Variyaadi vaariyaadiCome along, come along,
Vayasuppulla vaariyaadiYoung girl, come along,
Mmm…mm…mmm…mmmm..Mmm...mm...mmm...mmmm..
Mmm…mmm….mmm…mmm…Mmm...mmm....mmm...mmm...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-infused song from the 1999 Tamil film 'Taj Mahal' (composed by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Vairamuthu) is a joyful, playful celebration of youthful camaraderie and rural village life. The song invokes group celebration among young women, referencing traditional activities like playing on banyan tree swings, gathering near garden ponds, and grinding spices on stone tools. With vivid imagery of birds, flora, and village landscapes, it encapsulates the innocent freedom and affection shared between friends in a traditional Tamil countryside setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vadakkae sokku kulam / Thaamara poo vasa vasannu

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'd' in 'Vadakkae' and 'Thaamara'.

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)

Ammi aracha cha cha cha / Molagaa podichen chin chin chin

Use of rhythmic sensory sound words like 'cha cha cha' and 'chin chin chin' to mirror the rhythmic sound of grinding spices.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Machcha kanni mayilukunju

Describing the young girl using nature metaphors such as 'mayilukunju' (peacock chick) and 'machcha kanni' (fish-eyed maiden).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited to A.R. Rahman, the soundtrack of 'Taj Mahal' directed by Bharathiraja features rich authentic rural orchestrations blending folk voices with modern synths. The chorus 'Vaariyaadi' uses traditional rural Tamil slang from Southern Tamil Nadu, typical of lyricist Vairamuthu's rural dialectical poetry.

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