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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kodi Muthukkalai Naalum

From Thai Mozhi · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thai Mozhi
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
29 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Female :Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Poo alai thaalam thatta vaan varai paadal etta
Female :Nee oru medai katta naan adhil raagam kotta
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Vaanai muttum neerveezhchchiyum
Vaaraamal pogaathu un veedu
Female :Neela pattu selai kondu
Thaalaththil thaalaattum panpaadu
Aazham enna kandaar illai
Aaraaichchi thaan endrum oyaathu
Female :Kaalam pala aanaal enna
Kaangindra un thottram kaayaathu
Thaaraalam unthan thanga madi endru
Female :Per sollum kolam vanthathadi indru
Both :Neer thanthu neer thantha needhaanae
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Neer illaiyae vaazhvillaiyae
Paarengum per solla seer illaiyae
Male :Aarillaiyael oor illaiyae
Neer illai naan illai naam illaiyae
Kel endru thaan kettaenammaa
Ongaaram un raagam ooivillaiyae
Male :Un jenmamo paarthaenamma
Ondrae thaan un vaazhvil thaeivillayae
Kandaaru illai engum thadai illai
Male :Nindraadum alai nindraal edhum illai
Both :Aadhaaram veraethu neer thaanae
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Male :Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Poo alai thaalam thatta
Male :Vaan varrai paadal etta
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum
Vaazhvae neethaanammaa engal thaayae
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Female: Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
As flower-like waves clap to the beat, and our song reaches the sky,
Female: As you set the stage, and I pour out my melody,
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Even the waterfall that touches the sky
Never fails to arrive at your home.
Female: Draped in a blue silk saree,
You carry the gentle grace of rocking a lullaby to the rhythm.
No one has ever measured your depth,
And the search to understand you will never end.
Female: No matter how much time goes by,
The sight of your flowing waters will never run dry.
Declaring how generous your golden lap is,
Female: A wondrous, celebrated sight has arrived today!
Both: You are the one who gives us water and gives us life!
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Without water, there is no life,
And no prosperity for the world to praise.
Male: Without a river, there is no town,
Without water, there is no me, and there is no us.
I listened closely when you called, O Mother,
The sacred sound of Om is your tune, and it never rests.
Male: I have looked at your sacred life, O Mother,
Your flowing existence never fades or declines.
There are no barriers and no obstacles anywhere,
Male: If your dancing waves ever stop, nothing will remain.
Both: What other foundation do we have? It is only you, our water!
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Male: Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
As flower-like waves clap to the beat,
Male: And our song reaches up to the sky,
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Giving away millions of pearls generously each day,
You are our very life, O Mother!
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poetic song 'Thai Mozhi' celebrates nature, water, and motherly grace as the source of all life. Using metaphors of pearls, waterfalls, blue silk sarees, and endless ocean waves, the lyrics revere the life-giving essence of water as an divine mother figure. The song emphasizes that without rivers and water, human settlements, culture, and existence itself would cease to exist. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the song uses rich classical Tamil imagery to connect the rhythmic flow of water to musical ragas and cultural heritage. It pays tribute to the immortal, unyielding force of nature that sustains all living beings unconditionally.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvam (Metaphor)

“Kodi muththukkalai naalum vaari alli tharum”

Comparing water droplets or ocean spray to millions of pearls ('Kodi muththukkalai') bestowed generously by the mother.

Thodai / Monnai (Alliteration)

“Aarillaiyael oor illaiyae / Neer illai naan illai naam illaiyae”

Matching initial sounds across adjacent lines, such as 'Neer' and 'Neer' or 'Aarillaiyael' and 'Neer illai'.

Personification

“Neela pattu selai kondu”

Attributes human traits to nature, portraying nature/water as a mother dressed in a blue silk saree ('Neela pattu selai').

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Neer illaiyae vaazhvillaiyae / Paarengum per solla seer illaiyae”

End-rhyming scheme utilizing identical suffixes such as 'illaiyae' across multiple lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thai Mozhi' (1992) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Vaali masterfully weaves double-layered imagery throughout the soundtrack, celebrating both mother nature/water resources and the mother tongue (Tamil), comparing their life-sustaining qualities to maternal love.

Keep listening

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