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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Konjam Nilavu

From Thiruda Thiruda · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Anupama, Suresh Peters
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thiruda Thiruda1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Konjam nilavuA little moon,
Konjam neruppuA little fire,
Ondraai sernthaal enthan dhegamPut together, make my body.
Konjam nanjuA little poison,
Konjam amuthamA little nectar,
Ondraaga serthaal enthan kangalPut together, make my eyes.
Konjam mirugamA little beast,
Konjam kadavulA little god,
Ondraai serthaal enthan nenjamPut together, make my heart.
Female
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Female
Konjam nilavuA little moon,
Konjam neruppuA little fire,
Ondraaga sernthaal enthan dhegamPut together, make my body.
Female
En kanavil evano oruvanSomeone in my dream,
En iravil oliyaai therivaanAppears as a light in my night.
Vaan mazhai polLike rain from the sky,
Uyiril uyiril vizhuvaanHe falls into my very soul.
Dhinam naan virumpumIn ways I desire every day,
Vagaiyil vandhu pozhivaanHe comes and pours down.
Thaen idhazhai ivalIf she gives her honeyed lips,
Thanthu maayaathuIt will never perish.
Ini paarkadalilFrom now on, in the ocean of milk,
Alai endrum oyaathuWaves will never cease.
Female
Vanthu naan mannilaeWhy was I born
Yen piranthenUpon this earth?
Endra kelvi vaaraathuSuch a question will never arise.
Ingu nee irunthaalIf you are here,
Oru tholvi neraathuDefeat will never occur.
Chorus
Mangai un kaal pattaalYoung woman, if your feet touch it,
Mannum oru mannallaEven the dirt is no ordinary dirt.
Vellai pon dhegathilOn a body of white gold,
Vervaithuli uppallaA drop of sweat is not salty.
Senthaazham poovukkuFor the red screw-pine flower,
Mullondrum kuraiyallaA thorn is not a drawback.
Female :Aaaa….aaa….aaa……Female: Aaaa…aaa…aaa……
Chorus :Ullondru vaiththaalumChorus: Even if you hide something in your mind,
Unmeethu pizhaiyallaIt is not a fault in you.
Female
Konjam nilavuA little moon,
Konjam neruppuA little fire,
Ondraai sernthaal enthan dhegamPut together, make my body.
Konjam nanjuA little poison,
Konjam amuthamA little nectar,
Ondraaga serthaal enthan kangalPut together, make my eyes.
Female
Konjam mirugamA little beast,
Chorus :Konjam mirugamChorus: A little beast,
Female :Konjam kadavulFemale: A little god,
Chorus :Konjam kadavulChorus: A little god,
Female :Ondraai serthaal enthan nenjamFemale: Put together, make my heart.
Female
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Female
Ahaaa…aaa….aaa…aa…(4)Ahaaa…aaa….aaa…aa…(4)
Chorus
Pennae un kannaalanYoung lady, your lover
Piraiyeri varuvaanaeWill come riding upon the crescent moon.
Vinkonda meenellaamAll the stars in the sky,
Vilaiyaada tharuvaanaeHe will give you to play with.
Female :Oah…aaaaa….aa….aa…Female: Oah…aaaaa….aa….aa…
Female
Konjam nilavuA little moon,
Konjam neruppuA little fire,
Ondraai sernthaal enthan dhegamPut together, make my body.
Konjam nanjuA little poison,
Konjam amuthamA little nectar,
Ondraaga serthaal enthan kangalPut together, make my eyes.
Female
Konjam mirugamA little beast,
Chorus :Konjam mirugamChorus: A little beast,
Female :Konjam kadavulFemale: A little god,
Chorus :Konjam kadavulChorus: A little god,
Female :Ondraai serthaal enthan nenjamFemale: Put together, make my heart.
Female
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Chandralekha… aaaa…Chandralekha… aaaa…
Chandralekha…Chandralekha…
Female
Aaaa…..aaa….aa….aaa..ahhAaaa…..aaa….aa….aaa..ahh

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chandralekha is a pioneering techno-pop dance track from Mani Ratnam's 1993 caper-film Thiruda Thiruda. The lyrics present a vivid exploration of romantic passion and dualities within human nature, specifically depicting a woman whose beauty and essence are constructed from contrasting elements—soft moon light and burning fire, lethal poison and divine nectar, animalistic desire and divine purity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Paradox (Muran)

Konjam nanju / Konjam amutham

Contrasting paired opposites (Moon/Fire, Poison/Nectar, Beast/God) are juxtaposed to express the complexity of human beauty and emotions.

Simile (Upamai)

Vaan mazhai pol / Uyiril uyiril vizhuvaan

Compares the beloved entering the soul to rain falling continuously from the heavens.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Piraiyeri varuvaanae / Vinkonda meenellaam vilaiyaada tharuvaanae

Exaggerates romantic imagery, describing the lover riding the crescent moon and gifting stars to play with.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman, 'Chandralekha' was a landmark track in Indian cinema for its blend of Western house/techno beats with Tamil lyrics. Singer Anupama made her iconic playback singing debut with this song, known for her powerful vocal range, alongside Suresh Peters.

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