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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Konjum Malar Manjam

From Janani · 1985

Lyricist
Nethaji
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Janani1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Konjam malar manjam adhilA small flower bed, and upon it,
Thanjam iru nenjamTwo hearts find refuge.
Ingu vaaraiyoo nee en uyiraeWill you come here, O my life?
Male
Thangam unadhu angamYour body is pure gold,
Adhil engum isai pongumMusic overflows everywhere within it.
Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeWill you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Male
Konjam malar manjam adhilA small flower bed, and upon it,
Thanjam iru nenjamTwo hearts find refuge.
Ingu vaaraiyoo nee en uyiraeWill you come here, O my life?
Male
Thangam unadhu angamYour body is pure gold,
Adhil engum isai pongumMusic overflows everywhere within it.
Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeWill you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Male
Pon maeni nadhaswaramA golden body like a Nadhaswaram,
Adhil uruvaagum ezhuswaramFrom which the seven musical notes originate.
Female
Naan aada endhan manisadhangai aadumWhen I dance, my anklet bells dance too.
Male :Nee oru devadhai nattiya thaaragaiMale: You are an angel, a star of dance.
Female :Noolaaga endhan idai melindhu pogumFemale: My waist thins down like a thread.
Male :Idai enna iraivana ulladha illaiyaaMale: Is your waist like God? Existing or non-existing?
Vaan oorum vannam mani pura un dhegamYour body is like a gemstone dove with colors floating from the sky.
Female :Aadidum paadidum aananandham thedidumFemale: Dancing and singing, seeking pure bliss.
Male :Naal thorum en mel malar siragai modhumMale: Every day, flower-like wings brush against me.
Thazhuvidum nazhuvidum adhu tharum pudhusugamEmbracing and slipping away, it bestows a fresh delight.
Female
Vaan nilavoli paravidumThe sky's moonlight spreads,
Paal mazhai adhil pozhindhidumA rain of milk pours within it.
Male :Paar inimaigal thulir vidumMale: Worldly sweetnesses begin to sprout,
Vaai ilamaigal paranthidumYouthful desires fly across.
Female
Naan paarthu paai podavaShall I look and lay out the bed mat?
Male :Andha naal thedi naan vaadavaaMale: Should I pine away searching for that day?
Female
Pongum pudhu inbamA new joy overflows,
Ini engum aarambhamNow a beginning everywhere.
Ingu vaaraaiyoo nee en uyiraeWill you come here, O my life?
Female
Engum malar pongumFlowers bloom everywhere,
Magarandham thaen sindhumPollen spills sweetness like honey.
Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeWill you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Female
Nadhiyaaga naan aadinenI flowed like a river,
Thaagam thaniyaamal naan vaadinen…I withered away without my thirst being quenched...
Male
Aaa…..aaa…..Aaa.....aaa.....
Male
Theeyaaga udal kodhipelundhu mogumThe body boils like fire in rising passion.
Female :Naan unai thazhuvidum naal varai poruthiduFemale: Wait until the day I embrace you.
Male :Poraadum ilam udal irandum koodumMale: Two struggling young bodies will unite.
Female :Vervaiyin porvaiyil velvigal pugunthidumFemale: Sacred rituals will begin under the blanket of sweat.
Male
Paal aruviyil kulithidaTo bathe in the waterfall of milk,
Naan dhinam unai azhaithidaI call upon you every single day.
Female :Nee thanimaiyil anaithidaFemale: As you embrace me in solitude,
Naan oru ganam silirthidaI shiver with thrill for a moment.
Male
Thaen oottru neerattudhuA spring of honey bathes us,
Female :Nammai poongaattru thaalattudhuFemale: The gentle breeze lulls us to sleep.
Male
Konjam malar manjam adhilA small flower bed, and upon it,
Thanjam iru nenjamTwo hearts find refuge.
Ingu vaaraiyoo nee en uyiraeWill you come here, O my life?
Female
Thangam unadhu angamYour body is pure gold,
Adhil engum isai pongumMusic overflows everywhere within it.
Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeWill you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Male
Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeWill you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Both :Adhai thaaraiyoo naan inburavaeBoth: Will you grant it so that I may rejoice?
Konjam malar manjam adhilA small flower bed, and upon it,
Thanjam iru nenjamTwo hearts find refuge.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sensual duet from the film 'Janani' (1985) captures a romantic conversation between two lovers anticipating intimate togetherness. Set against a lush, poetic backdrop of flower beds, moonlight, and divine music, the lovers describe their passion for each other using vivid metaphors of gold, dance, rivers, and gentle breezes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mondhai / Emona (Second-letter Rhyming)

Konjam malar manjam adhil / Thanjam iru nenjam

In lines 1 and 2 ('Konjam' / 'Thanjam'), the second letter 'nja' rhymes, creating a traditional Tamil lyrical cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pon maeni nadhaswaram

Comparing the female protagonist's body to a musical instrument ('Nadhaswaram') and a gem-like dove ('mani pura').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Idai enna iraivana ulladha illaiyaa

Comparing the extreme slimness of the waist to God (a classic Tamil literary motif: questioning if it even exists).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by veteran maestro M. S. Vishwanathan, 'Janani' features classic 1980s romantic orchestrations with SPB and Vani Jayaram providing intricate vocal nuances.

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