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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koodaiyile Karuvaadu

From Oru Thalai Ragam · 1980

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Oru Thalai Ragam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Koodaiyila karuvaadu koondhalilae pookkaaduDried fish in the basket, a forest of flowers in her hair
Koodaiyila karuvaadu koondhalilae pookkaaduDried fish in the basket, a forest of flowers in her hair
Ennaadi poruththam aayaaWhat kind of match is this, grandma?
Em poruththam idhai polaIs our match just like this?
Thaalamillaa pinpaattu aahaaA background song without rhythm, aha
Thaalamillaa pinpaattu thattu ketta enkooththuA rhythm-less background song, my ruined dance drama
Male
Ennuyir rosa engadi poraeMy life's rose, where are you going?
Mamanai kandu vaaduthu inguSeeing her maternal uncle, she wilts here
Ammaalae hae nammaalaeOh mother, hey she is our girl
Chorus
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Male
Alli vattam pulli vattam naanrinja nilaa vattamLily circle, dotted circle, the round moon circle I know
Paakkurathu paavamillae pudippathu sulamillaeLooking at her is no sin, but catching her is not easy
Puththi ketta vithiyaalae aahaaOh, due to foolish fate, aha
Puththi ketta vithiyaalae ponavathaan emmayiluDue to foolish fate, my peacock has walked away
Male
Ennuyir rosa engadi poraeMy life's rose, where are you going?
Mamanai kandu vaaduthu inguSeeing her maternal uncle, she wilts here
Ammaalae hae nammaalaeOh mother, hey she is our girl
Chorus
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Male
Aayiraththil neeyae onnuYou are one in a thousand
Naanarinja nalla ponnuA good girl that I have known
Aayiraththil neeyae onnuYou are one in a thousand
Naanarinja nalla ponnuA good girl that I have known
Maayooraththu kaalai onnuA bull from Mayiladuthurai
Paaduthadi mayangi onnuSings in a swoon for you
Odaathadi kaveri aahaaDo not run away, Kaveri, aha
Odaathadi kaveri ummanasil yaarodiDo not run away, Kaveri, who is in your heart?
Male
Ennuyir rosa engadi poraeMy life's rose, where are you going?
Mamanai kandu vaaduthu inguSeeing her maternal uncle, she wilts here
Ammaalae hae nammaalaeOh mother, hey she is our girl
Chorus
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Pozhuthoda kozhi koovura velaiAt the hour when the rooster crows at dawn
Rasaththi rasan vaaraandi munnaeMy queen, your king is coming before you
Male
Ennuyir rosa engadi poraeMy life's rose, where are you going?
Mamanai kandu vaaduthu inguSeeing her maternal uncle, she wilts here
Ammaalae hae nammaalaeOh mother, hey she is our girl
Ammaalae hae nammaalaeOh mother, hey she is our girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the playfully unrequited and rustic love of a young man calling out to his beloved using raw folk imagery and colloquialisms. He compares their mismatch to dry fish alongside fragrant hair flowers, capturing the comical contrast and agony of unfulfilled romance. He praises her beauty as rare as a full moon and calls himself a swooning bull of Mayiladuthurai, pleading with her not to run away like the Kaveri river and asking who occupies her heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Koodaiyila karuvaadu koondhalilae pookkaadu

Compares her hair adorned with abundant flowers to a dense forest of flowers ('koondhalilae pookkaadu').

Ethukai (Second letter rhyming)

Koodaiyila karuvaadu koondhalilae pookkaadu

The second letters of 'Koodaiyila' and 'Koondhalilae' share the 'da/dha' harmony typical of Tamil folk poetry.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Alli vattam pulli vattam naanrinja nilaa vattam

Rhythmic repetition of '-vattam' across phrases creates a catchy internal and line-end cadence.

Cultural Imagery

Maayooraththu kaalai onnu

Uses rural elements like morning roosters, Mayiladuthurai bulls, and the Kaveri river to ground the romance in local Tamil heritage.

Did you know?

Trivia

Oru Thalai Ragam (1980) was a pathbreaking cult classic written, composed, and directed by T. Rajendar. This particular track stands out for its high-energy folk orchestration and raw colloquial lyrics sung brilliantly by Malaysia Vasudevan.

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