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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kulaavum Thendral

From Kodeeswaran · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
P. Susheela, A. M. Raja
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Kodeeswaran1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kulavum thendral nilaavai pirivadhuThe caressing gentle breeze separating from the moon
Koodathendru ninaikirenShould not happen, I think
Poga koodathendru ninaikirenI think it should not depart
Male
Kalaba mayilum megathai kanduSeeing the cloud, the peacock displaying its feathers
Odadhendru ninaikirenShould not run away, I think
Ini odathendru ninaikirenI think it should no longer run away
Female
Ezhil maevum jothiyae thaaraOh radiant, beautiful star
Male :Inbavaanil ulavidum thaaraMale: Oh star roaming in the sky of bliss
Idhayavaanil ulavida vaaraaiCome to roam in the sky of my heart
Inbavaanil ulavidum thaaraOh star roaming in the sky of bliss
Idhayavaanil ulavida vaaraaiCome to roam in the sky of my heart
Female
En vaazhvilae ragasiyam ondruA secret in my life is one
Male :Illara vaazhvinil avasiyam iranduMale: In domestic life, necessary are two
Idhan yogathinaalae moondruBecause of their union, comes three
Female
Kannaalae vilaiyaadum raajaOh king playing with your eyes
Male :Nee ennaalum vaadadha rojaMale: You are an ever-unfading rose
Female :Kannaalae vilaiyaadum raajaFemale: Oh king playing with your eyes
Male :Nee ennaalum vaadadha rojaMale: You are an ever-unfading rose
Female
Inba kaaviyamaeOh epic poem of joy
Male :Idhaya oviyamaeMale: Oh portrait of the heart
Female :Inba kaaviyamaeFemale: Oh epic poem of joy
Male :Idhaya oviyamaeMale: Oh portrait of the heart
Female :Anbaaga panpaadum kaavilaeFemale: In the garden where love sings with refinement
Male :Amudha kaavilaeMale: In the garden of nectar
Female
Kulavum thendralThe caressing gentle breeze
Male :Nilaavai pirivadhuMale: Separating from the moon
Female :Koodathendru ninaikirenFemale: Should not happen, I think
Male :Poga koodathendru ninaikirenMale: I think it should not depart
Male
Kavi paadum selvizhiyaalaeOh lady with eyes that sing poetry
Kavi paadum selvizhiyaalaeOh lady with eyes that sing poetry
Kavarndhidum selvamaeOh captivating treasure
Female :Kalai veesum chandhiranalaeFemale: By the moon radiating artistic brilliance
Ho oo ooHo oo oo
Chandra…kanindhadhen ullamae..Oh Moon... my heart has ripened with sweet affection
Female :Kannaalae vilaiyaadum raajaFemale: Oh king playing with your eyes
Male :Nee ennaalum vaadadha rojaMale: You are an ever-unfading rose
Female :Kannaalae vilaiyaadum raajaFemale: Oh king playing with your eyes
Male :Nee ennaalum vaadadha rojaMale: You are an ever-unfading rose
Female
Malarin azhagaalaeBy the beauty of the flower
Male :Madhuvin suvaiyaalaeMale: By the taste of the sweet nectar
Female :Malarin azhagaalaeFemale: By the beauty of the flower
Male :Madhuvin suvaiyaalaeMale: By the taste of the sweet nectar
Male :Vandu reengaaram seiyum poongaavilaeMale: In the flower garden where bees hum pleasantly
Female :Inba kaavilaeFemale: In the garden of bliss
Female
Kulavum thendralThe caressing gentle breeze
Male :Nilaavai pirivadhuMale: Separating from the moon
Female :Koodathendru ninaikirenFemale: Should not happen, I think
Male :Poga koodathendru ninaikirenMale: I think it should not depart

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kulavum Thendral from the 1955 film Kodeeswaran is a classic romantic duet composed by S. V. Venkatraman and written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Sung gracefully by P. Susheela and A. M. Raja, the song portrays two lovers exchanging poetic declarations of love. They use nature imagery—such as the breeze lingering with the moon, peacocks welcoming clouds, and humming bees in nectar gardens—to illustrate that their union is natural and inescapable. The lyricist incorporates playful numerical wordplay (one secret, two essential components of marriage, leading to three) to symbolize the progression of love and family life. Addressing each other as unfading roses, epic poems, and portraits of the heart, the lovers celebrate their deep romantic bond in a quintessential mid-1950s musical style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamy (Metaphor)

Idhayavaanil ulavida vaaraai

Comparing the inner heart to the sky ('Idhayavaanil') and describing the lover as a living portrait ('Idhaya oviyamae').

Monai / Etukai (Alliteration and Rhyme)

Inbavaanil ulavidum thaara

The lines use matching phonetic patterns across initial sounds like 'Inbavaanil' and 'Idhayavaanil' to establish rhythmic melody.

Enn Alankaram (Numerical Wordplay)

Idhan yogathinaalae moondru

Playfully listing sequential numbers (ondru, irandu, moondru) to describe stages of life and love.

Nature Personification

Kulavum thendral nilaavai pirivadhu

Attributing human emotional bonds to nature elements like breeze, moon, peacock, and clouds.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kodeeswaran (1955) featured music by S. V. Venkatraman. This song stands out as an early classic duet showcasing the exquisite vocal chemistry between P. Susheela and A. M. Raja during the golden era of Tamil film music.

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