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Isaimozhi
Maalaiyitta Mangai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kulavum Yaazh Isaiyae

From Maalaiyitta Mangai · 1958

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. S. Rajeswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Maalaiyitta Mangai
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
19 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kulavum yaazh isaiyae
Kannan kuzhalisai aavaaiyo
Oodhum kuzhalisai polae ullam
Kollai kolvaiyoo…
Madhi kulavum
Yaazhisaiyae kannan
Kuzhalisai aavaaiyo
Oodhum kuzhalisai polae ullam
Kollai kolvaiyoo…
Kalaiyin suvaiyellam
Tharum kannan kuzhalisaiyae
Kalaiyin suvaiyellam
Tharum kannan kuzhalisaiyae
Alaiyum manadhinilae
Inba aruviyaagumae
En alaiyum manadhinilae
Inba aruviyaagumae…
Madhi kulavum
Yaazhisaiyae kannan
Kuzhalisai aavaaiyo
Oodhum kuzhalisai polae ullam
Kollai kolvaiyoo…
Kallum karaiyum kanivaana
Venu gaanamridham
Kallum karaiyum kanivaana
Venu gaanamridham
Ullam urugum
Udalum silirkkum
Thelliya vaanam tharum
Baala gopalanin venugaanamridham
Vaan ulaavum kaatrilae
Gnyaana inba ootrilae
Thaen kalandha paal udan
Thaan kalandha naadhamae
Vaan ulaavum kaatrilae
Gnyaana inba ootrilae
Thaen kalandha paal udan
Thaan kalandha naadhamae
Manogaram maevum
Sugam yaavum
Tharum maayavan
Mogana raagam kettaal
Mogam meerumae
Evarkkum mogana raagam kettaal
Mogam meerumae
Madhi kulavum
Yaazhisaiyae kannan
Kuzhalisai aavaaiyo
Oodhum kuzhalisai polae ullam
Kollai kolvaiyoo…
O sweet music of the yazh (ancient harp),
will you become Krishna's flute music?
Like the tune played on his flute,
will you steal my heart?
Bright and sweet,
O music of the yazh (ancient harp),
will you become Krishna's flute music?
Like the tune played on his flute,
will you steal my heart?
All the sweetness of art
comes from Krishna's flute music;
all the sweetness of art
comes from Krishna's flute music!
In a restless mind,
it becomes a waterfall of joy;
in my wandering mind,
it becomes a waterfall of joy!
Bright and sweet,
O music of the yazh (ancient harp),
will you become Krishna's flute music?
Like the tune played on his flute,
will you steal my heart?
Melting even stone with its sweetness,
is the nectar of his flute melody;
melting even stone with its sweetness,
is the nectar of his flute melody!
The heart melts,
the body thrills with joy,
under the clear sky, from
the nectar of young Gopala's flute!
In the breeze drifting through the sky,
in the flowing spring of bliss and wisdom,
like honey blending with milk,
is this divine sound that blends within!
In the breeze drifting through the sky,
in the flowing spring of bliss and wisdom,
like honey blending with milk,
is this divine sound that blends within!
Bringing captivating beauty,
all kinds of happiness
are given by the magical Krishna;
if you hear his Mohana raga (musical melody),
deep longing will overflow!
If anyone hears this enchanting melody,
their longing will overflow!
Bright and sweet,
O music of the yazh (ancient harp),
will you become Krishna's flute music?
Like the tune played on his flute,
will you steal my heart?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional composition written by Kannadasan expresses profound spiritual ecstasy inspired by the divine flute music of Lord Krishna (Venugaanam). The speaker compares the sweet tones of the traditional Tamil harp (yaazh) to the captivating power of Krishna's flute, wondering if stringed music can ever fully capture the soul-stirring magic of the divine wind instrument. The song highlights how Krishna's music transforms restless minds into waterfalls of bliss, melts even hard stones, bestows goosebumps of divine bliss, and blends as naturally into the air as honey mixes into sweet milk.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Thaen kalandha paal udan

Compares the sweet sound blending into the wind to honey seamlessly mixing with milk ('Thaen kalandha paal udan').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Inba aruviyaagumae

Metaphorically compares divine spiritual happiness overflowing in the mind to a cascading waterfall ('Inba aruviyaagumae').

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)

Kallum karaiyum kanivaana

Uses poetic exaggeration stating that the divine music is so tender that even unfeeling stones melt upon hearing it.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ullam urugum / Udalum silirkkum

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'U' in consecutive lines ('Ullam' and 'Udalum').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maalaiyitta Mangai' (1958) was produced by lyricist Kannadasan himself under his banner Kannadasan Films. The music was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and this song in particular highlights the classical beauty of Mohana ragam, famously rendered by actor-singer T. R. Mahalingam.

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