- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Taj Mahal
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Aug 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the film Taj Mahal (1999) portrays a deep, intense moment of sensory intimacy between lovers set against a metaphorical and literal backdrop of surrounding chaos and fire. The lyrics illustrate how romantic passion transcends external disasters—suggesting that just as a fire in the ocean cannot disturb a fish's dreams, real love remains unaffected by external devastation. Through vivid thermal metaphors of heat, cold, fire, and water, the track explores how physical togetherness and romantic union offer warmth, healing, and ultimate salvation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Kuliruthu kuliruthu / Nagaruthu nagaruthu / Mazhai thuli mazhai thuli Thirumbathey thuyaraikku thodarpugal illaiyeayyy (Implicit rhythm repeating words for emphasis). e.g., 'Kuliruthu kuliruthu', 'Nagaruthu nagaruthu'. Iruuyir kuliruthu... Motcha vazhi thedi... Mazhai thuli mazhai thuli Thollaiyaa... Adai mazhai thaanga Ennam illaiya... Kuliruthu Kuliruthu Nagardhu Nagardhu... Un imaigalin mudi kondu Thadavu... Idhu thanneer ootriyaa Theerum... Naan panneer ootrinaal maarum... Perinba poojaigalae Un penmaikku parigaaram... Latcham poo malarum... Sutri ellaam erigira pothu Naam inbam kolvathu yedhu... Poogamba velaiyilum Iru vaankozhi kalavi kollum... Sutri nindraadum theevannam Anaivadhu thinnam... Nagaruthu nagaruthu Oruviral nagaruthu Motcha vazhi thedi... Kadalilae Thee pidithaal Meengalin kanavugal Kalaivathillai... Oorgalil thee pidithaal Kadhalil uravugal Yerivathillai... Kuliruthu kuliruthu Iruuyir kuliruthu Kaadhal uravaadi Nagaruthu nagaruthu Oruviral nagaruthu Motcha vazhi thedi... Idhayathil vali ondru Varudhu Un imaigalin mudi kondu Thadavu... Nenjikullae yeriyuthu Neruppu Idha neer kondu anaippathu Un poruppu... Idhu thanneer ootriyaa Theerum Naan panneer ootrinaal maarum... Dhegangal parimaara Nam ullangal idam maarum... Male : Perinba poojaigalae Un penmaikku parigaaram... Female : Mazhai illaamaalum Thendral sollaamaalum... Male & Female : Nam nenjikul ippodhu Latcham poo malarum... Kuliruthu kuliruthu Iruuyir kuliruthu Kaadhal uravaadi Nagaruthu nagaruthu Oruviral nagaruthu Motcha vazhi thedi... Nenjukuzhi vittu vittu Thudikum Adi neruppukul yen indha Nadukkam... Mugathukkum mugathukkum Sandaiyaa Ada muthamida veru idam Illaiya... Mazhai thuli mazhai thuli Thollaiyaa Ada adai mazhai thaanga Ennam illaiya... Sutri ellaam erigira pothu Naam inbam kolvathu yedhu... Male : Adi poogamba velaiyilum Iru vaankozhi kalavi kollum... Female : Dhegathai anaithu vidu Sudum thee kooda anainthuvidum Ada un pechilum vidum un moochilum... Male : Sutri nindraadum theevannam Anaivadhu thinnam...”
Rhyme (Ethukai / Monaai)
“Idhu thanneer ootriyaa / Naan panneer ootrinaal maarum”
Tamil poetic rhyming structures where second letters match (Ethukai, e.g., 'Thanneer' / 'Panneer') or first letters match (Monaai, e.g., 'Kadalilae' / 'Kalaivathillai').
Hyperbole (Uruvagamm / Adukku)
“Nam nenjikul ippodhu / Latcham poo malarum”
Exaggeration used for romantic impact, such as a hundred thousand flowers blooming in the heart simultaneously.
Metaphor
“Kadalilae thee pidithaal meengalin kanavugal kalaivathillai”
Comparing the survival of love during tragic moments to fish dreaming unaffected even if an ocean catches fire.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features music by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu from Bharathiraja's 1999 romantic drama 'Taj Mahal', starring Manoj Bharathiraja and Riya Sen. Sung by G. V. Prakash Kumar (as a child artist) along with Palakkad Sreeram and Febi Mani, the song is celebrated for its lush orchestration and poetic imagery blending environmental metaphors with deep romance.
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