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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kulirudhu Kulirudhu

From Taj Mahal · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Taj Mahal1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kuliruthu kuliruthuIt is cold, it is cold
Iruuyir kuliruthuTwo souls are feeling cold
Kaadhal uravaadiEngaging in love
Nagaruthu nagaruthuMoving, moving
Oruviral nagaruthuA single finger moves
Motcha vazhi thediSearching for the path to salvation
Male
KadalilaeIn the ocean
Thee pidithaalIf a fire breaks out
Meengalin kanavugalThe dreams of the fish
KalaivathillaiDo not get shattered
Oorgalil thee pidithaalIf villages catch fire
Kadhalil uravugalThe bonds of love
YerivathillaiDo not burn away
Male
Idhayathil vali ondruA pain in the heart
VarudhuIs arising
Un imaigalin mudi konduUsing the edge of your eyelashes
ThadavuCaress it softly
Female
Nenjikullae yeriyuthuInside the chest burns
NeruppuA fire
Idha neer kondu anaippathuExtinguishing this with water
Un poruppuIs your responsibility
Male
Idhu thanneer ootriyaaWill pouring water
TheerumBe enough?
Naan panneer ootrinaal maarumIf I pour rosewater, it will change
Female
Dhegangal parimaaraAs our bodies exchange warmth
Nam ullangal idam maarumOur hearts will swap places
Male :Perinba poojaigalaeMale: Worships of supreme bliss
Un penmaikku parigaaramAre the remedy for your womanhood
Female :Mazhai illaamaalumFemale: Even without rain
Thendral sollaamaalumAnd without the breeze announcing
Male & Female :Male & Female:
Nam nenjikul ippodhuInside our hearts right now
Latcham poo malarumA hundred thousand flowers blossom
Male
Kuliruthu kuliruthuIt is cold, it is cold
Iruuyir kuliruthuTwo souls are feeling cold
Kaadhal uravaadiEngaging in love
Nagaruthu nagaruthuMoving, moving
Oruviral nagaruthuA single finger moves
Motcha vazhi thediSearching for the path to salvation
Male
Nenjukuzhi vittu vittuThe pit of the chest, repeatedly
ThudikumThrobs with anxiety
Adi neruppukul yen indhaHey, inside this fire, why is there
NadukkamA shiver?
Female
Mugathukkum mugathukkumBetween face and face
SandaiyaaIs it a fight?
Ada muthamida veru idamAh, to kiss, is there no other
IllaiyaPlace available?
Male
Mazhai thuli mazhai thuliIs a raindrop, a raindrop
ThollaiyaaA nuisance?
Ada adai mazhai thaangaAh, to withstand the heavy downpour
Ennam illaiyaIs there no desire?
Female
Sutri ellaam erigira pothuWhen everything around is burning
Naam inbam kolvathu yedhuHow can we partake in joy?
Male :Adi poogamba velaiyilumMale: Hey, even during an earthquake
Iru vaankozhi kalavi kollumA pair of turkeys will still mate
Female :Dhegathai anaithu viduFemale: Embrace my body
Sudum thee kooda anainthuvidumEven the burning fire will cool down
Ada un pechilum vidum un moochilumAh, in your speech and in your breath
Male :Sutri nindraadum theevannamMale: The surrounding flames dancing about
Anaivadhu thinnamWill surely be extinguished

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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