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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kunguma Nadhiyil Moozhgi

From Sankari · 1984

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Sankari1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kunguma nadhiyil moozhgi ezhunthaEmerged after bathing in a river of vermilion,
Kovai niraththu pon meniA golden body with the reddish tone of a kovai fruit.
Kunguma nadhiyil moozhgi ezhunthaEmerged after bathing in a river of vermilion,
Kovai niraththu pon meniA golden body with the reddish tone of a kovai fruit.
Sangamamaagum mangaiyarkellaamFor all women who enter into sacred union,
Thaththuvam koorum vingganiShe is the wise scientist explaining divine philosophy.
Female
Kongai mugaththil amirtha ganeshanUpon her breast lies nectar-like Ganesha,
Konjidum kadhal magaraniThe loving queen who fondles with affection.
Sengathir kaattum vanna mugaththilIn her colorful face glowing like the red sun,
Chiththira sakthi abhiramiShe is Abhirami, the artistic divine power.
Female
Kunguma nadhiyil moozhgi ezhunthaEmerged after bathing in a river of vermilion,
Kovai niraththu pon meniA golden body with the reddish tone of a kovai fruit.
Female
Thamizhai eduththu kavithai thoduththuTaking the Tamil language and weaving verses of poetry,
Thalaiyadiyaaga panthaadiPlaying skillfully like bouncing a ball,
Amutha mazhaiththaen vattar koduththaarShe bestowed a bowl full of nectarine rain-honey,
Avalathu peril anthaadhiAn Anthadhi poem composed in her divine name.
Female
Kumutha mugaththu komalavalliKomalavalli with a lotus-like radiant face,
Kurunagai sinthum maharaniThe queen who scatters a gentle, sweet smile.
Mamathai aruththu manathinai kaakkumSevering the ego and guarding the devotee's mind,
Manthira sakthi abhirami manthira sakthi abhiramiShe is Abhirami, the magical power of sacred chants; she is the magical power of sacred chants.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a sublime devotional and poetic tribute celebrating the divine beauty and supreme grace of Goddess Abhirami (and symbolically praising the ideal womanhood). The lyrics describe her glowing complexion, comparing her golden skin to a body washed in a vermilion river and tinted like the ripe kovai fruit. She represents both philosophical wisdom and motherly affection, embodying artistic energy and divine protection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thamizhai eduththu kavithai thoduththu / Thalaiyadiyaaga panthaadi

Matching first letters in words within the same line, such as 'Kunguma' and 'Kovai', or 'Thamizhai' and 'Thalaiyadiyaaga'.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kumutha mugaththu komalavalli / Kurunagai sinthum maharani

Repetition of the second consonant across consecutive lines, such as the 'm' sound in 'Kumutha', 'Kurunagai', and 'Mamathai'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kunguma nadhiyil moozhgi ezhuntha

Describing the red hues metaphorically as a 'Kunguma nadhi' (river of vermilion) and sweet blessings as 'Amutha mazhaiththaen' (nectar rain honey).

Upamai (Simile / Imagery)

Kovai niraththu pon meni

Comparing her radiant reddish complexion to the 'Kovai' fruit and her face to a blooming lotus ('Kumutha mugaththu').

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Aalangudi Somu invokes the classic Tamil literary genre 'Anthadhi' in line 16, referencing Abhirami Pattar's famous 18th-century Tamil devotional work 'Abhirami Anthadhi'. The song beautifully merges classical Tamil poetic traditions with film music under V. Kumar's composition.

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