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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kungumam Kalainthathe

From Kedi · 2006

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Unnikrishnan
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Kedi2006

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
…………………………….....
Male
Vithiyoru kaiyilFate on one hand
Sathiyoru kayilTreachery on the other hand
IdaiyilaeIn the middle
Annan nenjam thaanThe elder brother's heart
Ingu saaigirathaeIs swaying and falling here
Male
Kanavoru kannilA dream in one eye
Vali oru kannilPain in the other eye
Naduvil thangai ullathilIn between, in the younger sister's heart
Uyir pogirathaeLife itself is departing
Male
Kungumam kalainthuVermilion smudged away
Manjalum sithainthuTurmeric ruined as well
Kaathalum udainthuLove shattered completely
Thirumanam azhinthuMarriage destroyed
Male
Indha jenma aasaigalAll the desires of this birth
Kalainjaachi athanaiyumEvery single one of them has faded away

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant passage depicts a devastating emotional crisis involving a brother and a sister caught between fate and malicious plots. The brother's heart leans in distress under the weight of destiny and betrayal, while the sister suffers a agonizing turmoil with hopeful dreams in one eye and unbearable grief in the other. Sacred symbols of marriage and love—the vermilion, turmeric, and marital bond—are completely destroyed, symbolizing the total collapse of all her lifetime hopes and aspirations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parallelism / Rhyme (Ethirai)

Vithiyoru kaiyil / Sathiyoru kayil

Lines 'Vithiyoru kaiyil' and 'Sathiyoru kayil' feature matching rhyme and structure to contrast fate with treachery.

Imagery and Contrast

Kanavoru kannil / Vali oru kannil

Juxtaposing dreams in one eye with pain in the other vividly highlights the inner turmoil of the character.

End Rhyme / Assonance

Kungumam kalainthu / Manjalum sithainthu / Kaathalum udainthu / Thirumanam azhinthu

Sequential lines ending with the '-thu' sound ('kalainthu', 'sithainthu', 'udainthu', 'azhinthu') create a rhythmic, solemn cadence reinforcing destruction.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kedi' (2006) featured music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and marked the Tamil debut of prominent actresses Ileana D'Cruz and Tamannaah Bhatia.

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