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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kurunthogai

From Idam Porul Yaeval · 2014

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
V. V. Prasanna, Sonia
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Idam Porul Yaeval2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kurundhogai kondaadumO loving prince celebrated by Kuruntokai literature,
Kaadhal maindhaMy romantic prince,
Perundhogai eppodhu eettuvaaiWhen will you earn a large sum of money?
Inbaththpaal sollum ilaya vendhaeO young king who speaks of Thirukkural's Book of Love,
Porutppaalai eppodhu kaattuvaaiWhen will you show me the Book of Wealth?
Female
Eesan ezhudhiya olaigalilIn palm leaf manuscripts written by the Lord,
Akkaala kaadhal uruvaagumAncient love was born.
Ration ezhudhiya attaigalilIn ration cards issued today,
Tharkkaala kaadhal uruvaagumModern love is born.
Nalla veli seidha pinnaeAfter securing a good fence/livelihood,
Siru thaali seidhu kondu vaaForge a small mangalsutra and bring it.
Male
Kurundhogai konaadumThe lover prince celebrated by Kuruntokai,
Kaadhal maindhanThe prince of love,
Perundhogai pinnaalil vaasippaanWill read large sums/literary works later.
Inbaththu paal konjam paditha pinnaeAfter reading a bit of the Book of Love,
Porutppaalai unnodu yosippaanHe will deliberate on the Book of Wealth with you.
Female
Aaa…aa….aa….Aaa... aa.... aa....
Sadhi mogam ennum megamThe cloud called lust and passion
Iru kannai moodumaeWill blind both eyes.
Pasi dhaagam vandhu kaadhaiWhen hunger and thirst close your ears,
Mooda unmai thonumaeThe truth will dawn upon you.
Male
Idhu avvaiyaarin kelviThis is Avvaiyar's question,
Yen adhaiyae solgiraaiWhy do you keep repeating the same thing?
Naan aasai ambu veesumbodhuWhen I shoot arrows of desire,
Azhagaai vaigiraaiYou scold me so beautifully.
Female
Illaram kolla vinaithogaiyumTo lead a family life, learn to handle practical grammar like Vinaithogai
Alapedaiyum modha kathuAnd literary devices like Alapadai when they clash.
Male :Sathiyamadi thamizh namakkuMale: I swear on Tamil, my dear,
Unavalikkum thadai yethuHow can Tamil fail to feed us?
Female :Ae poiya solvathu meiyaaFemale: Oh, are you telling lies as truth?
Nanba vaa.. vaa..aaaFriend, come... come... aaa...
Male
Kurundhogai konaadumThe lover prince celebrated by Kuruntokai,
Kaadhal maindhanThe prince of love,
Perundhogai pinnaalil vaasippaanWill read large sums later.
Inbaththu paal konjam paditha pinnaeAfter reading a bit of the Book of Love,
Porutppaalai unnodu yosippaanHe will deliberate on the Book of Wealth with you.
Male
Hae..hae..un moolaiHey.. hey.. if you look at it using your brain,
Kondu parthaalWith your mind,
Adhu kanidham aagumaeIt becomes mere mathematics.
Nee nenju kondu kaanumbodhuWhen you view it with your heart,
Nesam thondrumaeAffection will bloom.
Female
Vizhi moodi kondu kaanaTo close my eyes and experience it,
En nenjae podhumaeMy heart alone is enough.
Nee moodi vaitha unmai kaanaTo see the truth you have concealed,
Moolai venumaeA brain is needed.
Male
Kanidha medhai ramanujamAre you the daughter born to math genius Ramanujan?
Peththa ponnu needhaanaIs that who you are?
Female :Karpanai pannum mahaakaviFemale: Are you the son born to the imaginative great poet,
Kamban magan needhaanaKamban himself?
Male
Ammae tamizhil m.a.Oh my, holding an M.A. in Tamil,
Nambi vaa..vaa..aaaTrust me and come... come... aaa...
Female
Kurundhogai kondaadumO loving prince celebrated by Kuruntokai literature,
Kaadhal maindhaMy romantic prince,
Perundhogai eppodhu eettuvaaiWhen will you earn a large sum of money?
Inbaththpaal sollum ilaya vendhaeO young king who speaks of Thirukkural's Book of Love,
Porutppaalai eppodhu kaattuvaaiWhen will you show me the Book of Wealth?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Idam Porul Yaeval' features a witty, literary dialogue between two lovers who are Tamil scholars. The heroine playfully grounds her lover in reality, pointing out that while romantic poetry (Kuruntokai) and Thirukkural's book of love (Inbathuppaal) are fine, practical life requires wealth (Porutpaal) and financial stability. She contrasts classical romance written on palm leaves with modern marriage realities bound to ration cards. The hero counters with romantic idealism, asserting that love viewed purely through intellect turns into cold mathematics, whereas love viewed through the heart nurtures true affection. Blending classical Sangam literary motifs, Tamil grammatical terms (Vinaithogai, Alapadai), and references to historical figures like Avvaiyar, Kamban, and Ramanujan, the lyrics brilliantly contrast poetic romance with economic pragmatism.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)

Perundhogai eppodhu eettuvaai

'Perundhogai' refers both to a major classical literary anthology and a large sum of money. Similarly, 'Porutpaal' refers to Thirukkural's division on wealth as well as actual material assets.

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

Ration ezhudhiya attaigalil / Tharkkaala kaadhal uruvaagum

Contrasts ancient palm-leaf literature ('Eesan ezhudhiya olaigalil') with modern administrative documents ('Ration ezhudhiya attaigalil') to show the evolution of love and material survival.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Sadhi mogam ennum megam / Iru kannai moodumae

Compares lust and attachment to a cloud ('megam') that obscures vision.

Emoni and Edhugai (Tamil Rhyme Schemes)

Inbaththpaal sollum ilaya vendhae / Porutppaalai eppodhu kaattuvaai

Uses matching second letters (Edhugai) across consecutive lines such as Kurundhogai / Perundhogai and Inbaththpaal / Porutppaalai.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with lyrics by Vairamuthu for the film 'Idam Porul Yaeval' (directed by Seenu Ramasamy), the song stands out for using complex Tamil literary and grammatical concepts (such as Kuruntokai, Inbathuppaal, Porutpaal, Vinaithogai, and Alapadai) inside a mainstream film duet.

Keep listening

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