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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalaiyitta Mangai

From Ratha Kanneer · 1954

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
T. V. Rathinam
Music director
C. S. Jayaraman
Movie name
Ratha Kanneer
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
6 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maalaiyitta mangai yaaro
Enna pero
Antha maaniniyaal entha ooro
Ungal manam naadiya sugamae tharum
Madhi meviya vanitha mani
Maamatha vel thendral thaero
Thiruvaai malarnthae aruleero…
Mugilu kinaiyumendra
Kuzhalai thzhuvi nindra
Muga vatta madhu chanthira pimbamo
Pirai nigar nettri
Aval kndam sangamo
Pargal mullaiyo idaiyillaiyo
Malar kollaiyo valar selviyo
Thudai maraththuvajan koyil kambamo
Thangal sagapaththini udalanth thangamo
Kendai meenum maanum kandu naanum suzhal
Vandu nerum vizhi valliyaa
Karkandu thaen maruvum solliyaa
Tamizh sinthu paadi mani thandaiyaadu patham
Kondu aadugindra melliyaa
Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa
Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Antha kaamanin silai
Bhoomiyin pechai kaarigaiyaazh
Urumaari vanthaalo
Kaavin malarkodiyo
Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo
Kaavin malarkodiyo
Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo
Ungal kadhali
Enthanin maathiriyandro
Thaamaro kallo sallaapa saamarasa
Komala penno
Karpanaiyin seero
Kattazhagi yaaro
Karpanaiyin seero
Kattazhagi yaaro
Arputhamae gunavathiyo
Avalum umakku thagunthavalo
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Who is the woman you wed?
What is her name?
Which town does that deer-eyed beauty come from?
Bringing every joy your heart ever sought,
a jewel of a woman shining with wisdom and grace,
is she the gentle southern breeze of the God of Love?
Won't you open your lips and tell me?
Rivaling the dark rainclouds,
draping softly around her hair,
is her round face like the glowing moon?
With a forehead curved like the crescent moon,
is her neck as smooth as a conch shell?
Are her teeth like jasmine buds? Is her waist too slender to see?
Is she a garden of flowers or a blossoming beauty?
Are her thighs like the temple pillars of the God of Love?
Is the body of your wife made of pure gold?
Making darting fish and deer feel shy,
is she a slender beauty with eyes like swirling bees?
Does she speak words sweet as sugar candy and honey?
Singing Tamil melodies with jingling anklets on her feet,
is she a soft and graceful dancer?
Please tell me, so my heart may rejoice!
Please tell me, so my heart may rejoice!
Is she the art of an epic poem?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Is she the art of an epic poem?
Is she the art of an epic poem?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Has a statue of the God of Love
heard of the charms of this earth
and transformed into a living woman?
Is she a flowering vine from the grove?
How educated and learned is she?
Is she a flowering vine from the grove?
How educated and learned is she?
Is your beloved
someone just like me?
Is she soft as a lotus or hard as stone? Playful and sweet-tempered,
is she a tender woman?
Is she the wonder of pure imagination?
Who is that gorgeous beauty?
Is she the wonder of pure imagination?
Who is that gorgeous beauty?
A marvelous woman of good character,
is she truly a worthy match for you?
Is she the art of an epic poem?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Is she the art of an epic poem?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a classical inquiry filled with poetic metaphors praising a woman's beauty, intellect, and grace. The speaker playfully inquires about the identity, hometown, appearance, and character of the listener's lover or bride, comparing her physical features to classical literary metaphors such as crescent moons, conchs, jasmine buds, and gold.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upama (Simile / Metaphor)

Muga vatta madhu chanthira pimbamo

Comparing the woman's face to the moon ('madhu chanthira pimbamo') and forehead to a crescent ('Pirai nigar nettri').

Anaphora / Repetition

Kaaviya kalaiyo

Refrain repetition of 'Kaaviya kalaiyo / Sirpa oviya silaiyo' emphasizing her artistic perfection.

Emona / Rhyme (Monorhyme and Alliteration)

Kaavin malarkodiyo

Extensive use of Tamil 'Edhugai' and 'Mona' sound plays (e.g., 'Kaavin malarkodiyo / Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo').

Did you know?

Trivia

Ratha Kanneer (1954) is a iconic Tamil cult classic film starring M. R. Radha. The film's soundtrack was composed by C. S. Jayaraman with lyrics penned by the famous rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi.

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