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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maasila Nilave

From Ambikapathy (Old) · 1957

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Banumathi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Ambikapathy (Old)1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maasilaa nilavae namOh flawless moon, our
Kaadhalai maghizhvodulove with joy
Maanilam kondaadhudhae kannaethe great earth celebrates, my beloved!
Maanilam kondaadhudhaeThe great earth celebrates.
Female
Pesavum aridhaanaIndescribable and rare,
Praemaiyin thiram kanduseeing the power of true love,
Pesavum aridhaanaIndescribable and rare,
Praemaiyin thiram kanduseeing the power of true love,
Baedhangal parandhodudhae kannaaall social differences fly away, my dear!
Baedhangal parandhodudhaeAll differences fly away.
Male
Maasilaa nilavae namOh flawless moon, our
Kaadhalai maghizhvodulove with joy
Maanilam kondaadhudhaethe great earth celebrates.
Male
Seerudan vaan meedhilWith grandeur in the sky,
Thaaraghai pala kodimillions of stars
Seerudan vaan meedhilWith grandeur in the sky,
Thaaraghai pala kodimillions of stars
Dheebamaai oli veesudhae kannaeshine brightly like lamps, my beloved!
Dheebamaai oli veesudhaeShine brightly like lamps.
Female
Maarudham thanilaadumDancing in the breeze,
Maandhalir karam neettiyoung mango leaves extend their hands,
Maarudham thanilaadumDancing in the breeze,
Maandhalir karam neettiyoung mango leaves extend their hands,
Maunamaai nammai vaattudhaesilently yearning for us,
Kannaa…aa….aa…My dear...
Maunamaai namai vaattudhaesilently yearning for us.
Male
Maasilaa nilavae namOh flawless moon, our
Kaadhalai maghizhvodulove with joy
Both :Maanilam kondaadhudhaeBoth: The great earth celebrates!
Female :Kannaa….aa….aa…Female: My dear...
Both :Maanilam kondaadhudhaeBoth: The great earth celebrates!
Male
AnbaeMy love!
Female :InbamFemale: Bliss!
Male :EngaeMale: Where?
Female :IngaeFemale: Right here!
Male :Maaraadha perinba neeraaduvomMale: Let us bathe in everlasting supreme bliss.
Female :Neerodu neer pola naam kooduvomFemale: Let us unite like water merging into water.
Female
AnbaeMy love!
Male :InbamMale: Bliss!
Female :EngaeFemale: Where?
Male :IngaeMale: Right here!
Both :Maaraadha perinba neeraaduvomBoth: Let us bathe in everlasting supreme bliss.
Male
Neendhum alaiyin meedhu nilavinUpon the swimming waves, the moon's
Thannoli vilaiyaadudhaecool light plays.
Female
Thaen thuligalai yendhum malarumThe flower holding honey drops
Thendralum uravaadudhaemingles in love with the gentle breeze.
Male
Undhan meen vizhighalaiLooking at your fish-like eyes,
Kaanum nadhiyinthe river's own
Meengalum thulli aadudhaefish leap and dance in joy.
Undhan meen vizhighalaiLooking at your fish-like eyes,
Kaanum nadhiyinthe river's own
Meengalum thulli aadudhaefish leap and dance in joy.
Female
Aan ezhil mughamYour handsome masculine face,
Vaan madhiyenabeing like the full moon,
Alliyum umai naadudhaeeven the night lily seeks you.
Aan ezhil mughamYour handsome masculine face,
Vaan madhiyenabeing like the full moon,
Alliyum umai naadudhaeeven the night lily seeks you.
Female
AnbaeMy love!
Male :InbamMale: Bliss!
Female :EngaeFemale: Where?
Male :IngaeMale: Right here!
Both :Maaraadha perinba neeraaduvomBoth: Let us bathe in everlasting supreme bliss.
Female
Vaanam ingae boomi engaeSky is here, where is the earth?
Vaazhvu thaazhvengaeWhere are life's highs and lows?
Male
Kaanum yaavum kaadhalandriEverything we see, except love,
Veru yedhingaewhat else is here?
Female
Venu gaanam thendraloduOnce the music of the flute
Serndha pinnaalaemerges with the breeze,
Venu gaanam thendraloduOnce the music of the flute
Serndha pinnaalaemerges with the breeze,
Male
Gaanam veru kaattru veraaithe song and the wind as distinct entities
Ketppadhae illaiare heard no more!
Gaanam veru kaattru veraaiThe song and the wind as distinct entities
Ketppadhae illaiare heard no more!
Female
Ini naanum verillaiHereafter, I am no longer separate from you.
Male :Ini naanum verillaiMale: Hereafter, I too am not separate.
Female :Ini naanum verillaiFemale: Hereafter, I am no longer separate.
Male :Ini naanum verillaiMale: Hereafter, I too am not separate.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Maasilaa Nilavae' from Ambikapathy (1957) is a celebrated romantic duet composed by G. Ramanathan and penned by Kannadasan, sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Leela. The song captures the transcendent nature of deep love, where nature itself seems to participate in and celebrate the union of the lovers. The imagery shifts between celestial stars acting as glowing lamps, breeze-swayed mango leaves, and the moonlit river waves, illustrating how true affection dissolves worldly differences and personal boundaries. In the climax, the lyricist uses the famous analogy of flute music dissolving into the wind, symbolizing how the lovers lose their individual identities and merge into a single harmonious soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Aan ezhil mugham Vaan madhiyena

Comparing the eyes to fish ('meen vizhi') and the male protagonist's face to the celestial moon ('vaan madhi').

Uruvagaimai (Analogy / Metaphor)

Neerodu neer pola naam kooduvom

Comparing the union of souls to water blending with water, where distinction disappears completely.

Tharkurippetratrai Ani (Personification / Idealistic Imagery)

Maandhalir karam neetti

Attributing human actions to nature, such as young mango leaves extending hands and fish leaping in joy upon seeing the heroine's eyes.

Anupraas (Alliteration / Monnai)

Vaanam ingae boomi engae Vaazhvu thaazhvengae

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Vaanam' and 'Vaazhvu' creating rhythmic harmony.

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Trivia

This song from the 1957 classic 'Ambikapathy' starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi features music composed by G. Ramanathan. Lyricist Kannadasan's line 'Gaanam veru kaattru veraai ketppadhae illai' remains one of Tamil cinema's most revered metaphors for ultimate emotional and spiritual oneness.

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