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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madhu Kadalo Maragatha

From Kumaripennin Ullathile · 1980

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. Janaki, P. Jayachandran
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kumaripennin Ullathile1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Madhu kadalo…Is it an ocean of honey?
Maragadha radhamoIs it an emerald chariot?
Madhan vidum kanaiyoIs it an arrow shot by Cupid?
Mazhai mugil vizhiyoAre these eyes like rain clouds?
Kani idhazh suvai thanilIn the taste of fruit-like lips,
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Manam kavar raadhai neeyae seethaiYou are the heart-stealing Radha, you are Seetha.
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Manam kavar raadhai neeyae seethaiYou are the heart-stealing Radha, you are Seetha.
Female
Madhu kadalo… o…Is it an ocean of honey?
Maragadha radhamoIs it an emerald chariot?
Madhan vidum kanaiyoIs it an arrow shot by Cupid?
Mazhai mugil vizhiyoAre these eyes like rain clouds?
Kani idhazh suvai thanilIn the taste of fruit-like lips,
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Manam kavar raadhaiHeart-stealing Radha,
Male
Neeyae seethaiYou are Seetha.
Male
Kannaalae unai paartha naeramThe moment I saw you with my eyes,
Indru en vaazhvil raaja yogamToday in my life is a grand stroke of fortune.
Female
Aa… aa… un vaasalAh... ah... seeking your doorstep,
Naan thaedi vandhaenI came in search.
Nenjil pon veenai meetta vandhaenI came to play a golden veena in the heart.
Male
Unnai paarthaalae undaagum vaegamJust by looking at you, passion awakens.
Female
Aa…Ah...
Male
Unnai paarthaalae undaagum vaegamJust by looking at you, passion awakens.
Undhan paarvai pudhu moga raagamYour gaze is a new melody of desire.
Female
Madhu kadalo… o…Is it an ocean of honey?
Maragadha radhamoIs it an emerald chariot?
Madhan vidum kanaiyoIs it an arrow shot by Cupid?
Mazhai mugil vizhiyoAre these eyes like rain clouds?
Kani idhazh suvai thanilIn the taste of fruit-like lips,
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethaiHeart-stealing Radha, I am Seetha.
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethaiHeart-stealing Radha, I am Seetha.
Female
Kalloorum rojaavai paaraaiLook at the rose dripping with nectar,
Thottu vilaiyaada odi vaaraaiRun and come to touch and play.
Male
Aa… Aa… un kondhalAh... Ah... in the shadow of your hair,
Nizhaloram naanaeBeside its shade,
Konjam ilaippaara vaendum maanaeI wish to rest a little, my deer-like one.
Female
Undhan thol meedhuUpon your shoulders,
Kiliyaaga vaendumI want to sit like a parrot.
Undhan thol meedhuUpon your shoulders,
Kiliyaaga vaendumI want to sit like a parrot.
Undhan maarbil uravaada vaendumI want to share an intimate bond on your chest.
Male
Madhu kadalo… o…Is it an ocean of honey?
Female
Maragadha radhamoIs it an emerald chariot?
Male
Madhan vidum kanaiyoIs it an arrow shot by Cupid?
Female
Mazhai mugil vizhiyoAre these eyes like rain clouds?
Male
Kani idhazh suvai thanilIn the taste of fruit-like lips,
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Female
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethaiHeart-stealing Radha, I am Seetha.
Male
Bodhai oottum kodhaiShe is a maiden who intoxicates.
Female
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethaiHeart-stealing Radha, I am Seetha.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet celebrates the passionate love and admiration between two lovers. The speaker begins with hyperbole and vivid imagery, questioning whether his beloved is an ocean of honey, an emerald chariot, an arrow of Cupid, or rain-bearing clouds, elevating her beauty to divine archetypes like Radha and Seetha. as the song progresses, both lovers express their intense longing and intimacy. The male lover speaks of how beholding her brings immense fortune ('raaja yogam') and plays a melody on the veena of his heart. The female lover responds with invitations to share affectionate moments, comparing herself to a nectar-filled rose and expressing her wish to rest on his shoulders like a pet parrot.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Madhu kadalo / Maragadha radhamo / Madhan vidum kanaiyo / Mazhai mugil vizhiyo

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' across consecutive opening lines creates a rhythmic musical cadence.

Metaphor (Urvagadam)

Maragadha radhamo

Directly equating the physical form and features of the beloved to exquisite objects like an emerald chariot and an ocean of sweetness.

Mythological Allusion

Madhan vidum kanaiyo / Manam kavar raadhai neeyae seethai

Referencing epic divine figures Radha, Seetha, and Madhan (Kamadeva) to denote ultimate beauty and ideal devotion.

Sensory Imagery

Kalloorum rojaavai paaraai

Evokes tactile, visual, and taste sensations, comparing lips to sweet fruits and lover's charm to nectar-laden roses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Pulamaipithan, one of Tamil cinema's revered scholars and lyricists, the song stands out for its rich classical imagery combining Sangam-style natural metaphors with epic allusions to Ramayana and Mahabharata figures.

Keep listening

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