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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
Movie name
Kumaripennin Ullathile
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Madhu kadalo…
Maragadha radhamo
Madhan vidum kanaiyo
Mazhai mugil vizhiyo
Kani idhazh suvai thanil
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai neeyae seethai
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai neeyae seethai
Madhu kadalo… o…
Maragadha radhamo
Madhan vidum kanaiyo
Mazhai mugil vizhiyo
Kani idhazh suvai thanil
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai
Neeyae seethai
Kannaalae unai paartha naeram
Indru en vaazhvil raaja yogam
Aa… aa… un vaasal
Naan thaedi vandhaen
Nenjil pon veenai meetta vandhaen
Unnai paarthaalae undaagum vaegam
Aa…
Unnai paarthaalae undaagum vaegam
Undhan paarvai pudhu moga raagam
Madhu kadalo… o…
Maragadha radhamo
Madhan vidum kanaiyo
Mazhai mugil vizhiyo
Kani idhazh suvai thanil
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethai
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethai
Kalloorum rojaavai paaraai
Thottu vilaiyaada odi vaaraai
Aa… Aa… un kondhal
Nizhaloram naanae
Konjam ilaippaara vaendum maanae
Undhan thol meedhu
Kiliyaaga vaendum
Undhan thol meedhu
Kiliyaaga vaendum
Undhan maarbil uravaada vaendum
Madhu kadalo… o…
Maragadha radhamo
Madhan vidum kanaiyo
Mazhai mugil vizhiyo
Kani idhazh suvai thanil
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethai
Bodhai oottum kodhai
Manam kavar raadhai naanae seethai
An ocean of sweet wine...?
An emerald chariot?
An arrow shot by the God of Love?
Eyes like dark rain clouds?
With the sweetness of fruit-like lips,
She is a girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals hearts, you are Sita!
She is a girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals hearts, you are Sita!
An ocean of sweet wine... oh...
An emerald chariot?
An arrow shot by the God of Love?
Eyes like dark rain clouds?
With the sweetness of fruit-like lips,
She is a girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals hearts,
You are Sita!
The moment my eyes looked at you,
A great fortune entered my life today.
Ah... ah... to your doorstep,
I came searching,
To play the golden veena (lute) of your heart.
Just looking at you stirs up passion,
Ah...
Just looking at you stirs up passion,
Your glance is a new melody of desire.
An ocean of sweet wine... oh...
An emerald chariot?
An arrow shot by the God of Love?
Eyes like dark rain clouds?
With the sweetness of fruit-like lips,
A girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals your heart, I am your Sita!
A girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals your heart, I am your Sita!
Look at this rose dripping with nectar,
Come running to touch and play!
Ah... ah... in the cool shade
Of your dark, cloud-like hair,
I want to rest for a while, my love!
Upon your shoulder,
I want to perch like a parrot,
Upon your shoulder,
I want to perch like a parrot,
I want to rest close against your chest.
An ocean of sweet wine... oh...
An emerald chariot?
An arrow shot by the God of Love?
Eyes like dark rain clouds?
With the sweetness of fruit-like lips,
A girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals your heart, I am your Sita!
A girl who intoxicates,
The Radha who steals your heart, I am your Sita!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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From the same album

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