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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madhura Madhura

From Aayiram Vilakku · 2011

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Naveen, Velmurugan
Music director
Sreekanth Deva
Details
Aayiram Vilakku2011

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Odungal odi ullam urugiRun, run with a melting heart
Isai paadungal paada vanthenSing music, I came to sing
Parum porulaeOh supreme reality
Female
Odungal odi ullam urugiRun, run with a melting heart
Isai paadungal paada vanthenSing music, I came to sing
Parum porulae…ae….ae……Oh supreme reality...
Aadungal eduthu nadamiduvaaiDance, take up and perform the dance
Iraivaa..un tamil amudhai padikkavaOh God, shall I read your Tamil nectar?
Un adiyen….Your humble servant...
Male
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed
Male
NaanI
Chorus :Madhura madhuraChorus :Madurai Madurai
Male :NeeMale :You
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Naan nee madhuraiyilaYou and I in Madurai
Kannu muzhichomWe opened our eyes (were born)
Vaigaiyila thannikkudichom aa……We drank water from the Vaigai river...
Male
MeenFish
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male :PolMale :Like
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Meen pol karagaattamLike fish, Karagaattam folk dance
Kandu kazhichomWe enjoyed watching
Oyilaattam aadi mudichomWe finished dancing the Oyilaattam dance
Male
Paandiya mannan aanda ooruThe town ruled by the Pandyan king
Namma sokkanaadhar konda koyil paaruLook at the temple belonging to our Lord Sokkanathar
Naagareegam vandhaalumaeEven if civilization arrives
Idhu nagaram illa verum graamam paaruLook, this is not a city, but just a village
Male
NaanI
Chorus :Madhura madhuraChorus :Madurai Madurai
Male :NeeMale :You
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Naan nee madhuraiyilaYou and I in Madurai
Kannu muzhichomWe opened our eyes
Vaigaiyila thannikkudichom aa……We drank water from the Vaigai river...
Female
Naanga malli ye malli ye malliWe are jasmine, hey jasmine, hey jasmine
Male :Vaadi kalli yei kalli yei kalliMale :Come on cactus girl, hey cactus, hey cactus
Female
Naanga malli malli malliWe are jasmine, jasmine, jasmine
Male :Vaadi kalli kalli en kalli ..ee…Male :Come on cactus girl, cactus, my cactus...
Chorus
Madhuraiyil arasaalum meenatchiGoddess Meenakshi who rules over Madurai
Madhuraiyil arasaalum meenatchiGoddess Meenakshi who rules over Madurai
Male
Ye mela maasi veedhiHey, on West Masi Street
Chorus :Angu manakkum manakkumChorus :There smells fragrantly
Malliya poovaeThe jasmine flower
Male :Keezha maasi veedhiMale :On East Masi Street
Chorus :Angu kodhikkum kodhikkumChorus :There boils hot
Kodalu kolambhuThe intestine curry
Male :Bhakthan yeri vaaromMale :Devotees arrive climbing up
Chorus :Angu vidiya vidiyaChorus :There until dawn breaks
Koothum kudiyumFolk performance and drinking
Male :Madhura toongaadhuMale :Madurai never sleeps
Male
Hey… vettukkooraiyilHey... on the thatched roof
Kaakkaa kaththunaaIf a crow caws
Virundhu varudhunnuThinking guests are arriving
Kozhi adippomWe slaughter a chicken
Pazhaiya pagaiyellaamAll the old grudges
Moottakkatti mudichiBundle them up and tie them away
Bandha paasathil gummiyadippomWe play Kummi dance in bonding and affection
Male
Engooru vaazhkkaiyila tharammirukkuThere is high quality in our town's life
Kooda thamizhirukkuAlong with Tamil heritage
Aiyaaththa pannaikkoru rusi irukkuGrandma's palm jaggery drink has a special taste
Kudichaa pasi irukkuIf you drink it, hunger is satisfied
Engooru kaadhalukku madhippirukkuThere is respect for love in our town
Mannin manammirukkuThere is the fragrance of the native soil
Hei aruvaala thotta oru thirammirukkuHey, touching the sickle takes a skill
Kaadhal adaivadharkuTo attain love
Hey……eyyy….. eyyy…eyy…Hey...
Male
Ye naanHey I
Chorus :Madhura madhuraChorus :Madurai Madurai
Male :Ye neeMale :Hey you
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Yei naan ye neeHey I, hey you
Madhuraiyila kannu muzhichomWe opened our eyes in Madurai
Vaigaiyila thannikkudichom aa…..We drank water from the Vaigai river...
Female
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed
Male
Azhagar malaikku melaeAbove the Alagar hill
Chorus :Azhagu ponnuga koottam irukkumChorus :A crowd of beautiful girls will be there
Male :Yaanai malaikku keezhaMale :Below the Elephant hill
Chorus :Thaavani ponnunga neechaladikkaChorus :Half-saree girls swimming
Male :Chinnakkallukku pakkamMale :Near the small hill
Chorus :Sinunga kulunga aattam nadakkumChorus :A lively, giggling dance takes place
Male :Madhura maaraadhuMale :Madurai will never change
Male
Hei heiHey hey
Valarum kaadhalar vasadhikku odhungaTo accommodate growing lovers
Vaigai aatrukkul edammirukkuThere is space inside the Vaigai river bed
Sagala saadhiyum onnum munnaa irukkuAll castes stand unified before us
Madhura mannukku manasirukkuThe soil of Madurai has a generous heart
Male
Panjaalae thachchaalum palan irukkuEven if stitched with cotton, there is utility
Makkal balammirukkuThe people have strength
Panjumittaai viththaalum thozhil irukkuEven selling cotton candy is a respectable job
Ozhaikku thunivirukkuThere is courage to work hard
Kondaattam eppodhum nerainjirukkuCelebration is always filled everywhere
OorekkulirndhirukkuThe whole town is refreshed and joyful
Vanthaarai vaazhavaikka vazhi irukkuThere is a way to make newcomers thrive
Vaasal therandhirukkuThe doors are open wide
Male
NaanI
Chorus :Madhura madhuraChorus :Madurai Madurai
Male :NeeMale :You
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Naan nee madhuraiyilaYou and I in Madurai
Kannu muzhichomWe opened our eyes
Vaigaiyila thannikkudichom aa……We drank water from the Vaigai river...
Male
MeenFish
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male :PolMale :Like
Chorus :Ye madhura madhuraChorus :Hey Madurai Madurai
Male
Meen pol karagaattamLike fish, Karagaattam folk dance
Kandu kazhichomWe enjoyed watching
Oyilaattam aadi mudichomWe finished dancing the Oyilaattam dance
Male
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed
Madhura madhura madhura madhuraMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai
Madhura madhura madhura madhura thaanMadurai Madurai Madurai Madurai indeed
Madhura thaanMadurai indeed

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song serves as a vibrant tribute to the historic city of Madurai, celebrating its deep-rooted cultural identity, legendary temples, traditional folk arts, and warm-hearted people. Starting with classical devotional invocations, the track quickly transitions into a lively celebration of Madurai's distinct identity as a city that never sleeps ('Thoonga Nagaram'). It paints a rich picture of local lifestyle—from the fragrance of Madurai jasmine on West Masi Street to street-side cuisine, local festivals, folk dances like Karagaattam and Oyilaattam, and the legendary hospitality of welcoming newcomers with open doors.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama)

Meen pol karagaattam

Compares the fluid movements of folk dancers during Karagaattam to the agile swimming of fish.

Repetition / Anaphora

Madhura madhura madhura madhura

Rhythmic repetition of the word 'Madhura' creates an energetic, chant-like folk momentum throughout the composition.

Anaphora / Rhyme (Emoni)

Engooru vaazhkkaiyila tharammirukku

Syllabic rhyming across consecutive stanzas ('Engooru vaazhkkaiyila', 'Engooru kaadhalukku') reinforcing regional pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the film 'Aayiram Vilakku' (2011) with music composed by Srikanth Deva, this song heavily draws from Madurai's famous epithet 'Thoonga Nagaram' (the city that never sleeps). The lyrics by Vairamuthu highlight several landmark geographic and cultural aspects of Madurai, including Masi Street, Alagar Malai, Yaanai Malai, and the famous Madurai Malli (jasmine flower).

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