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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madhurai Meenatchi Devi

From Nee Naan Mattum · 2012

Lyricist
Marudha Bharani
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Dharma Teja
Details
Nee Naan Mattum2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Madhurai meenatchi deviMadurai, where Goddess Meenakshi
Arulaatchi seiyum madhuraiRules with her divine grace,
Thamizhai ulagaala seidhaWhich made Tamil rule the world,
Uyir moochu engal madhuraiOur Madurai is our very life breath.
Male
Sithirai thingalil vaigai nadhiIn the month of Chithirai, the Vaigai river
Kallazhagarai kandathum podum jadhiDances in rhythm upon seeing Lord Kallazhagar.
Sollilum seyalilum thurithagathiSwift in speed in both word and deed,
Soll kaathidum madhuraiyil theiva nidhiMadurai, which guards its word, is a divine treasure.
Iravu muzhuvadhum vizhithu ulavum madhura pathiThe city of Madurai stays awake and wanders all through the night.
Male
Madhurai meenatchi deviMadurai, where Goddess Meenakshi
Arulaatchi seiyum madhuraiRules with her divine grace.
Male
Graama kalai kaaviyamAn epic of folk arts,
Aadal kalai ooviyamA painting of dance forms,
Sirppa kalai ezhil maevumAdorned with the beauty of sculpting arts,
Thamil vaazhum arulaalaiyamA temple of grace where Tamil lives.
Male
Konjam vizhi paarvaiyumA gentle glance of the eyes,
Sindhum isai korvaiyumAnd a melody of overflowing music,
Sondhamennum manam thaedumDesired by the heart seeking kinship,
Dhinam koodum uravaayiramA thousand bonds gather every day.
Male
Naan maada koodal nagaramThe city of four towers rising,
Vaan meedhu modha uyarumRising high to touch the sky,
Pudhu sandham kodi valarumMillions of new rhythms grow here,
Thamizh sanga geetham malarumThe anthem of the Tamil Sangam blossoms.
Madhurai nagaram mozhiyin agaram thamizh sigaramMadurai city is the alphabet of the language, the peak of Tamil.
Male
Nettri kannai kandathuSeeing the eye on the forehead,
Kuttramena chonnadhuIt dared to declare it as a fault,
Eesan avan isai paadalLord Shiva's own musical song,
Pizhai endru thamizh vendrathuTamil won by proving it had an error.
Veeram ulla mann idhuThis is a land of valor,
Vettriyudan vaazhudhuLiving victoriously,
Vaanmadhu valainthaengal boommikkuThe crescent moon in the sky bends down
Vazhi kaattudhuTo show the path to our earth.
Male
Thaerodum veedhi mayangumThe street where chariots run gets spellbound,
Deiveega naadham muzhangumDivine sound resounds everywhere,
Paamaalai paadum arangamAn arena that sings garlands of verse,
Poomaalai soodi vanangumWorshipping adorned with flower garlands.
Madhurai nagaram mozhiyin agaram thamizh sigaramMadurai city is the alphabet of the language, the peak of Tamil.
Male
Madhurai meenatchi deviMadurai, where Goddess Meenakshi
Arulaatchi seiyum madhuraiRules with her divine grace,
Thamizhai ulagaala seidhaWhich made Tamil rule the world,
Uyir moochu engal madhuraiOur Madurai is our very life breath.
Male
Sithirai thingalil vaigai nadhiIn the month of Chithirai, the Vaigai river
Kallazhagarai kandathum podum jadhiDances in rhythm upon seeing Lord Kallazhagar.
Sollilum seyalilum thurithagathiSwift in speed in both word and deed,
Soll kaathidum madhuraiyil theiva nidhiMadurai, which guards its word, is a divine treasure.
Iravu muzhuvadhum vizhithu ulavum madhura pathiThe city of Madurai stays awake and wanders all through the night.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand tribute to the historical and cultural city of Madurai. It glorifies Goddess Meenakshi's divine reign over the region, the vibrant Chithirai festival celebrating Lord Kallazhagar, and Madurai's famous status as a 'sleepless city' (Thoonga Nagaram) that buzzes with life day and night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Nettri kannai kandathu / Kuttramena chonnadhu

The second consonant 'ttri' and 'ttra' rhyme in 'Nettri' and 'Kuttramena', adding rhythmic structure to the verse.

Metaphor

Madhurai nagaram mozhiyin agaram thamizh sigaram

Madurai is directly metaphorized as the starting alphabet ('agaram') of language and the highest peak ('sigaram') of Tamil culture.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Thaerodum veedhi mayangum / Deiveega naadham muzhangum

End rhymes using '-angum' creating a musical and euphonic cadence across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics reference the famous legend of poet Nakkeerar from the Tamil Sangam era who pointed out a flaw in a poem authored by Lord Shiva, boldly declaring 'Kuttram Kuttrame' (A fault is a fault) even when Shiva revealed his fiery third eye.

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