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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mambazhathu Vandu

From Sumai Thangi · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Sumai Thangi1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ooooo ooooo oooo ooooOoooo ooooo oooo oooo
Maampazhathu vanduThe beetle of the mango fruit,
Vaasam malarchenduA fragrant bouquet of flowers,
Yaar varavai kanduSeeing whose arrival
Vaadiyadhu indruHas it withered today?
Female
Ooooo ooooo oooo ooooOoooo ooooo oooo oooo
Maampazhathu vanduThe beetle of the mango fruit,
Vaasam malarchenduA fragrant bouquet of flowers,
Yaar varavai kanduSeeing whose arrival
Vaadiyadhu indruHas it withered today?
Male
Kodi vizhi pattuTouched by ten million gaze,
Kola vizhi chittuA beautiful-eyed little bird,
Vaaduvadhu kanduSeeing it wither,
Vaadiyadhu vanduThe beetle withered too.
Kodi vizhi pattuTouched by ten million gaze,
Kola vizhi chittuA beautiful-eyed little bird,
Vaaduvadhu kanduSeeing it wither,
Vaadiyadhu vanduThe beetle withered too.
Female
Ooooo ooooo oooo ooooOoooo ooooo oooo oooo
Maampazhathu vanduThe beetle of the mango fruit,
Vaasam malarchenduA fragrant bouquet of flowers,
Yaar varavai kanduSeeing whose arrival
Vaadiyadhu indruHas it withered today?
Female
Kodai mazhai megamA summer rain cloud,
Gopurathu dhepamA lamp atop the temple tower,
Konja varum neramWhen I come closer to caress you,
Kondathenna kobamWhy have you become angry?
Konja varum neramWhen I come closer to caress you,
Kondathenna kobamWhy have you become angry?
Male
Ennurimai endraeClaiming you as my sole right,
Naan irukumbodhuWhile I am right here,
Ennurimai endraeClaiming you as my sole right,
Naan irukumbodhuWhile I am right here,
Thendral vandhu unnaiHow could the gentle breeze come
Theendiyadhu ennaAnd dare to touch you?
Female
Ooooo ooooo oooo ooooOoooo ooooo oooo oooo
Maampazhathu vanduThe beetle of the mango fruit,
Vaasam malarchenduA fragrant bouquet of flowers,
Male :Yaar varavai kanduMale: Seeing whose arrival
Vaadiyadhu indruHas it withered today?
Female
Kanniyarkku thendralFor young maidens, isn't the gentle breeze
Annai murai androoIn the position of a mother?
Male :Annaiyaval mellaMale: Would a mother gently
Aadai thoduvalaDisplace or touch one's garments like that?
Female
Sonnabadi kettenI listened to what you said,
Enna seiya vendumNow tell me, what should I do?
Male :Kanni unnai endhanMale: O maiden, you in my
Kai siraiyil vaippenI shall imprison within my arms.
Kanni unnai endhanO maiden, you in my
Kai siraiyil vaippenI shall imprison within my arms.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maampazhathu Vandu from the 1962 film Sumai Thangi is a charming romantic duet capturing a playful and loving exchange between two lovers. The lover poetically addresses his beloved using rich nature imagery—comparing her to a bouquet of blossoms, a summer rain cloud, and a sacred temple lamp. He playfully expresses a sense of affectionate jealousy, questioning why she seems distant and how even the breeze dared to touch her when she belongs solely to him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kodi vizhi pattu / Kola vizhi chittu

Matching initial sounds across lines, such as 'Kodi' and 'Kola' enhancing the melodic rhythm of the verse.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kodi vizhi pattu / Kola vizhi chittu

Rhyming line endings ('pattu', 'chittu') creating a musical cadence.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kodai mazhai megam / Gopurathu dhepam

The beloved is metaphorically equated to 'Kodai mazhai megam' (summer rain cloud) and 'Gopurathu dhepam' (lamp on top of a temple tower).

Metaphor (Kai Sirai)

Kai siraiyil vaippen

'Kai sirai' (imprisonment of hands/arms) is a classic Tamil romantic metaphor denoting a tight, protective embrace.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sumai Thangi (1962) was directed by C. V. Sridhar, starring Gemini Ganesan and Devika. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics written by Kannadasan, sung by P. B. Sreenivas and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

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