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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mandhiram Sonnen

From Vedham Pudhithu · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Devendran
Details
Vedham Pudhithu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manthiram sonnen vanthuviduI chanted a mantra, come to me
Sammadham engae thanthuviduWhere is your consent? Give it to me
Pudhiya paadam solvenaeI shall teach a new lesson
Athan porulai solvaai sendhaenaeYou explain its meaning, sweet honey
Pudhiya paadam solvenaeI shall teach a new lesson
Athan porulai solvaai sendhaenaeYou explain its meaning, sweet honey
Paadham paarthu vedham sollaTo recite scriptures looking at your feet
Aatrangaraikku vanthenaeI came to the riverbank
Male
Manthiram sonnen vanthuviduI chanted a mantra, come to me
Sammadham engae thanthuviduWhere is your consent? Give it to me
Male
Kanmani unakkonnuMy darling, do you know
TheriyumaOne thing?
Antha iduppil irukkuthuSitting right there on your hip
En manasuIs my heart
Female
En manam unakkennaWill you understand
PuriyumaMy heart?
Thanni kudathil thudikkuthuThrobbing inside the water pot
En uyiruIs my life
Male
Nee kulithaalIf you bathe
Nadhiyil manam irukkumThe river will become fragrant
Female :Nee rasithaalFemale: If you appreciate it
Kaviyin gunam irukkumIt will carry the quality of poetry
Male
Vanthu vittenI have arrived
Mella mellaSlowly and gently
Female :Thanthu vittenFemale: I have given it
Enna sollaWhat is there to say?
Male :Paavam alla..Male: It is not a sin..
Vedhangal thadai alla..The scriptures are not an obstacle..
Male
Manthiram sonnen vanthuviduI chanted a mantra, come to me
Sammadham engae thanthuviduWhere is your consent? Give it to me
Male
Porutham namakkulThat compatibility between us
Illai endruDoes not exist
Nee ninaithadhundoHave you ever thought like that
NenjukkullaIn your heart?
Female
ThamiraparaniThe Thamirabarani
Aathu thanniRiver water
Athu jaadhi bedhamIt does not look at
PaarppadhillaCaste distinctions
Male
Nee ninaithaalIf you wish
Thiruneer anindhiruppenI would wear holy ash
Female : Nee thaduthaalFemale: If you stop me
Koil marandhiruppenI would forget the temple
Male
Thottadhellaam vetriyadiEverything touched becomes a victory, my girl
Female :Vetri kandaal allikkodiFemale: Seeing victory, a water lily sways
Male :KattippidiMale: Hold me tight
Female
Kaadhal vedhamThe scripture of love
KarpikkavaShall I teach you?
Kadhil vanthu oppikkavaShall I come whisper it into your ear?
Kaadhal ennai azhaikkuthuLove calls out to me
Engal vedham ennai thadukkuthuOur scriptures stop me
Kaadhal peridhaa..Is love greater..
Vedham peridhaa..Or are scriptures greater..
Male & Female :Male & Female:
Kaadhaldhaanae jeyithadhu…Love is what ultimately won...
Male
Manthiram sonnen vanthuviduI chanted a mantra, come to me
Sammadham engae thanthuviduWhere is your consent? Give it to me
Kaalam neram paaraamalWithout looking at time or auspicious moments
Pirar kangal yethum kaanaamalWithout being seen by anyone else's eyes
Kaalam neram paaraamalWithout looking at time or auspicious moments
Pirar kangal yethum kaanaamalWithout being seen by anyone else's eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the landmark film 'Vedham Pudhithu' captures a romantic duet that mirrors the movie's central theme: the conflict between orthodox religious dogma and human affection. The male protagonist playfully uses Vedic terminology, mantras, and religious metaphors to express his affection, urging his beloved to look past societal constraints. He compares true love to the river Thamirabarani, which flows without discriminating based on caste or creed. The female protagonist feels caught between love's calling and traditional upbringing. Ultimately, both agree that love transcends rigid religious scriptures, ending with the triumph of true love over dogma.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Manthiram sonnen vanthuvidu / Sammadham engae thanthuvidu

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('Manthiram' and 'Sammadham', 'Pudhiya' and 'Athan').

Metaphor & Personification

Thamiraparani Aathu thanni Athu jaadhi bedham Paarppadhilla

Comparing river water to a neutral entity that does not observe human caste distinctions, symbolizing pure love.

Antithesis / Conflict

Kaadhal ennai azhaikkuthu Engal vedham ennai thadukkuthu

Directly contrasting emotional love against traditional scriptures to highlight the central dilemma.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Manthiram sonnen vanthuvidu / Sammadham engae thanthuvidu

Rhyming endings in verbal suffixes ('vanthuvidu' / 'thanthuvidu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although often misattributed to Ilaiyaraaja due to the director Bharathiraja's long-standing collaboration with him, the soundtrack for 'Vedham Pudhithu' (1987) was actually composed by Devendran. The film won national acclaim for tackling caste discrimination and religious hypocrisy in Tamil society.

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