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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mangiyathor Nilavinile

From Paavai Vilakku · 1960

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
C. S. Jayaraman
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Paavai Vilakku
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
23 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…kanden
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…
Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum
Ilavayasu mangai
Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum
Ilavayasu mangai
Pongi varum perunilavu
Pondra oli mugamum
Punnagaiyin pudhu nilavum
Pottra varum thottram
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…
Thungamani minn polum
Vadivathaal vandhu
Thungamani minn polum
Vadivathaal vandhu
Thoongaadhae ezhundhennai
Paar endru sonnaal
Angadhanil kann vizhithen
Adadaa o ada daa
Azhagennum deivam thaan
Adhuvendrae arindhen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…
Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai
Kadanthidumoo endraen..hae
Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai
Kadanthidumoo endraen
Kaalamae madhiyinukorr
Karuviyaam endraal
Gnyalathil virumbhiyadhu
Nannumoo endraen
Naalilae ondrirandu
Palithidalaam endraal
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
Kanavil idhu kanden…
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream... I saw.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
She was perhaps sixteen years old,
A young girl.
She was perhaps sixteen years old,
A young girl.
Like a radiant full moon,
Her face shone with light,
With the fresh moonlight of her smile,
A vision worthy of praise.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
Like a flash of pure lightning,
She arrived in radiant form,
Like a flash of pure lightning,
She arrived in radiant form,
"Do not sleep, wake up and...
...look at me," she said.
Right then, I opened my eyes—
Ah, oh what wonder!
It was the goddess of Beauty herself,
I realized in that moment!
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
"Does the fate of time overcome the mind?"
I asked... hey
"Does the fate of time overcome the mind?"
I asked her.
"Time is merely an instrument...
...for the mind," she said.
"Will everything one desires in this world...
...come true?" I asked.
"Over the days, one or two wishes...
...may come true," she said.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring song written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar describes a profound mystical dream sequence occurring under dim moonlight. The poet encounters a sixteen-year-old maiden whose presence radiates divine beauty, comparing her face to an overflowing full moon. Upon awakening him, she reveals herself to be the divine embodiment of beauty ('Azhagennum Deivam'). A deep philosophical dialogue unfolds between the poet and the divine vision. When asked if fate and time can overcome human intellect, she reveals that time is merely a tool driven by intellect. When questioned if human desires in this world will ever be fulfilled, she pragmatically and wisdom-filled answers that out of four desires, one or two will indeed come true.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Pongi varum perunilavu Pondra oli mugamum”

Compares the maiden's radiant face to the glowing, overflowing full moon using 'pondra' (like/similar to).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Azhagennum deivam thaan Adhuvendrae arindhen”

Directly identifies beauty itself as a living deity ('Azhagennum Deivam').

Modhai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai / Kaalamae madhiyinukorr”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive philosophical lines.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kadanthidumoo endraen / Karuviyaam endraal”

The second letter 'da/tha' harmony present across lines creating rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This philosophical poem was originally authored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar and was later adapted for the film 'Paavai Vilakku' (1960), which starred Sivaji Ganesan. C. S. Jayaraman's unique classical rendering combined with K. V. Mahadevan's orchestration made it one of the most celebrated philosophical songs in Tamil cinema history.

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