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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manjal Poosi Varum

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Tiruchi Loganathan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Aaravalli1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadi varum thendraladaa aaraaichchiIs the swaying gentle breeze a matter of research, my friend?
Antho vaanam sirikkuthannae allimuthuAlas, the sky is laughing, lily-pearl!
Male
Manjal poosi varum konjum paarvaiyilaeLook at the girl who comes to speak...
Vanthu pesum pennu paaru...with a tender glance coated in turmeric.
Ila vanji saathi kannu yaaruWho is she with eyes like a tender creeper?
Nalla vayathu paaru thambi azhagu jothi minnalLook at her youth, brother, beauty shining like a lightning flash!
Ennai thedi varum vanna poongodiShe is a colorful flowering creeper coming to seek me.
Male
Nadhigalaagum aval maeniHer body flows like rivers.
Nadhigalaagum aval maeniHer body flows like rivers.
Pudhu udhayavaanil ezhilraaniShe is the queen of beauty in the new dawn sky.
Kani kannam punnagai kangal thaaragaiRipe cheeks, smiling eyes like stars.
Kannal solai mayil yaaruWho is this peacock in the sweet sugarcane grove?
Male
Anthivaana ezhil konjum maalaiyavalShe is the evening twilight full of charming grace.
Azhagu saathi malaraagumShe becomes a beautiful flower of high quality.
Anthivaana ezhil konjum maalaiyavalShe is the evening twilight full of charming grace.
Azhagu saathi malaraagumShe becomes a beautiful flower of high quality.
Kadhal kadhaigal pesum radhiyaagum annaeShe becomes Rathi speaking love stories, brother.
Antha neram thunai kondu thedivarumBringing along a companion at that hour...
Sonthamaanathor mega maappillai...a cloud bridegroom of one's own seeking her.
Male
Alaiyum kolam paar paavamLook at the wandering state, what a pity!
Adhu malaiyil veezhuntha parithaabamIt is a sorrow like falling onto a mountain.
Alaiyum kolam paar paavamLook at the wandering state, what a pity!
Adhu malaiyil veezhuntha parithaabamIt is a sorrow like falling onto a mountain.
Adhu sontha moolai kettu vantha velai vittuHaving lost its own intellect and abandoned its work...
Mandu pol thoongum sogam...it sleeps like a fool in sorrow.
Male
Inba vaazhvu tharum intha logam sollumThis world tells us of a joyful life...
Ellaikkodu malaraagum...where the boundary line blossoms like a flower.
Inba vaazhvu tharum intha logam sollumThis world tells us of a joyful life...
Ellaikkodu malaraagum...where the boundary line blossoms like a flower.
Malar idhazhgal veedu kalaiyaagumFlower petals turn into an artistic dwelling.
Idhil ennippaaru manam vanthu pogum gunamPonder this, how the mind's nature comes and goes.
Unmaiyaaga mana kannilaadum kadhaiTruly a story dancing in the mind's eye.
Male
Paravai naamum oru koottamWe are a flock of birds.
Kilai ilaigalaagum uyir ottamThe flow of life is like branches and leaves.
Paravai naamum oru koottamWe are a flock of birds.
Kilai ilaigalaagum uyir ottamThe flow of life is like branches and leaves.
Mazhai iravu velai kanda parakkum eesalathuLike winged termites flying on a rainy night...
Nilaiyai pol ulaga vaazhvum...such is the transient state of worldly life.
Male
Vatta nilaa pottugalaaAre these round moon bindi dots?
Kattavizhaa mottukalaaAre these unopening flower buds?
Vaattasaattamaana alli koottangalaaAre these sturdy clusters of water lilies?
Vatta nilaa pottugalaaAre these round moon bindi dots?
Kattavizhaa mottukalaaAre these unopening flower buds?
Vaattasaattamaana alli koottangalaaAre these sturdy clusters of water lilies?
Male
Azhagapaaru kannaalaeSee the beauty with your own eyes!
Anupavamthaan pinnaalaeExperience comes only later!
Azhagapaaru kannaalaeSee the beauty with your own eyes!
Anupavamthaan pinnaalaeExperience comes only later!
Pazhaga pazhaga pulikkum paaluWith familiarity, even milk turns sour.
Pazhamozhithaan munnaalaeThat is an ancient proverb of the past.
Male
Vatta nilaa pottugalaaAre these round moon bindi dots?
Kattavizhaa mottukalaaAre these unopening flower buds?
Vaattasaattamaana alli koottangalaaAre these sturdy clusters of water lilies?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lyrical piece from the 1957 Tamil film 'Aaravalli' presents a poetic duet and philosophical reflection woven together through nature imagery and philosophical proverbs. The lyrics praise feminine beauty by comparing her features to rivers, morning dawn, evening twilight, flowering creepers, peacocks, and star-like eyes, while contrasting this romantic idealization with the fleeting nature of life and worldly illusions. Later verses dive into philosophical observations about human life, comparing humans to a flock of birds or winged termites that fly briefly during rainy nights, emphasizing how impermanent life is. The song concludes with popular Tamil proverbs like 'pazhaga pazhaga pulikkum paalu' (familiarity breeds contempt / even milk turns sour upon over-familiarity), balancing sensory admiration with grounded cultural wisdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Nadhigalaagum aval maeni

Compares the woman's body to flowing rivers ('Nadhigalaagum aval maeni') and her eyes to stars ('kangal thaaragai').

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Pudhu udhayavaanil ezhilraani

Metaphorically equates the beauty of the dawn sky to a queen ('Pudhu udhayavaanil ezhilraani').

Emoni / Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)

Vatta nilaa pottugalaa

Alliteration and rhyme patterns in 'Vatta nilaa', 'Kattavizhaa', and 'Vaattasaattamaana'.

Proverb / Folk Wisdom (Pazhamozhi)

Pazhaga pazhaga pulikkum paalu

Inclusion of the traditional proverb that prolonged familiarity sours even sweet things like milk.

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Trivia

Aaravalli (1957) was a popular Tamil mythological-fantasy film produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Sundaram. The music was composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi, featuring iconic vocals by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and Tiruchi Loganathan.

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