Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Margazhi Masamadi

From Then Chittugal · 1982

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Vijaya Ramani
Details
Then Chittugal1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………....
Male
Margazhi maasamadi kuliruOh, it is the cold month of Margazhi,
Manushna vaattuthadi aahaahThe cold is tormenting a person, aha!
Female :Aahaah haaFemale: Aha ha
Male
Margazhi maasamadi kuliruOh, it is the cold month of Margazhi,
Manushna vaattuthadiThe cold is tormenting a person,
Female
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Innum thaalikku vazhiyillaiyaaIs there still no way for the sacred wedding thread?
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Innum thaalikku vazhiyillaiyaaIs there still no way for the sacred wedding thread?
Female
Oorkolam nathashwaram pookkalThe procession, the nadaswaram music, and flowers,
Udhirnthidum neram varumThe time for them to shower down will come.
Oorkolam nathashwaram pookkalThe procession, the nadaswaram music, and flowers,
Udhirnthidum neram varumThe time for them to shower down will come.
Male :IlamagalMale: Young woman,
Female :Aa….Female: Aa...
Male :Ival mugamMale: Her face,
Female :Aaa….Female: Aaa...
Male :Idhazh rasamMale: The sweet nectar of her lips,
Female :Aaa….Female: Aaa...
Male :Sugam sugamMale: Delight, pure delight,
Female :AahhFemale: Aahh
Male
Aaththodu vizhunthu poopola ezhunthuFalling into the river and rising like a flower,
Raasaaththi nadanthaa rosaa thaer kanakkaaWhen the princess walked, it was like a chariot of roses.
Female :Aah….rosa thaer kanaakkaaFemale: Ah... like a chariot of roses.
Male :Aaththaadi manasa kaaththaadi aakkiMale: Oh my, turning my heart into a flying kite,
Kannaalae izhuththu pinnaadi sirichchaaShe pulled me with her eyes and laughed from behind.
Female :Aah pinnaadi sirichchaaFemale: Ah, laughed from behind.
Male :AahaahaahMale: Aahaahaah
Female :Aahaahaah…Female: Aahaahaah...
Male :AahaahaahMale: Aahaahaah
Female :Aahaahaah…Female: Aahaahaah...
Male
Kuththuvilakka anaichchuExtinguishing the oil lamp,
Meththa iruttil rasichchuRelishing in the deep dark,
Female :Muththumidum muththamidumFemale: Kissing, showering kisses,
Munnae vanthu muththmidumComing forward to kiss,
Medhuvaa konjam medhuvaaSlowly, a little slowly,
Male
Idhamaa inum padhamaaComfortably, with delicate care,
Yaenadi vidinjathu iravuWhy did the night dawn so soon?
Adi yaenadi maranjathu nilavuOh why did the moon hide away?
Female
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Innum thaalikku vazhiyillaiyaaIs there still no way for the sacred wedding thread?
Male
Margazhi maasamadi kuliruOh, it is the cold month of Margazhi,
Manushna vaattuthadiThe cold is tormenting a person,
Female
Mookkuththi sevappu munthaana sezhippuRed nose-ring and a rich saree pallu,
Kannaadaalae pothum nee kondaadum azhaguJust your eyes are enough to praise your beauty.
Male :Kondaadum azhagu…Male: Celebrating beauty...
Female :Paayodu irunthu raavodu ezhunthuFemale: Lying on the mat and rising with the night,
Naanaaga thavichcen naaraaga elachchenI squirmed alone and grew lean like fiber.
Male :Aah…naaraaga elachchenMale: Ah... grew lean like fiber.
Female :Aahaahaah…Female: Aahaahaah...
Male :OhhohMale: Ohhoh
Female :Aahaahaah…Female: Aahaahaah...
Male :OhhohMale: Ohhoh
Female
Kuththuvilakka anaichhcuExtinguishing the oil lamp,
Meththa iruttil rasichchuRelishing in the deep dark,
Male :Muththmidum muththamidumMale: Kissing, showering kisses,
Munnae vanthu muththamidumComing forward to kiss,
Medhuvaa konjam methuvaaSlowly, a little slowly,
Female
Idhamaa innum padhamaaComfortably, with delicate care,
Yaenthaan vidinjathu iravuWhy on earth did the night dawn?
Adi yaenthaan maranchathu nilavuOh why on earth did the moon hide away?
Male
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Thai maasam nerunguthaiyyaaThe month of Thai is approaching, my dear sir,
Innum thaalikku vazhiyillaiyaaIs there still no way for the sacred wedding thread?
Female :Innum thaalikku vazhiyillaiyaaFemale: Is there still no way for the sacred wedding thread?
Male
Maargazhi maasamadi kuliruOh, it is the cold month of Margazhi,
Manushana vaattuthadiThe cold is tormenting a person,
Female :Oorkolaam naadhasvaram pookkalFemale: The procession, nadaswaram music, and flowers,
Udhirnthidum neram varamThe time for them to shower down will come.
Both :Aahhaa…ohhaa….aahhaah….Both: Aahhaa...ohhaa....aahhaah....
Aahhaa….ohhaa….aahhaah….Aahhaa....ohhaa....aahhaah....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela depicts the longing of two lovers during the chilly Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January). The female protagonist laments the biting cold and playfully urges her beloved about the upcoming month of Thai (January-February), which is traditionally considered the auspicious season for Tamil weddings. She longs for their union and the sacred wedding thread ('thaali'), eagerly anticipating the grand procession, nadaswaram music, and flower showers of their marriage. Through poetic exchanges, the lovers express their passionate affection and intimate night-time dreams. The male lover praises her beauty, comparing her walk to a rose chariot and describing how her captivating eyes turn his heart into a soaring kite. The lyricist Kannadasan skillfully captures traditional Tamil cultural motifs of seasonality, romance, and wedded longing with playful, rhythmic grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Raasaaththi nadanthaa rosaa thaer kanakkaa

Compares the heroine's graceful walk to the movement of a chariot made of roses ('rosaa thaer kanakkaa').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aaththaadi manasa kaaththaadi aakki

Metaphorically compares the lightness and wild movement of the lover's heart to a kite ('manasa kaaththaadi aakki').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kuththuvilakka anaichchu / Meththa iruttil rasichchu

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in consecutive lines ('Kuththuvilakka' / 'Meththa').

Hyperbole (Uruvagap Punaivu)

Naanaaga thavichcen naaraaga elachchen

Exaggerates her physical longing and weight loss due to separation as thinning down to a thin strand of fiber ('naaraaga elachchen').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song highlights the culturally iconic Tamil phrase 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum' (The birth of the month of Thai brings new beginnings/solutions), referring to Thai as the prime wedding season following the chilly, non-wedding month of Margazhi.

Keep listening

More from Then Chittugal