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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Margazhiyil Kothippu

From Kaalam Bathil Sollum · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kaalam Bathil Sollum
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi
Enna intha thavippu enna intha thavippu
Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi
Enna intha thavippu enna intha thavippu
Kadhal undaana mayakkam
Kaigal kondaadum nerukkam
Kaalam ivvaaru irukkum
Kadhal undaana mayakkam
Kaigal kondaadum nerukkam
Kaalam ivvaaru irukkum
Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi
Enna intha thavippu enna intha thavippu
Poonguzhalil thodangi paadham varai alakka
Nee kidanthu thavikka naanam enai thadukka
Poonguzhalil thodangi paadham varai alakka
Nee kidanthu thavikka naanam enai thadukka
Aana mattum ninaiththaen aasaigalai adakka
Aana mattum ninaiththaen aasaigalai adakka
Maarkkam illai enakku manmathanai viratta
Maeni sevvaazhai kuruththu
Mella nogaamal eduththu
Maalai rajaangam nadaththu
Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi
Enna intha thavippu enna intha thavippu
Naalu vagai gunaththil
Naanam oru nadippu
Naalu vagai gunaththil
Naanam oru nadippu
Naayaganin anaippil
Naadagangal edharkku
Naayaganin anaippil
Naadagangal edharkku
Yaezhu swaram vilanga
Naadhaswaram muzhanga
Yaezhu swaram vilanga
Naadhaswaram muzhanga
Maalai idum dhinaththil
Mangai unthan vasaththil
Konjam thottaalum nadukkam
Etta nindraalum varuththam
Enna ammaadi thayakkam
Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi
Enna intha thavippu enna intha thavippu
Kadhal undaana mayakkam
Kaigal kondaadum nerukkam
Kaalam ivvaaru irukkum
A burning heat in chilly Margazhi, a cool breeze in scorching Chithirai
What is this restlessness? What is this longing?
A burning heat in chilly Margazhi, a cool breeze in scorching Chithirai
What is this restlessness? What is this longing?
The sweet trance born of love,
The closeness our hands celebrate,
Time will always be like this...
The sweet trance born of love,
The closeness our hands celebrate,
Time will always be like this...
A burning heat in chilly Margazhi, a cool breeze in scorching Chithirai
What is this restlessness? What is this longing?
Starting from flower-dressed hair to measure down to your feet,
While you lie yearning, my shyness holds me back.
Starting from flower-dressed hair to measure down to your feet,
While you lie yearning, my shyness holds me back.
I tried my best to hold back my desires,
I tried my best to hold back my desires,
But I have no way to drive Manmathan (the god of desire) away.
A body tender as a fresh red banana shoot,
Hold it gently without causing pain,
And rule your kingdom this evening.
A burning heat in chilly Margazhi, a cool breeze in scorching Chithirai
What is this restlessness? What is this longing?
Among the four traditional virtues of a woman,
Shyness is only an act!
Among the four traditional virtues of a woman,
Shyness is only an act!
In the embrace of your beloved,
Why put on such an act?
In the embrace of your beloved,
Why put on such an act?
As the seven musical notes ring clear,
As the nadaswaram (traditional wedding pipe) sounds,
As the seven musical notes ring clear,
As the nadaswaram (traditional wedding pipe) sounds,
On the day we exchange wedding garlands,
This woman will be completely yours.
Even a gentle touch brings a tremble,
Yet staying apart brings sorrow.
Oh my girl, why this hesitation?
A burning heat in chilly Margazhi, a cool breeze in scorching Chithirai
What is this restlessness? What is this longing?
The sweet trance born of love,
The closeness our hands celebrate,
Time will always be like this...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maargazhiyil Kodhippu is a romantic duet from the film Kaalam Bathil Sollum (1980), written by Vaali and composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song uses weather paradoxes—heat in the chilly month of Margazhi (December/January) and coldness in the scorching month of Chithirai (April/May)—to illustrate how love and physical passion disrupt one's perception of climate and state of mind. The lovers share their anticipation, playfulness, and inner conflict as desire battles traditional modesty. The hero urges his beloved to cast aside her bashfulness, while the heroine articulates her trembling hesitation and looking forward to their complete union on their wedding day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

“Maargazhiyil kodhippu chiththiraiyil kulirchchi”

Contrasts cold winter (Margazhi) with heat and hot summer (Chithirai) with coldness to reflect the emotional turbulence caused by romantic passion.

Moanai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kadhal undaana mayakkam / Kaigal kondaadum nerukkam / Kaalam ivvaaru irukkum”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines creating a rhythmic musical flow.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Maeni sevvaazhai kuruththu”

Compares the delicate female body to the tender, smooth shoot of a red banana tree.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Konjam thottaalum nadukkam / Etta nindraalum varuththam / Enna ammaadi thayakkam”

Rhyming endings of words ('nadukkam', 'varuththam', 'thayakkam') to enhance lyrical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan, this song showcases the classic duet interplay between legendary singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam. Lyricist Vaali cleverly references traditional Tamil concepts of feminine virtues ('Naalu vagai gunam' - Fear, Modesty, Ignorance, Bashfulness) in a romantic context.

Keep listening

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