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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mayakkam Enadhu

From Kungumam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kungumam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Kalakkam enadhu kaaviyamAgitation is my epic poem
Naan kanneer varaindha oviyamI am a painting drawn with tears
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Kalakkam enadhu kaaviyamAgitation is my epic poem
Naan kanneer varaindha oviyamI am a painting drawn with tears
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Male
Pagalil thondrum nilavuThe moon appearing during the day
Kan paarvaikku maraindha azhaguA beauty hidden from sight
Pagalil thondrum nilavuThe moon appearing during the day
Kan paarvaikku maraindha azhaguA beauty hidden from sight
Thirai moodiya silai naanI am a statue veiled by a curtain
Thunba chiraiyil malarndha malar naanI am a flower that bloomed in a prison of sorrow
Thirai moodiya silai naanI am a statue veiled by a curtain
Thunba chiraiyil malarndha malar naanI am a flower that bloomed in a prison of sorrow
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Kalakkam enadhu kaaviyamAgitation is my epic poem
Naan kanneer varaindha oviyamI am a painting drawn with tears
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Male
Naanae enakku pagaiyaanenI have become my own enemy
En naadagathil naan thiraiyaanenIn my own drama, I became the curtain
Thaenae unakku puriyaadhuSweet one, you will not understand
Andha dheivam varaamal vilangaadhuIt will not be clear unless that God intervenes
Male
Naanae enakku pagaiyaanenI have become my own enemy
En naadagathil naan thiraiyaanenIn my own drama, I became the curtain
Thaenae unakku puriyaadhuSweet one, you will not understand
Andha dheivam varaamal vilangaadhuIt will not be clear unless that God intervenes
Male
Vidhiyum madhiyum verammaaFate and intellect are different things, my dear
Adhan vilakkam naan thaan paarammaaLook, I am the very explanation for that
Vidhiyum madhiyum verammaaFate and intellect are different things, my dear
Adhan vilakkam naan thaan paarammaaLook, I am the very explanation for that
Madhiyil vandhaval neeyammaaYou are the one who entered my intellect
En vazhi maraithaal vidhiyammaaIf my path is blocked, that is fate, my dear
Madhiyil vandhaval neeyammaaYou are the one who entered my intellect
En vazhi maraithaal vidhiyammaaIf my path is blocked, that is fate, my dear
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue
Kalakkam enadhu kaaviyamAgitation is my epic poem
Naan kanneer varaindha oviyamI am a painting drawn with tears
Male
Mayakkam enadhu thaayagamIllusion is my motherland
Maunam enadhu thaai mozhiSilence is my mother tongue

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song, penned by Kannadasan, expresses deep existential grief and melancholy. The protagonist laments their tragic life, comparing their soul to a painting drawn with tears, a flower blooming in a prison of suffering, and a statue hidden behind a curtain. The lyrics reflect on how tragic circumstances and fate (Vidhi) override human intellect and intentions (Madhi), leaving the speaker feeling alienated even from themselves. Through rich metaphorical imagery, the song portrays a heart broken by silent suffering, where confusion becomes home and silence becomes the only language left to speak.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamy (Metaphor)

Mayakkam enadhu thaayagam / Maunam enadhu thaai mozhi

Extensive use of metaphors comparing abstract feelings of grief to tangible or cultural identities like motherland, mother tongue, epic poem, and painting.

Mona (Alliteration)

Mayakkam enadhu thaayagam / Maunam enadhu thaai mozhi

Repetition of the initial letter 'M' across consecutive lines (Mayakkam, Maunam).

Esubu (Rhyme/Refrain)

Kalakkam enadhu kaaviyam / Naan kanneer varaindha oviyam

Rhyming ends 'thaayagam', 'mozhi', 'kaaviyam', 'oviyam' creating a lyrical cadence.

Wordplay / Contrast (Vidhi vs Madhi)

Vidhiyum madhiyum verammaa

Contrasting 'Vidhi' (Fate) and 'Madhi' (Intellect/Mind), a classic Kannadasan stylistic motif exploring destiny versus free will.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie Kungumam (1963) features music scored by K. V. Mahadevan and stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, and Vijayakumari. Kannadasan's philosophical lines in this song are often cited as some of his finest expressions of sorrow and philosophical acceptance.

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