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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Megam Karukayilae

From Vaidehi Kathirunthal · 1984

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Ilayaraja, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vaidehi Kathirunthal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ahaa ohoo yehee hoi….4Ahaa ohoo yehee hoi... (vocalizing)
Thanananna thanananna thaanana naa..4Rhythm vocalizations...
Male
Megam karukayilaeAs the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Aaththa kadanthidalaamWe can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?
Female
Akkara senthapinnaeAfter reaching the other shore,
Un aasaiya sollu machanExpress your desire, my dear lover.
Neivilakkethi vachiLight a ghee lamp,
Un nesathai sollu machanAnd express your love, my dear lover.
Male
Megam karukayilaeAs the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Aaththa kadanthidalaamWe can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?
Male
Vaala komarikku vela vandhuThe right time has arrived for the young maiden,
Maala kazhuthula yeriduchiAnd the wedding garland is now around her neck.
Chorus :AmaamChorus: Yes!
Male :Manjalum kunkumam sernthiduchiMale: Turmeric and vermilion have joined together,
Mangala sathamum kettiduchi..Auspicious sounds of music are heard...
Chorus :AmaamChorus: Yes!
Female
Ethanai naaliva kaathirundhaaHow many days she waited,
Ennenna kanavugal kanndirundhaaAnd what dreams she had envisioned!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Female :Annaikku nenachathu nenachabadiFemale: Whatever was envisioned back then,
Innaikku mudinjathu nallabadiHas concluded wonderfully today!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Male
Mandhaara solaiyilae kuttiIn the grove of Mandhaara trees, my little girl,
Mullaippoo pooththirukkuJasmine flowers have bloomed.
Chorus :Ahaa..Chorus: Ahaa..
Male :Mullaippoo vaasathilae kuttiMale: In the fragrance of the jasmine, my little girl,
Mogamum sernthiduchiDesire has also mixed in.
Chorus :AhaaChorus: Ahaa!
Female
Ooru madhikannumThe town should respect us,
Perum valaranumOur fame should grow,
Nooru vayasukkuAnd up to a hundred years,
Vaazhanum vaazhanumWe must live happily together!
Male
Megam karukayilaeAs the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Adi aaththa kadanthidalaamHey, we can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?
Female
Akkara senthapinnaeAfter reaching the other shore,
Un aasaiya sollu machanExpress your desire, my dear lover.
Neivilakkethi vachiLight a ghee lamp,
Un nesathai sollu machanAnd express your love, my dear lover.
Male
Adi megam karukayilaeHey, as the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Aaththa kadanthidalaamWe can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?
Chorus
…………………………….... Musical interlude ...
Female
Yaarukku yaarunnuWho is destined for whom,
Pottu vachanGod has predestined and marked,
Neram varaiyila serthu vachanAnd brought us together when the right time came.
Chorus :AmaamChorus: Yes!
Female :Poovukkul thaen vachaFemale: The Almighty who placed honey inside flowers,
AanndavanaeGod,
Vanndukkum yenatha sollivachanAlso informed the beetle about it!
Chorus :AmaamChorus: Yes!
Male
Aanunnum ponnunnumMale and female,
Yen padaichaanWhy did He create them?
Aalukoru aasaiyai yen valardhaanWhy did He nurture desires in each of them?
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Male :Illanna ulagamae illa pullaMale: Otherwise, there would be no world at all, girl!
Idhu kooda theriyalai enna pullaDon't you even know this, girl?
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Female
Alli koduthiduvenI will shower all my affection,
Machaan thulli vizhunthiduvenMy lover, I will leap into your arms!
Chorus :AhaanChorus: Aha!
Female :Solli purivadhillaiFemale: Words cannot express it,
Machaan sokkuthu en manasuMy lover, my heart is mesmerized!
Chorus :AhaanChorus: Aha!
Male
Mullai vilakkanumWe must part the thorny vines,
Poovai edukkanumGather the blossom,
Thottu magizhanumTouch and enjoy it,
Vaazhva rasikkanumAnd relish this life!
Male
Megam karukayilaeAs the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Adi aaththa kadanthidalaamHey, we can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?
Female
Akkara senthapinnaeAfter reaching the other shore,
Un aasaiya sollu machanExpress your desire, my dear lover.
Neivilakkethi vachiLight a ghee lamp,
Un nesathai sollu machanAnd express your love, my dear lover.
Male
Adi megam karukayilaeHey, as the clouds darken,
Pulla dhegam kulirudhadiGirl, my body feels cold!
Aaththa kadanthidalaamWe can cross the river,
Pulla aasaiyai enna seivenGirl, what shall I do with my desire?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Megam Karukayilae is a vibrant Tamil folk duet from the film Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984). Set against a rural landscape, the song features a playful dialogue between two lovers reflecting on their romantic attraction, marriage, and life together. As overcast clouds bring a cool breeze, the male protagonist expresses his yearning while his beloved coyly reminds him of auspicious traditions and timing. The lyrics mix playful flirting with romantic philosophy, drawing natural analogies like bees being drawn to flower nectar to explain divine love and human connection. It celebrates a prosperous, harmonious married life filled with love, respect, and simple joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Annaikku nenachathu nenachabadi / Innaikku mudinjathu nallabadi

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('nn'), creating a harmonious rhythm in traditional Tamil prosody.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ooru madhikannum / Perum valaranum / Nooru vayasukku / Vaazhanum vaazhanum

Lines end with matching suffixes (-num) to build musicality and momentum during the chorus section.

Metaphor / Analogy (Uvamaani)

Poovukkul thaen vacha Aanndavanae / Vanndukkum yenatha sollivachan

Compares divine intent in human romance to God placing nectar inside a flower for bees to discover.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though listed with unknown credits in the query, this iconic track was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the blockbuster hit 'Vaidehi Kathirunthal' (1984), directed by R. Sundarrajan and starring Vijayakanth and Revathi. Sung by Ilaiyaraaja along with S. Janaki and P. Jayachandran, it remains one of Tamil cinema's most beloved rural folk compositions.

Keep listening

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