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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Moondrezhuthu

From Paarthale Paravasam · 2001

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Harini, Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Paarthale Paravasam2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hey guruvaeHey Guru
Guruvae guruvaeGuru, Guru
Guruvae guruvaeGuru, Guru
ShishiyaaDisciple!
Female
Ada moondrezhuthuHey, that three-lettered
Ketta vaarthaiBad word,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharavaShall I teach you what it is?
Ada moondrezhuthu ketta vaarthaiHey, that three-lettered bad word,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharava…Shall I teach you what it is?
Female
Athu unnai ennaiIt is the word that burnt
Sutta vaarthaiYou and me,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharavaShall I teach you what it is?
Male
Pottu pinnuthadiIt twists and knots me,
Enna thinnuthadiIt consumes me,
Athu enna vaarthaiWhat is that word?
Sollunga guruva…Tell me, Guru...
Female
Dhinam nithirai kettuLosing sleep every day,
Oru mutharai ittuPlacing a seal,
Atha kathuka venumOne must learn it
Romba suluvaaVery easily.
Male :Guru thakshanaiMale: The Guru's fee,
Ennaanu sollanum neengaYou must tell me what it is.
Female
Ada moondrezhuthuHey, that three-lettered
Ketta vaarthaiBad word,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharavaShall I teach you what it is?
Athu unnai ennaiIt is the word that burnt
Sutta vaarthaiYou and me,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharavaShall I teach you what it is?
Female
Kamban maganaiThe word that consumed
Thindra vaarthaiThe son of Kamban,
Deiveega vaarthaiA divine word,
Athu pournami nilavaiyumIt even shows the full moon
Neruppena kaattumAs fire,
Kaaviya vaarthaiAn epic word.
Male
Nilavodu neruppai vaithaaiYou combined fire with the moon,
Athu ena serkkaiWhat a strange combination!
Athai neeyum ingaeIf you do not
Sollaa vittaalTell it here,
Enakkethu vazhkai..What life is left for me?
Female
Ninaithaalae nenjukkullaeA word that hurts inside the heart
Valikindra vaarthaiJust by thinking of it,
Nedungaalam nombirunthalA word that comes true
Palikindra vaarthaiIf one observes penance for long.
Male
Sollunga guruvaeTell me, Guru!
Sollunga guruvaeTell me, Guru!
Surundu sunnambaaga nikkirenI stand shriveled like quicklime.
Female
Ada moondrezhuthuHey, that three-lettered
Ketta vaarthaiBad word,
Antha vaarthai shishiyaThat word, disciple,
Ennavendru solli tharava…Shall I teach you what it is?
Chorus :Hey guruvaeChorus: Hey Guru!
Male
Un perai solliChanting your name,
Nooru thengai odaikiren guruvaeI break a hundred coconuts, Guru!
Sollu antha ketta vaarthaiTell that bad word!
Chorus :Hey guruvaeChorus: Hey Guru!
Female
{Dhinam nithirai kettu{Losing sleep every day,
Oru mutharai ittuPlacing a seal,
Atha kathuka venumOne must learn it
Romba suluvaa} (2)Very easily} (2)
Male : Guru thakshanaiMale: The Guru's fee,
Ennaanu sollanum neengaYou must tell me what it is.
Female
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…Aaaa...aaa...aaa...
Unnai enthan pinnaal endrumThe word that keeps you
Sutra vaikkum vaarthaiAlways chasing behind me,
Puthu kavignarukkellaamFor all the new poets,
Payithiyam thannaiIt makes madness
Mutravaikkum vaarthaiReach its absolute peak,
Male
Athu ena sokkupodiWhat a spellbinding,
Manthira vaarthaiMagical word!
Naan vaazhvaemayam paadikonduBefore I sing 'Life is an illusion'
Thaadivaikkum munnaeAnd grow a beard,
Sol antha vaarthaiSpeak that word!
Female
Apple pazham aarambithaThe miraculous word
Athisaya vaarthaiThat started with the apple fruit,
Aathaam evaal pesi kondaThe beautiful word
Azhagiya vaarthaiSpoken between Adam and Eve.
Male
Sollunga guruvaeTell me, Guru!
Female :Solluren shishiyaFemale: I will tell you, disciple,
Alaiyaathae alaiyaathaeDo not wander, do not wander!
Male
Un perai solliChanting your name,
Nooru thaengai odaikiren guruvaeI break a hundred coconuts, Guru!
Sollu antha ketta vaarthaiTell that bad word!
Un thunigalai pathu maasamI will wash your clothes
Thuvaikiren guruvaeFor ten months, Guru!
Sollu antha nalla vaarthaiTell that good word!
Female
Naan sollamaattenI will not tell!
Atha sollamaattenI will not tell that!
Nee soappu potta kooda shishiyaEven if you flatter me, disciple!
Kaavil aarambikkumIt starts with 'Kaa',
Ilil poyi nikkumAnd ends at 'L',
Kandupidi kandupidi shishiyaFind it out, find it out, disciple!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duetting track portrays a lively, humorous banter structured as a conversation between a 'Guru' (teacher) and a 'Shishya' (disciple). The disciple eagerly begs to learn the mysterious 'three-letter bad word' that causes intense longing, poetic madness, and heartache, while the teacher teases him with riddle-like clues.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Mythological & Literary Historical)

Kamban maganai thindra vaarthai

Refers to Ambikapathy (Kamban's son) who met a tragic fate due to love, as well as the biblical story of Adam, Eve, and the forbidden apple fruit.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Athu pournami nilavaiyum neruppena kaattum

Juxtaposes the cool, calming full moon ('pournami nilavu') with burning fire ('neruppu') to illustrate the intense turmoil caused by love.

Wordplay / Riddle (Iyaibu & Prasa)

Kaavil aarambikkum ilil poyi nikkum

Riddling structure giving phonetical hints about the word 'Kaadhal' (காதல்) starting with 'Ka' (கா) and ending in 'L' (ல்).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for director K. Balachander's milestone 100th film 'Paarthale Paravasam' (2001), the lyricist Vaali playfully teases the Tamil word for love—'Kaadhal' (காதல்)—referring to it throughout the song as the 'three-letter word' (Moondrezhuthu).

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