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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Moongil Mara

From Azhagu Nila · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Susheela, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Azhagu Nila
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Moongil mara kattinilae …
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Moongil mara kattinilae …
{Naadhamillai endraal
Geetham kidaiyaadhu
Female :Ragam illai endraal
Thaalam kidaiyaadhu} (2)
Kaadhal illaiyendraal
Ulagam kidaiyaadhu
Kaadhal illaiyendraal
Ulagam kidaiyaadhu
Female :Kangal illaiyendraal
Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu
Kangal illaiyendraal
Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Both :Moongil mara kattinilae …
{Kangal irundhenna
Kaatchiyum irundhenna
Konjum mozhiyum illai
Kurippum theriyavillai} (2)
Pinjum kaaiyaagum
Kaayum kaniyaagum
Pinjum kaaiyaagum
Kaayum kaniyaagum
Kaniyil suvai irukkum
Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum
Kaniyil suvai irukkum
Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum
Moongil mara kattinilae
Ketkkum oru naadham
Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal
Undaagum sangeetham
Both :Moongil mara kattinilae
{Kaalam varuvadhendru
Kaayum kanivadhendru
Kangal malarvadhendru
Inbam valarvadhendru} (2)
Aakka porutha manam
Aara porukkalaiyae
Paarkkum paarvaiyilae
Nokkam puriyalaiyae
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest...
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest...
If there is no sound,
there is no song.
If there is no melody,
there is no rhythm.
If there is no love,
this world cannot exist.
If there is no love,
this world cannot exist.
If there are no eyes,
there are no sights to behold.
If there are no eyes,
there are no sights to behold.
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest...
What is the use of having eyes,
and what is the use of having sights to see,
when there are no sweet words spoken,
and no subtle hints understood?
A tender bud turns into unripe fruit,
and the unripe fruit ripens into sweet fruit.
A tender bud turns into unripe fruit,
and the unripe fruit ripens into sweet fruit.
The ripe fruit is full of sweetness;
when the right time comes, it yields its reward.
The ripe fruit is full of sweetness;
when the right time comes, it yields its reward.
In the bamboo forest,
a musical sound is heard.
As the gentle breeze kisses the trees,
a sweet melody is born.
In the bamboo forest...
When will that right time come?
When will the fruit finally ripen?
When will our eyes bloom with love?
When will our joy keep growing?
The heart that waited for the meal to cook
has no patience left to let it cool!
Yet in the glances you give,
I cannot understand your true intention!
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Moongil Mara Kattinilae from the film Azhagu Nila (1962) is a celebrated romantic duet composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela. The song draws a poetic parallel between the phenomena of nature and human affection: just as the gentle breeze brushing through bamboo stalks produces divine flute-like music, mutual love gives rhythm, warmth, and meaning to life. The lovers engage in a subtle, playful dialogue comparing love to the process of fruit ripening, emphasizing that sweet rewards require patience, while teasing each other's impatience and unspoken desires using traditional Tamil maxims.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Personification (Uvamaani)

“Muthamidum thendralinaal Undaagum sangeetham”

The lyricist personifies the southern breeze as 'kissing' the bamboo grove to produce music, symbolizing how love organically breathes life and melody into the world.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Moongil mara kattinilae”

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in 'Moongil mara' creates a soothing musical cadence matching the thematic natural wind sound.

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi Uvamai)

“Aakka porutha manam Aara porukkalaiyae”

Uses the famous Tamil folk proverb about cooking food to illustrate romantic impatience—the heart had patience while love was being formed, but cannot wait to enjoy it now.

Did you know?

Trivia

Azhagu Nila (1962) featured a timeless soundtrack by 'Thirai Isai Thilagam' K. V. Mahadevan. This song is widely recognized for lyricist A. Maruthakasi's ingenious use of the bamboo forest as a natural metaphor for the flute (pulanguzhal) made of bamboo, seamlessly blending nature imagery with romantic philosophy.

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