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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthamizhe Muthamizhe

From Raman Abdullah · 1997

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilaiyaraja
Details
Raman Abdullah1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muthamizhae muthamizhaeOh sweet Tamil lady, oh sweet Tamil lady
Mutha chantham ondru ketpathennaWhy do I hear a pearly, rhythmic rhythm?
Mutha tamizh vithagiyaeOh expert mistress of sweet Tamil language
Ennil vanthu unnai paarpathennaWhy do you come into me to see yourself?
Idhazhum idhazhum ezhuthum paadal ennaWhat is this song that lip to lip writes?
Uyirum uyirum urughum thedal ennaWhat is this search where soul melts into soul?
Manam veguthu mogathilaeThe heart cooks in passion's heat
Noguthu thaabathilaeIt aches in deep longing
Male
Muthamizhae muthamizhaeOh sweet Tamil lady, oh sweet Tamil lady
Mutha chantham ondru ketpathennaWhy do I hear a pearly, rhythmic rhythm?
Mutha tamizh vithagiyaeOh expert mistress of sweet Tamil language
Ennil vanthu unnai paarpathennaWhy do you come into me to see yourself?
Female
Kaadhal vazhi saalaiyilaeOn this highway of love
Vegha thadai yedhumillaiThere are no speed breakers at all
Male :Naana kudai nee pidithumMale: Even though you hold the umbrella of shyness
Ver varaikkum saaral mazhaiDrizzling rain drenches down to the roots
Female :Thaagam vanthu paai virikkaFemale: Thirst arrives and spreads a mat
Thaavanippoo silirkkirathaeThe flower of my drape shivers with sensation
Male :Mogamvanthu uyir kudikkaMale: Passion comes to drink up life
Kai valaiyal sirikkirathaeThe bangles on your hand giggle in joy
Female :Undhan perai solli thaanFemale: Only when uttering your name
Kaaman ennai sandhithaanDid the god of love meet me
Male :Mutham sintha sintha aanandham thaanMale: As kisses shower down, it is pure bliss
Female
Muthamizhae muthamizhaeOh sweet Tamil lady, oh sweet Tamil lady
Mutha chantham ondru ketpathennaWhy do I hear a pearly, rhythmic rhythm?
Mutha tamizh vithagaraeOh master expert of sweet Tamil
Ennil vanthu unnai paarpathennaWhy do you come into me to see yourself?
Idhazhum idhazhum ezhuthum paadal ennaWhat is this song that lip to lip writes?
Uyirum uyirum urughum thedal ennaWhat is this search where soul melts into soul?
Manam veguthu mogathilaeThe heart cooks in passion's heat
Noguthu thaabathilaeIt aches in deep longing
Male
Kanavu vanthu kaathirukkuA dream has arrived and is waiting
Thoongi kolla madi irukkaIs there a lap available to sleep on?
Female :Aasai inghu pasithirukkuFemale: Desire is sitting here hungry
Ilamaikenna virunthirukkaIs youth served as a feast?
Male :Poovai killum baavanaiyilMale: In the gesture of plucking a flower
Soodi kolla thoondugiraaiYou tempt me to wear you
Female :Macham thodumthoranaiyilFemale: In the manner of touching my beauty mark
Mutham pera theendugiraaiYou touch me to receive a kiss
Male :Minnal sinthi sirithaaiMale: You smiled, scattering flashes of lightning
Kannil ennaik kudithaaiYou drank me in through your eyes
Female :Thaagam thanthu ennai moozhgadithaaiFemale: You gave me thirst and drowned me in it
Male
Aha muthamizhae..Female :Mmm..Ah, sweet Tamil... Female: Mmm...
Male :Muthamizhae ….Female :Enna..Male: Sweet Tamil... Female: What is it...
Mutha chantham ondru ketpathennaWhy do I hear a pearly, rhythmic rhythm?
Female :Mutha tamizh vithagaraeFemale: Oh master expert of sweet Tamil
Ennil vanthu unnai paarpathennaWhy do you come into me to see yourself?
Male :Idhazhum idhazhum ezhuthum paadal ennaMale: What is this song that lip to lip writes?
Female :Uyirum uyirum urughum thedal ennaFemale: What is this search where soul melts into soul?
Male :Manam veguthu mogathilaeMale: The heart cooks in passion's heat
Noguthu thaabathilaeIt aches in deep longing
Female
Muthamizhae muthamizhaeOh sweet Tamil lady, oh sweet Tamil lady
Mutha chantham ondru ketpathennaWhy do I hear a pearly, rhythmic rhythm?
Male :Mutha tamizh vithagiyaeMale: Oh expert mistress of sweet Tamil language
Ennil vanthu unnai paarpathennaWhy do you come into me to see yourself?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Muthamizhae Muthamizhae' from the 1997 Tamil film 'Raman Abdullah' is a poetic romantic duet written by Arivumathi and set to music by Ilaiyaraaja. The song compares the beloved and their intimate romance to classical, sweet Tamil ('Muthamizh'). Through high-flown literary metaphors, the lovers express their uncontrollable longing, romantic passion, and emotional unison. The lyrics weave sensory imagery—rain, flowers, lightning, thirst, and dreams—to depict intimacy as a harmonious composition where lips write music and souls melt together. The song beautifully balances traditional classical Tamil poetic tropes with intimate contemporary expressions of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Wordplay / Pun (Siledai)

Muthamizhae muthamizhae

The term 'Muthamizhae' plays on 'Muthamizh' (the three forms of Tamil: prose, poetry, drama) and 'Mutha' (pearl-like / kiss).

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Kaadhal vazhi saalaiyilae

Comparing love to an open highway without speed breakers to signify uninhibited romance.

Personification

Kai valaiyal sirikkirathae

Giving human qualities like laughter ('sirikkirathae') to bangles ('kai valaiyal').

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Kilavi / Anaphora)

Idhazhum idhazhum ezhuthum paadal enna

Repetition of words like 'idhazhum idhazhum' and 'uyirum uyirum' to emphasize unity and intensity.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Raman Abdullah' (1997) was directed by veteran filmmaker Balu Mahendra. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by poet Arivumathi. This song features rich classical Tamil poetic imagery, which was a hallmark of Arivumathi's lyrical collaborations with Balu Mahendra.

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