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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Nilave

From Time · 1999

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Devan, Gopika Poornima
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Time1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaaO pearl-like moon, yaahiyaayaa
ThithikkindradhaeIt tastes sweet
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaaO stars, yaahiyaayaa
KottugindradhaeIt is showering down
Kaatrilae kaigalaal oviyam varaigirenI am drawing a painting in the air with my hands
Dhevadhai naeril vandhaalae hoiFor the angel has arrived in person, hoi
Male
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaaO pearl-like moon, yaahiyaayaa
ThithikkindradhaeIt tastes sweet
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaaO stars, yaahiyaayaa
KottugindradhaeIt is showering down
Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnalHey, the laughing lightning is laughing
Hae parikkudhae thudikkum nenjaiHey, it snatches away my throbbing heart
Hae haehaeiHey haehaei
Hae thudikkudhae kodhikkum nenjamHey, the boiling heart throbs
Hae kulikkudhae kodhikkum aatrilHey, it bathes in the boiling river
Hae haehaeiHey haehaei
Female
Haa… kaarmugil vannanAh... the one dark like the rain clouds
Kuzhal osai ketkiradhuThe sound of the flute is heard
Maalaiyil manivannaaIn the evening, O precious gem-colored Krishna
Raadhaiyin ullamRadha's heart
Mana maalai korkkiradhuIs stringing a wedding garland
Maalaiyil manivannaaIn the evening, O precious gem-colored Krishna
Vaenguzhal thaen osaiThe sweet honey sound of the bamboo flute
Osaiyil or aasaiA desire within that sound
Aasaiyil pen kannam poothadhaeIn that desire, the girl's cheek bloomed
Male
En nenjin pen aanaaiYou became the woman of my heart
Muthu mani mutham kannukkullaeA pearl-like kiss inside the eyes
Ratthinangal sindhum en nenjukkullaeGemstones scatter inside my heart
Angum ingum engengum nee thaanaaIs it you everywhere, here and there?
Thathi thathi pogum pachai kiliThe green parrot that waddles away
Rekkaigalai thandhidum nee sonna padiGive it wings as per your word
Male
Naan andha oviyam kanduSeeing that painting
Silaiyaai aagirenI become a statue
Vaanavillin vannam kanduSeeing the colors of the rainbow
Mazhaiyaai aagirenI turn into rain
Ninaivilae vaazhndhavalThe girl who lived in my thoughts
Naerilae thondrinaalAppeared in person
En uyir dheebathai vizhiyinaal thoondinaalShe stoked the lamp of my life with her eyes
Kaadhal kolvenae kaalam kaalam velvenaeI will love and conquer through the ages
Male
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaaO pearl-like moon, yaahiyaayaa
ThithikkindradhaeIt tastes sweet
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaaO stars, yaahiyaayaa
KottugindradhaeIt is showering down
Male
En paadhi enbaenaaShall I call you my other half?
Sithirathin sirippu kan azhaguThe smile of a portrait, the beauty of the eyes
Thoondilukku thappaadhu kan azhaguThe beauty of the eyes cannot escape the hook
Unnai vittu ingae naan vaazhvenaaWill I live here without you?
Rendil ondru pattendru solli viduTell me one of the two options directly
Thatthalikkum en manadhai alli eduGather up my struggling heart
Male
Poovukkullae poovukkullaeInside a flower, inside a flower
Naam vaazhvomaaShall we live?
Aal illaa aalae illaaWhere there are no people at all
Dhesam povomaaShall we go to a land?
Male
Kaadhalai unnalaamLove can be consumed as food
Kaadhalai uduthalaamLove can be worn as clothes
Kaadhalai vaazhalaamLove can be lived
Kaadhalai aalalaamLove can be ruled
Thodarum en anbaeMy love will continue
Podhum podhum en anbaeEnough, enough, my love
Female
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaaO pearl-like moon, yaahiyaayaa
ThithikkindradhaeIt tastes sweet
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaaO stars, yaahiyaayaa
KottugindradhaeIt is showering down
Male
Kaatrilae kaigalaalWith my hands in the air
Oviyam varaigirenI am drawing a painting
Dhevadhai naeril vandhaalae hoiFor the angel has arrived in person, hoi
Female
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaaO pearl-like moon, yaahiyaayaa
ThithikkindradhaeIt tastes sweet
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaaO stars, yaahiyaayaa
KottugindradhaeIt is showering down
Male
Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnalHey, the laughing lightning is laughing
Hae parikkudhae thudikkum nenjaiHey, it snatches away my throbbing heart
Hae haehaeiHey haehaei
Hae thudikkudhae kodhikkum nenjamHey, the boiling heart throbs
Hae kulikkudhae kodhikkum aatrilHey, it bathes in the boiling river
Hae haehaeiHey haehaei

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muthu Nilave from the 1999 film Time is a romantic duet expressing ecstatic love and wonderment upon reuniting with one's beloved. The lovers compare their joy to sweet moonlight and raining stars, using vivid nature imagery to capture their inner thrill. The song incorporates mythical romantic motifs, drawing parallels between their bond and the divine affection between Radha and Krishna, emphasizing how love nourishes, clothes, and transforms every dimension of their existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa

Compares the beloved to a celestial angel and precious moonlight, enhancing the romantic awe.

Anaphora & Monorhyme (Iyaibu)

Kaadhalai unnalaam / Kaadhalai uduthalaam / Kaadhalai vaazhalaam

Sequential repetition of 'Kaadhalai' at the start of lines combined with matching verb endings (-laam) creates rhythmic harmony.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kaatrilae kaigalaal oviyam varaigiren

Repetition of the 'K' consonant sound across consecutive words creates a pleasant musical flow.

Personification

Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnal

Attributes human characteristics such as laughter to physical lightning.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva for the 1999 Tamil film 'Time' directed by Geetha Krishna, this popular track features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Unni Krishnan, and Anuradha Sriram, with lyrics written by Pazhani Bharathi.

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