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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muzhumai Nila

From Vaazhthugal · 2008

Lyricist
Bharathidasan
Singers
Sriram Parthasarathy, Mukesh
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Vaazhthugal2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muzhumai nilaFull moon
Azhagu nilaBeautiful moon
Mulaithadhu vinn melaeHas sprouted up in the sky
Male
Adhu pazhamaiyilaeLike from the depths of antiquity
Pudhu ninaivuA fresh new memory
Paaindhezhundhaar polaeHas leaped and arisen
Male
Amudha mugam sirithadhu polLike a sweet face blooming into a smile
Alli virithaar polLike a lily spreading its petals open
Mel suzhatri erindha vellithattuLike a silver plate spun and tossed into the high sky
Suthi kidandhaar polAs if surrounding elements rest around it
Male
Muzhumai nila …aaa….Full moon... aaa...
Male
Muzhumai nilaFull moon
Azhagu nilaBeautiful moon
Mulaithadhu vinn melaeHas sprouted up in the sky
Male
Adhu pazhamaiyilaeLike from the depths of antiquity
Pudhu ninaivuA fresh new memory
Paaindhezhundhaar polaeHas leaped and arisen
Male
Ohh..Ohh..
Kuruttu vizhiyumAs though sightless eyes
Thirandhadhu polHave suddenly opened
Iruttil vaana vilakkuA sky-lamp shining in the darkness
Male
Nam poruttu vandhadhuHas arrived for our sake
Paadi aadiBy singing and dancing
Pozhudhu pokka thuvanguBegin passing the time
Male
Maraththin adiyilUnderneath the shade of the trees
Nilavu velichamThe glowing moonlight
Mayilin thogai vizhigalResembles the eye-like spots on peacock feathers
Pira therukkal ellaamAcross all the other streets
Kulirum oliyumCoolness and radiant light
Saerthu nazhuvum vazhigalFlow and slip through the pathways together
Male
Muzhumai nilaFull moon
Azhagu nilaBeautiful moon
Mulaithadhu vinn melaeHas sprouted up in the sky
Male
Adhu pazhamaiyilaeLike from the depths of antiquity
Pudhu ninaivuA fresh new memory
Paaindhezhundhaar polaeHas leaped and arisen
Male
Amudha mugam sirithadhu polLike a sweet face blooming into a smile
Alli virithaar polLike a lily spreading its petals open
Mel suzhatri erindha vellithattuLike a silver plate spun and tossed into the high sky
Suthi kidandhaar polAs if surrounding elements rest around it
Male
Muzhumai nila …aaa….Full moon... aaa...
Male
Muzhumai nilaFull moon
Azhagu nilaBeautiful moon
Mulaithadhu vinn melaeHas sprouted up in the sky
Male
Adhu pazhamaiyilaeLike from the depths of antiquity
Pudhu ninaivuA fresh new memory
Paaindhezhundhaar polaeHas leaped and arisen

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic song, penned by the legendary Tamil poet Bharathidasan, celebrates the luminous beauty of a full moon appearing in the night sky. The poem compares the rising full moon to a cherished old memory resurfacing with fresh vigour, a sweet smiling face, a lily blooming, and a silver plate tossed high. The radiant moonlight transforms the dark world, giving sight to darkness itself and creating mesmerizing patterns under tree canopies that resemble peacock feather spots. The poet urges everyone to rejoice, sing, and dance under this soothing celestial light.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Amudha mugam sirithadhu pol

The poet uses the comparative suffix 'polae' and 'pol' to compare the moon to a smiling face, an opening water lily, and a spun silver plate.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Iruttil vaana vilakku

The full moon in the dark sky is directly metaphorized as a 'vaana vilakku' (heavenly lamp) illuminating the night.

Visual Imagery

Mayilin thogai vizhigal

The light filtering through tree leaves onto the ground is vividly painted as the spot patterns ('vizhigal') of a peacock's feather.

Did you know?

Trivia

This poem was authored by the famed 'Puratchi Kavignar' (Revolutionary Poet) Bharathidasan. It was adapted into a song for the 2008 Tamil film 'Vaazhthugal', directed by Seeman with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

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