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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naakku Chevandhavarae

From Naatpadu Theral · 2021

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Kiruthiga
Music director
Vagu Mazan
Movie name
Naatpadu Theral
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
14 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
Iruvaai undakadhai
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
{Naakku sevandhavare
Naalezhuthu mandhiriyae
Mookku vedachavare
Munn vazhukkai mannavarae} (2)
Koothu mudinjiruchu
Komaripulla edhukkunnu
Paathum paakkama
Paraparannu porreeroo!
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
Iruvaai undakadhai
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
Vaikkapor padapukku
Vada iruttu moolaiyila
Akkapor senjakadhai
Aiyyanukku maranthiruchoo?…
Savara kathikku
Thappicha kurumudiyil
Mugara urasunadhu
Muzhusathaan maranthiruchoo?….
Mottu mottu malligaiya
Mutti mutti thattivittu
Muthu muthu vervai sottu
Mondhakadhai maranthiruchoo?….
Vaazhaithoppukkulla
Valavi odachakadhai
Vaazhai maranthirukkum
Valathu kaiyi maranthirumoo?…
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
Iruvaai undakadhai
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
Thaenyeri poirundha
Sirikkimava thalamayiru
Penyeri ponadhaiyaa
Pechuvaarthai illama
Pulli thaemalukku
Pudhu madippukkum
Karupatti udhatukkum
Karuthakkili alaiyudhappa
Aarucharam sangiliyoo
Attigai kekalaiyae
Manja kayithukku
Manasukkulla arikkuthaiyaa
Aambalaiga sagavaasam
Aduthoruthi vaara varaikkum
Pombalaiga sagavaasam
Pudhai kaadu poravaraikkum
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
Iruvaai undakadhai
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
A single mouthful of betel leaf,
That two mouths shared and chewed—
Even if your lips forget to say it,
Can the sweet taste of it ever be forgotten?...
O man with the red-stained tongue,
O clever, learned man,
O man with the proud, flared nose,
My king with the receding hairline...
The village play is over,
And thinking, 'Why do I need this young girl now?'
You look at me yet pretend not to see,
And walk away in such a rush!..
A single mouthful of betel leaf,
That two mouths shared and chewed—
Even if your lips forget to say it,
Can the sweet taste of it ever be forgotten?...
Behind the tall haystack,
In the dark northern corner,
The way we made passionate love,
Has my man forgotten it all?...
On the short stubble
That escaped the razor's edge,
The way your face rubbed against mine,
Have you forgotten that completely?...
Nudging and brushing repeatedly
Against the jasmine buds in my hair,
And breathing in the pearl-like drops of sweat,
Has that sweet memory slipped your mind?...
Inside the banana grove,
The way you broke my bangles in passion—
The banana trees might forget,
But could your right hand ever forget?....
A single mouthful of betel leaf,
That two mouths shared and chewed—
Even if your lips forget to say it,
Can the sweet taste of it ever be forgotten?...
The hair of this wild girl,
Which once was sweet as honey,
Has gathered lice now, my lord,
Just because you stopped talking to me!
For the beauty marks on your skin,
For the crisp pleats of your new dhoti,
For your lips sweet as palm jaggery,
This dark parrot of a girl is longing, my lord!
I am not asking for a six-strand gold chain,
Nor am I asking for a choker necklace;
Just for a simple yellow marriage thread,
My heart aches with restless longing, my lord!
A man's love lasts
Only until the next woman comes along;
A woman's love lasts
All the way until the burial ground.
A single mouthful of betel leaf,
That two mouths shared and chewed—
Even if your lips forget to say it,
Can the sweet taste of it ever be forgotten?...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This folk-style song from Vairamuthu's 'Naatpadu Theral' initiative portrays a woman playfully yet poignantly confronting her lover. She recalls intimate secret moments they shared in rural spots—such as near haystacks and in banana groves—asking if he can truly erase the memory and sweetness of their romance just because the moment has passed. Beyond her playful teasing and vivid nostalgia, she expresses her true longing: she desires a lasting marital commitment symbolized by a simple sacred yellow thread ('manja kayiru') rather than expensive jewelry. The song concludes with a profound social observation on loyalty, contrasting the transient nature of male attachment with the unwavering, lifelong devotion of a woman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Mottu mottu malligaiya / Mutti mutti thattivittu / Muthu muthu vervai sottu / Mondhakadhai maranthiruchoo?….. Note also: Vaazhaithoppukkulla / Valavi odachakadhai / Vaazhai maranthirukkum / Valathu kaiyi maranthirumoo?… me: sound repetition of 'M' and 'V' at line beginnings creates folk rhythmic cadence visually and auditorily. device details: Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)”

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Oruvaai / Iruvaai / Thiruvaai me: 'ru' is the second letter rhyming across lines.”

Uvamai / Metaphor

“Muthu muthu vervai sottu me: Sweat droplets compared to precious pearls.”

Folk Metaphor / Imagery

“Karupatti udhatukkum me: Lips compared to dark, unrefined palm jaggery ('karupatti'), symbolizing sweet rustic beauty.”

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naatpadu Theral' is a celebrated non-film Tamil music project curated by lyricist Vairamuthu, featuring 100 independent songs composed by various Tamil indie and mainstream composers to revive authentic Tamil literary and folk aesthetics.

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