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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Endraal

From Suryaganthi · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, J. Jayalalitha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Suryaganthi1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan endraal adhu avalum naanumIf you say 'Me', it means her and me
Aval endraal adhu naanum avalumIf you say 'Her', it means me and her
Naan endraal adhu avalum naanumIf you say 'Me', it means her and me
Aval endraal adhu naanum avalumIf you say 'Her', it means me and her
Female
Yeah the whole trueYeah, the whole truth
Male
Naan sonnaal adhu avalin vedhamWhat I say is her sacred scripture
Aval sonnaal adhuthaan en ennamWhat she says is my exact thought
Female
And nothing but truthAnd nothing but truth
Male
Adhuthaan en ennamThat is my exact thought
Male
Naan endraal adhu avalum naanumIf you say 'Me', it means her and me
Aval endraal adhu naanum avalumIf you say 'Her', it means me and her
Male
Kattiya kanavan kattalaipadiyaeAccording to her wedded husband's command
Kaariya maattrum gunamudaiyaalShe possesses the character to carry out tasks
Female
In thought word and deedIn thought, word, and deed
Male
Naan seith mudivai thaan seitha mudivaaiThe decision I make, as her own decision
Ninaiththae paarkkum manamudaiyaalShe has the mind to consider and accept
Female
Such a noble heartSuch a noble heart
Male
Purushanukku arugae sarisamamaagaRight next to her husband, as an equal
Amarnthida thayangum panpudayaal….haa…She hesitates to sit, such is her modesty... haa...
Female
Ho there he goes againHo, there he goes again
Male
Kadavulin melaai kanavanai mathiththuRespecting her husband above God himself
Vanangidum iniya anbudayaalShe possesses a sweet love that worships him
Female
Hmmm god bless meHmmm, God bless me
Male
Iniya anbudayaalPossesses such sweet love
Male
Naan sonnaal adhu avalin vedhamWhat I say is her sacred scripture
Aval sonnaal adhuthaan en ennamWhat she says is my exact thought
Male
Aanmagan vaguththa ellaiyai kadanthuCrossing the boundary drawn by her man
Nadanthaal ragavan thalaiviWalked Rama's consort (Sita)
Female
Remember what happened to herRemember what happened to her
Male
Kanavan kizhiththa kottai kadanthuCrossing the line drawn by her husband
Ariyaal adiyaen manaiviMy humble wife does not know how to cross
Female
Yes always yours sincerelyYes, always yours sincerely
Male
Kondavan veedu kudisaiyendraalumEven if her husband's home is just a hut
Maaligaipolae ninaippaalaeShe considers it like a grand palace
Female
Oo…really sont make me blushOo... really, don't make me blush
Male
Avaloru paathi naanoru paathiShe is one half, I am the other half
Enbathupolae nadappaalaeShe conducts herself according to that principle
Female
The betterhal and the bitterhalfThe better half and the bitter half
Male
Enbathupolae nadappaalaeShe conducts herself according to that principle
Male
Naan endraal adhu avalum naanumIf you say 'Me', it means her and me
Aval endraal adhu naanum avalumIf you say 'Her', it means me and her

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Suryaganthi (1973) portrays a unique, playful dialogue between a husband praising his devoted wife and the wife interjecting with witty, modern English commentary. The husband sings of her devotion, comparison to epic figures like Sita, and her selfless love, while she chimingly responds with humorous English remarks like 'In thought, word and deed' and 'The better half and the bitter half'. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kannadasan, the song beautifully balances traditional marital devotion with lighthearted modern banter. The track captures the harmonious oneness of the couple ('Avaloru paathi naanoru paathi') while offering an iconic blend of Tamil lyricism and English punchlines.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkut Thodar)

Naan endraal adhu avalum naanum / Aval endraal adhu naanum avalum

The opening lines repeat 'Naan endraal' and 'Aval endraal' in a reciprocal pattern to emphasize total oneness between husband and wife.

Simile (Upamai)

Maaligaipolae ninaippaalae

Comparing a modest hut to a majestic palace using the comparison suffix 'polae' to describe her content nature.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kattiya kanavan kattalaipadiyae

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kattiya' and 'Kattalai' across words in the line.

Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Aanmagan vaguththa ellaiyai kadanthu / Nadanthaal ragavan thalaivi

Refers to the Ramayana episode where Sita (Ragavan thalaivi) crossed the Lakshmana Rekha (boundary) and faced captivity.

Code-Switching / Contrastive Humor

The betterhal and the bitterhalf

Juxtaposing traditional Tamil marital values sung by SPB with playful, fluent English interjections by Jayalalithaa.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is famous for featuring former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa, singing her own playback dialogue in English alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Jayalalithaa's natural English diction and witty retorts turned this track into an enduring classic in Tamil cinema history.

Keep listening

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