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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naanama Maivizhiyil

From Uyir · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Salil Chowdry
Details
Uyir1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaaIs it shyness in your kohl-lined eyes, shyness?
Naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaaIs it shyness in your kohl-lined eyes, shyness?
Poo mugaththai yaen maraiththaaiWhy did you hide your flower-like face?
Naan ezhuthum ponnoviyamae oo…oo….Oh golden painting drawn by me!
Female
Nee anaiththaai naan thudithaenYou embraced, and I fluttered with emotion.
Penmai enbathu thanmaiyallavaa aa…aa…Isn't gentleness the very nature of womanhood?
Thanimaiyilum vegamaa ila manathin vegamaaIs it passion even in solitude, or the speed of a youthful heart?
Male
Vayathu pathinaaru varainthidum azhagoduWith the beauty painted by the age of sixteen,
Kangalil nee vanthaal kavithai pirakkaathoIf you enter my eyes, won't poetry be born?
Kangalil nee vanthaal kavithai pirakkaathoIf you enter my eyes, won't poetry be born?
Female
Sollillae paathi varumHalf of it will come in spoken words,
Male :Ohho..Male: Ohho..
Female :Kangalil meethi varumFemale: The remaining half will bloom in the eyes,
Male :OhhoMale: Ohho
Female :Kadhalai paada varumFemale: It comes to sing of love,
Male :AahaMale: Aaha
Female :Naanamum kooda varumFemale: Shyness comes along with it too,
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa
Male
Kadhalai paada varum naanamum kooda varum oo oo…It comes to sing of love, and shyness comes along too...
Kadhalai paada varum naanamum kooda varumIt comes to sing of love, and shyness comes along too.
Thanimaiyilum naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaaShyness even in solitude? Shyness in your kohl-lined eyes?
Female
Vizhiyum imaikkaamal vilagavum ninaikkaamalWithout blinking an eye and without thinking of drifting apart,
Vizhiyum imaikkaamal vilagavum ninaikkaamalWithout blinking an eye and without thinking of drifting apart,
Vaazhnthidum naalellaam varavaa thunaiyaagaShall I come as your life partner for all our living days?
Vaazhnthidum naalellaam varavaa thunaiyaagaShall I come as your life partner for all our living days?
Male
Poovizhi paadi varumFlower-like eyes will come singing,
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Punnagai kodi tharumMale: A smile will bring millions of joys,
Female :OhhoFemale: Ohho
Male :Maadulam poo malaru,Male: The pomegranate blossom blooms,
Female :OhhoFemale: Ohho
Male :Maiyalil kan valarumMale: Eyes fall asleep in deep passion,
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Female
Maadulam poo malarumThe pomegranate flower blooms,
Maiyalil kan valarum mmmmEyes fall asleep in deep passion...
Male :Thanimaiyilum naanamaaMale: Shyness even in solitude?
Maivizhiyil naanamaaShyness in your kohl-lined eyes?
Male
naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaaIs it shyness in your kohl-lined eyes, shyness?
Poo mugaththai yaen maraiththaaiWhy did you hide your flower-like face?
Naan ezhuthum ponnoviyamae oo…oo…Oh golden painting drawn by me!
Female
Nee anaiththaai naan thudithaenYou embraced, and I fluttered with emotion.
Penmai enbathu thanmaiyallavaa aa…aa…Isn't gentleness the very nature of womanhood?
Thanimaiyilum vegamaa ila manathin vegamaaIs it passion even in solitude, or the speed of a youthful heart?
Male
NaanamaaShyness?
Female :VegamaaFemale: Passion?
Male :NaanamaaMale: Shyness?
Female :VegamaaFemale: Passion?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaa is a tender, playful romantic duet from the film Uyir (1971). The male lover gently teases his beloved about her bashfulness and why she hides her flower-like face behind her hands. He admires her youthful sixteen-year-old grace as a living golden painting that inspires spontaneous poetry. In response, the female lover softly defends her modesty, explaining that gentleness is intrinsic to womanhood, while acknowledging the racing heartbeat of youthful romance. As the song progresses, both lovers express their deep affection and desire for lifelong companionship, promising never to drift apart. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully balances subtle playfulness with deep emotional intimacy, perfectly complemented by Salil Chowdhury's lush melodious arrangement and the vocal chemistry between T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Poo mugaththai yaen maraiththaai

Poo mugaththai compares the maiden's face directly to a delicate flower.

Metaphor

Naan ezhuthum ponnoviyamae oo…oo….

Ponnoviyamae frames the beloved as a golden painting created by the lover's imagination.

Alliteration (Monai)

Naanamaa maivizhiyil naanamaa

Repetition of the 'Na' sound across words creates a musical rhythmic effect.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Kangalil nee vanthaal kavithai pirakkaatho

Questions used poetically to evoke romantic feelings rather than seek literal answers.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song represents one of the rare and iconic collaborations between legendary Bengali composer Salil Chowdhury and Tamil lyricist Kannadasan for the 1971 movie Uyir. Salil Chowdhury's signature Western classical-inspired arrangements seamlessly blended with traditional Indian melodies, setting a distinctive tone in Tamil film music.

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