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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nariga Uranga

From Annakodi · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Santhosh, Pooja, Harini Sudhakar
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Annakodi2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ooru oranga ulagam orangaWhen the village sleeps, when the world sleeps
Nari naai orangum raathiriyil…In the night when jackals and dogs sleep...
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevano…Who is that fellow coming...
Male
Aelae laelae laelae laeAelae laelae laelae lae
Aelae laelae laeAelae laelae lae
Aelae laelae laelae laeAelae laelae laelae lae
Aelae laelae laeAelae laelae lae
Female
Nariga oranga naaiga orangaWhen jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Female
Nariga oranga naaiga orangaWhen jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Male
Kaada mutta kannazhagiBeautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg
Maadu muttum maarazhagiBeautiful-breasted girl that could stun a bull
Paadhgathi cheruppa vachuYou sinner, holding a sandal
Parisam poda vandhirukkaenI have come to give the dowry/bride-price
Female
Moda moda moda moda vaetti kattiWearing a layered folded dhoti
Muni pola vandhirukka vaesham kattiDressed up coming like a village deity Muni
Ulla sanam kondu poodum thalaiya vettiThe kin inside will cut off your head
Ooru oorapattiOh gossiping village
Female
Nariga oranga naaiga orangaWhen jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Male
Kaada mutta kannazhagiBeautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg
Maadu muttum maarazhagiBeautiful-breasted girl that could stun a bull
Paadhgathi cheruppa vachuYou sinner, holding a sandal
Parisam poda vandhirukkaenI have come to give the dowry/bride-price
Female
Akkam pakkam muzhichikittaaIf people nearby wake up
Unna endha pakkam marachu veppenOn which side will I hide you?
Male
Vaikkapporu padappukullaInside a stack of straw
Naan theepandhatha olichu vappaenI will hide a burning torch
Female
Pithupithukkuli mainaruYou crazy young man
Buthi buthi mattum saibaruYour brain is just zero
Moolakulla verum ottaiyaaIs there only a hole inside your brain?
Oorukkula oru saettaiyaaAre you creating mischief in the village?
Male
Sondha butthi enna kaattavaaShall I show my own intelligence?
Indha oora theeyil vaattavaaShall I roast this village in fire?
Saadhi sanangala koottavaaShall I gather our caste elders?
Thaedhi solli maattavaaShall I set a date and seal the deal?
Female
Nariga oranga naaiga orangaWhen jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Male
Thala keezhaa pudikkaiyilum theeEven when held upside down, the flame
Maela minna yeriyudhadiBurns pointing upwards, my girl
Kannu moodi kedakkaiyulum nenjuEven when lying with closed eyes, my heart
Unna mattum nongudhadiYearns only for you, my girl
Female
Mukki mukki enna kaekkuraWhat are you straining to ask me?
Mutta poda vaikka paakkuraAre you trying to make me lay an egg?
Male
Pothi pothi vechu pookkuraHiding and blooming in secret
Motha kanakkeppa theekkuraWhen will you settle the whole account?
Female
Otha kallimara kaattulaIn the solitary cactus forest
Othaiyila vandhu thokkuraYou come alone and trap me
Enga ooru makka thoonghayilaWhen the people of our village are asleep
Enna soli paakkuraWhat tricks are you trying on me?
Female
Hae …nariga oranga naaiga orangaHey... when jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Male
Ae…kaada mutta kannazhagiHey... beautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg
Maadu muttum maarazhagiBeautiful-breasted girl that could stun a bull
Paadhgathi cheruppa vachuYou sinner, holding a sandal
Parisam poda vandhirukkaenI have come to give the dowry/bride-price
Female
Moda moda moda moda vaetti kattiWearing a layered folded dhoti
Muni pola vandhirukka vaesham kattiDressed up coming like a village deity Muni
Ulla sanam kondu poodum thalaiya vettiThe kin inside will cut off your head
Ooru oorapattiOh gossiping village
Female
Nariga oranga naaiga orangaWhen jackals sleep, when dogs sleep
Ooru orangum raathiryilIn the night when the village sleeps
Neruppu koluthi seruppu eduthuLighting a fire, holding a sandal in hand
Vaara payal yevanoWho is that fellow coming
Male
Kaada mutta kannazhagi…ee….ee…Beautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg...
Kaada mutta kannazhagi…Beautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg...
Kaada mutta kannazhagi…Beautiful-eyed girl like a quail's egg...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie 'Annakodi' (2013) is a vibrant, rustic Tamil folk duet depicting a nocturnal secret rendezvous between two lovers. Set in a traditional rural landscape late at night when the entire village—and even the local animals like dogs and jackals—has fallen asleep, the hero sneaks out to meet his beloved. He expresses his intense love and desire to claim her hand in marriage, praising her beauty through vivid country similes. The heroine playfully teases him, warning him of the dangers if the villagers or her family members catch him sneaking around. The conversation oscillates between passionate declarations of unyielding love—symbolized by a flame that always burns upwards regardless of how it is held—and playful banter about social taboos, village gossip, and marriage plans.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kaada mutta kannazhagi / Maadu muttum maarazhagi

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines creating a rhythmic oral tradition harmony.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thala keezhaa pudikkaiyilum thee / Maela minna yeriyudhadi

Compares love to a flame that always burns upward regardless of orientation, signifying unbending devotion.

Simile / Imagery

Kaada mutta kannazhagi

Uses vivid rural imagery, comparing her eyes to quail eggs ('kaada mutta') to convey rustic charm.

Folk Refrain (Athanai)

Aelae laelae laelae lae

Repetitive rhythmic syllables typical of authentic Tamil folk songs to establish tempo and mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annakodi' was directed by legendary filmmaker Bharathiraja, celebrated for bringing realistic rural Tamil culture to cinema. The soundtrack was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, and lyricist Vairamuthu penned the lyrics using authentic southern Tamil regional dialects and folk idioms.

Keep listening

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