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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Moginiya

From Thirukkalyanam · 1978

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thirukkalyanam1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee moginiyaa illaatti oorvasiyaaAre you Mohini or are you Urvashi?
Raadhaavaa meeraavaa yaarammaa neeyammaaAre you Radha or Meera? Who are you, my lady?
Onna paathurukkura em manasukkuTo my heart that has seen you,
Badhil onnu solluGive me one answer!
Female
Ada vaa aanazhagaaAh, come, handsome man!
Koda molagaa mookkazhagaaWith a nose as cute as a bell pepper,
Kozhi mutta kannaa vaaCome, you with eyes like chicken eggs!
Haa ingae vaa haa ippadi vaaHa, come here, ha, come this way!
Haa onakku pudichirukkura paithiyatthukkuFor the madness that has caught you,
Vaithiyam irukkuThere is a cure!
Male
Nee moginiyaa illaatti oorvasiyaaAre you Mohini or are you Urvashi?
Male
Oru tharam onna theruvula paathaenI saw you once on the street,
Kannu em ponnuMy precious darling!
Female
OhoOho!
Male
Adhu mudhalaaga theru theruvaagaEver since then, street after street,
Vandhaen naan ninnuI came and waited.
Female
AahaaAahaa!
Male
Oru tharam onna theruvula paathaenI saw you once on the street,
Kannu em ponnuMy precious darling!
Female
AhaaAhaa!
Male
Adhu mudhalaaga theru theruvaagaEver since then, street after street,
Vandhaen naan ninnuI came and waited.
Female
HahahaHahaha!
Male
Thaedi thaedi naan alanjaenSearching and searching, I wandered,
Dhenam dhenamum naan thudichaenEvery day, I throbbed with longing,
Kadaisiyilae pudichu puttaen onnaAt last, I have caught you!
Female
Oho aanazhagaaOho handsome man!
Koda molagaa mookkazhagaa haaWith a nose as cute as a bell pepper, ha!
Female
Nejamaa thaanaa nenachadhu ennaIs it real? What I thought,
Thaanaa adhu naanaaDid it happen by itself? Is that really me?
Nambiduvaenaa nadippidhu thaanaaWill I believe it, or is this acting?
Poiyaa yaen veenaaIs it a lie? Why waste time?
Male
AaahaaAaahaa!
Female
Nejamaa thaanaa nenachadhu ennaIs it real? What I thought,
Thaanaa adhu naanaaDid it happen by itself? Is that really me?
Nambiduvaenaa nadippidhu thaanaaWill I believe it, or is this acting?
Poiyaa yaen veenaaIs it a lie? Why waste time?
Female
Theru theruvaa ponnirukkuThere is gold across the streets,
Theru porukkum kannirukkuThere are eyes that scavenge the streets,
Thalaiyinil thaan mannirukku poiyaaOnly dust remains on the head, is it false?
Male
Nee moginiyaa illaatti oorvasiyaaAre you Mohini or are you Urvashi?
Male
Manam puriyaamae enam theriyaamaeWithout understanding my heart, without knowing who I am,
Maadhae pesaadhaeOh lady, do not speak!
Female
AahaaAahaa!
Male
Uyirae nee thaan nee illaiyinnaaYou are my very life! If you are not there,
Paaraen ippap paaraenLook now, see what I will do!
Female
Avvalavu mudivedhukkuWhy take such extreme decisions?
Enakkum kooda manasirukkuI too have a heart,
Aasaiyoda kaathirukkaen vaangaI am waiting with desire, come!
Male
Nee vaadiyammaCome along, girl!
Female
AahaaAahaa!
Male
Naan vandhu thaediyammaaI came searching for you, lady!
Female
Naal onnu sollaiyaaTell me a date, man!
Maappilla nee thaanyaaYou are the groom!
Vandhu thaali kayira nee mudikkiraComing to tie the wedding knot,
Naal nerungudhaiyaaThe day is drawing near!
Male
Ada nee moginiyaa illaatti oorvasiyaa haa…Ah, are you Mohini or are you Urvashi, ha...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil duet captures a lively exchange between two lovers teasing and expressing their affection for one another. The hero starts by admiring the heroine's captivating beauty, asking if she is a divine celestial nymph like Mohini or Urvashi, or a legendary lover like Radha or Meera. The heroine responds with equal wit and humor, affectionally ribbing his features by calling his nose a capsicum and his eyes egg-shaped, while promising a remedy for his romantic affliction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Koda molagaa mookkazhagaa / Kozhi mutta kannaa vaa

Humorous comparison of facial features to everyday objects like bell pepper ('Koda molagaa') and chicken eggs ('Kozhi mutta').

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Adhu mudhalaaga theru theruvaaga / Thaedi thaedi naan alanjaen

Repetition of words like 'theru theruvaaga' and 'thaedi thaedi' for rhythmic emphasis on searching.

Alliteration (Monai)

Nambiduvaenaa nadippidhu thaanaa

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines ('Nambiduvaenaa', 'Nadippidhu').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song uses colloquial folk imagery and casual Tamil slang, blending playful insults with romantic affection typical of late 1970s Tamil film duets.

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