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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neerazhi Mandabathil

From Thalaivan · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Thalaivan1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Neeraazhi mandabathilIn the water pavilion,
Neeraazhi mandabathilIn the water pavilion,
Thendral neendhi varum nalliravilOn a good night when the gentle breeze comes swimming by,
Thalaivan varaamal kaathirundhaalWaiting for her leader to arrive,
Pennorutthi vizhi malarA woman's flower-like eyes
PoothirundhaalRemained in full bloom.
Male
Naadaalum mannavaninOf the king who rules the country,
Naadaalum mannavaninOf the king who rules the king's land,
Idhaya veedaalum pennarasiThe queen who rules the palace of his heart
Thanimai thaalaamal thavithirundhaalWas suffering, unable to endure her solitude,
Mannan kai thodum podhu thalai kunindhaalAnd bowed her head when the king touched her hand.
Female
Vaadaiyilae vaazhai ilai kuniyumIn the north wind, the banana leaf bows down,
Vaadaiyilae vaazhai ilai kuniyumIn the north wind, the banana leaf bows down,
Karai varugaiyilae pongum alai kuniyumUpon reaching the shore, the surging wave bows down,
Kaadhalilae penmai thalai kuniyumIn love, womanhood bows its head.
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Female
Kaadhalilae penmai thalai kuniyumIn love, womanhood bows its head.
Idam koduppadharkkaeTo yield or make room,
Naanam thadai vidhikkumShyness places an embargo,
Male
Pennilavu angae naanuvadhai kanduSeeing the woman-like moon blush there,
Female
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Male
Pennilavu angae naanuvadhai kanduSeeing the woman-like moon blush there,
Vennilavu mugilil poi maraiyaThe white moon went and hid behind the clouds,
Vennilavu mugilil poi maraiyaThe white moon went and hid behind the clouds,
Kaadhalanum nalla vaelai kandaanThe lover found the opportune moment,
Aval poo mugathil mutham nooru kondaanAnd planted a hundred kisses on her flower face.
Female
Neeraazhi mandabathil…In the water pavilion…
Female
Thaen alandhae idhazh thirandhirukkaHer lips opened as if pouring out honey,
Adhai thaan alandhae mannan suvaithirukkaSavoring that nectar, the king tasted it,
Thaen alandhae idhazh thirandhirukkaHer lips opened as if pouring out honey,
Adhai thaan alandhae mannan suvaithirukkaSavoring that nectar, the king tasted it,
Male
Poi maraindha nilavum mugil kizhikkaThe moon that hid tore through the clouds,
Male
Poi maraindha nilavum mugil kizhikkaThe moon that hid tore through the clouds,
Vandhu vaai niraiya avarkku vaazhthuraikkaAnd came to offer them hearty blessings,
Female
Peralavil iruvar endrirukkaThough existing outwardly as two individuals,
Male
Sugam peruvadhilae ondraai inaindhirukkaThey were united as one in experiencing supreme bliss,
Female
Ezh thisaiyil kadhir thondrum varaiUntil the morning sun appeared across the seven directions,
Male
Angu pozhindhadhellaam inba kaadhal mazhaiWhat showered there continuously was a sweet rain of love.
Female
Neeraazhi mandabathilIn the water pavilion,
Thendral neendhi varum nalliravilOn a good night when the gentle breeze comes swimming by,
Thalaivan varaamal kaathirundhaalWaiting for her leader to arrive,
Pennoruthi vizhi malar poothirundhaalA woman's flower-like eyes remained in full bloom.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song describes a romantic nocturnal encounter between a ruler and his beloved queen inside a water pavilion ('Neeraazhi Mandapam'). The heroine waits impatiently for her lover in the serene midnight air. When he arrives and touches her hand, modesty takes over, and she lowers her head in shyness. Lyricist Vaali uses metaphors of nature—banana leaves bending in the wind and waves receding at the shore—to illustrate the natural grace of feminine shyness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Simile & Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Pennorutthi vizhi malar / Poothirundhaal

Compares the woman's eyes to a blossoming flower ('vizhi malar poothirundhaal') and her face to a flower ('poo mugathil').

Analogy / Parallelism

Vaadaiyilae vaazhai ilai kuniyum / Karai varugaiyilae pongum alai kuniyum / Kaadhalilae penmai thalai kuniyum

Draws an analogy between a banana leaf bending in wind, a wave lowering at the shore, and a woman lowering her head out of modesty in love.

Personification

Vennilavu mugilil poi maraiya

Personifies the moon, portraying it as hiding behind clouds out of shyness upon seeing the heroine's romantic moments, and later returning to bless the lovers.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Peralavil iruvar endrirukka / Sugam peruvadhilae ondraai inaindhirukka

Tamil poetic rhyme where second letters match (e.g., 'Idam' / 'Naanam' / 'Pennilavu' or 'Peralavil' / 'Sugam peruvadhilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Neeraazhi mandabathil' from the film Thalaivan (1970) features M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by S.M. Subbaiah Naidu, with vocals by T.M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, written by Vaali.

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