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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavoli Mugamai

From Yaathisai · 2023

Lyricist
D. Babu
Singer
Surmukhi
Music director
Chakravarthy
Movie name
Yaathisai
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
20 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavoli mugamaai
Nadampuribaval naan
Iruvizhi chiraiyil
Unnai adaiththaval naan
Manam kulirnthidumae
Ninaivazhaigalilae
Anutdhinam oru pudhu sugamena
Manam magizhnthidumo
Mathi mayangidumo
…………….
Karungkuzhal neendhi varum
Mugilinamoo
Asainthidum thogaimayil
Ivalidam thorthidave
Thinam varumo nadamidumo
Kalaimagal uruvaai
Piranthavalthanoo
Kanavugal thaandi
Ival vizhigalil sudar oli irulai
Vilakkumae
Vaan vazhivida boomiyil ival
Kaal pathinthidumo
Nilavoli mugamaai
Nadampuribaval naan
Iruvizhi chiraiyil
Unai adaiththaval naan
Manam kulirnthidumae
Ninaivazhaigalile
Anudhinam oru pudhu sugamena
Manam magizhnthidumo
Mathi mayangidumo
………………….
Ival vizhi paarvai oru
Malar kanaiyoo
Aval manam kaaiththavalo
Pala sugam serththavaloo
Idai asaivil jeithavalo
Nadanthidum nathiyoo
Alaimagal thanoo
Thazhuvidum kaatroo
Valarpirai ena valarnthidum
Mathi pol dheivamoo
Aadidum iru kaal
Salangaikal naal oru sugamo
Nilavoli mugamaai
Nadampuribaval naan
Iruvizhi chiraiyil
Unai adaiththaval naan
Manam kulirnthidumae
Ninaivazhaigalile
Anudhinam oru pudhu sugamena
Manam magizhnthidumo
Mathi mayangidumo
With a face like moonlight,
I am the one who dances.
In the prison of my eyes,
I have locked you away.
My heart finds comfort,
in the waves of memories.
Feeling a new joy every single day,
will the heart rejoice?
Will the mind be spellbound?
...
Floating through her dark hair,
are those clouds drifting by?
The peacock with its swaying feathers
accepts defeat before her,
and comes each day to dance?
In the form of the goddess of arts,
was she born?
Reaching beyond dreams,
the glowing light in her eyes
clears away the darkness.
As the sky makes way,
will her feet step on the earth?
With a face like moonlight,
I am the one who dances.
In the prison of my eyes,
I have locked you away.
My heart finds comfort,
in the waves of memories.
Feeling a new joy every single day,
will the heart rejoice?
Will the mind be spellbound?
...
Is the glance from her eyes
an arrow of flowers?
Has she nurtured her heart,
and gathered endless joys?
Did she win hearts with the sway of her waist?
Is she a flowing river?
Is she the goddess born of waves?
Is she an embracing breeze?
Growing like a waxing moon,
is she divine like the moon in the sky?
On her two dancing feet,
do the anklet bells bring joy every day?
With a face like moonlight,
I am the one who dances.
In the prison of my eyes,
I have locked you away.
My heart finds comfort,
in the waves of memories.
Feeling a new joy every single day,
will the heart rejoice?
Will the mind be spellbound?
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classical composition from the movie 'Yaathisai' (2023) expresses the captivating grace of a classical dancer and the enchanting spell she casts on her admirer. The lyric alternates between the dancer's own self-assured voice—describing her ability to hold her lover captive within her eyes—and an awestruck observer who praises her incomparable beauty, comparing her to divine figures and nature's finest elements. Rich with traditional imagery, the song invokes Goddess Saraswati (Kalaimagal), Goddess Lakshmi (Alaimagal), swaying peacocks, dark cloud-like hair, and the waxing moon. Through its rhythmic and melodic cadence, the piece captures how art, movement, and romantic allure elevate human experience into something transcendent and otherworldly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

“Nilavoli mugamaai”

Compares the woman's luminous facial beauty directly to soft moonlight ('Nilavoli').

Metaphor (Uruvagak Kurippu)

“Iruvizhi chiraiyil”

Metaphorically describes her eyes ('Iruvizhi') as a prison ('chirai') that captivates and holds the lover's soul.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Manam magizhnthidumo / Mathi mayangidumo”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma-' across both lines creates rhythmic harmony in classical Tamil poetry.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Manam magizhnthidumo / Mathi mayangidumo”

Both lines end with the matching rhetorical suffix '-umo', establishing a musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Yaathisai' (2023) is a critically acclaimed historical period drama directed by Dharani Rasendran, set in 7th-century Tamilakam during the reign of the Pandyan Dynasty. Music director Chakravarthy crafted a score focused on ancient Tamil musical sensibilities, utilizing traditional acoustic textures and classical ragas to recreate an authentic historical ambience.

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