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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Megame Odum Megame

From Anthasthu · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Anthasthu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
En kanmani en kadhaliMy apple of the eye, my love
En radha nee engae nee engaeMy Radha, where are you, where are you?
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Engae en radha nee angae selluGo wherever my Radha is
Naan paadum paadal nee kadhil solluWhisper in her ear the song I sing
Aval illaamal ingaethaan naan vaadinaenWithout her, I have withered right here
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Engae en radha nee angae selluGo wherever my Radha is
Naan paadum paadal nee kadhil solluWhisper in her ear the song I sing
Aval illaamal ingaethaan naan vaadinaenWithout her, I have withered right here
Chorus
…………..
Male
Idho poomugam idho punnagaiHere is the flower-like face, here is the smile
Nilaa naatkalil kanaa kaangireanI dream during moonlight days
Kannaivittu pogaatha vannam allavaaIsn't it a color that never leaves the eyes?
Nenjaivittu neengaatha ennam allavaaIsn't it a thought that never leaves the heart?
Thavikkiraen thudikkiraenI am struggling, I am aching
Avalai naan azhaikkiraenI am calling out to her
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Engae en radha nee angae selluGo wherever my Radha is
Naan paadum paadal nee kadhil solluWhisper in her ear the song I sing
Aval illaamal ingaethaan naan vaadinaenWithout her, I have withered right here
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Male
Adho vaanilae alai polavaeThere in the sky, like waves
Puraa koottamae ulaa pogumaeFlocks of pigeons stroll along
Ennai vittu ponaalae chinnakkiliyaeLeaving me behind, my little bird has gone
Kanneer vittu naan vaada thannanthaniyaeLeaving me all alone to wither in tears
Inaiyillaa paravai naanI am a bird without a mate
Isaiyillaa kavithai naanI am a poem without music
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Engae en radha nee angae selluGo wherever my Radha is
Naan paadum paadal nee kadhil solluWhisper in her ear the song I sing
Aval illaamal ingaethaan naan vaadinaenWithout her, I have withered right here
Male
Oh megamae odum megamaeOh cloud, running cloud
Heehmmm mmm heehmmm…..Heehmmm mmm heehmmm.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a poignant expression of grief and romantic yearning, where the lover pines for his lost soulmate, Radha. Drawing inspiration from classical poetic motifs, the protagonist addresses a passing cloud, pleading with it to act as his messenger and carry his song of yearning directly to his beloved's ears. He laments how life has lost all its color and vitality in her absence. Throughout the track, he reflects on her sweet, flower-like face and the cherished memories of moonlit nights, contrasting his present loneliness with the free, paired pigeons soaring together in the sky. He feels completely incomplete without her, metaphorically describing himself as a bird without its mate and a poem without music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification / Cloud Messenger Motif (Meghaduta)

Oh megamae odum megamae / Engae en radha nee angae sellu

The cloud is personified as an envoy or messenger tasked with carrying the protagonist's feelings and songs to his distant lover.

Metaphor

Inaiyillaa paravai naan / Isaiyillaa kavithai naan

The speaker directly compares himself to a mateless bird and a musicless poem to emphasize his profound feeling of incompleteness.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Kannaivittu pogaatha vannam allavaa / Nenjaivittu neengaatha ennam allavaa

The lines end with matching phonetic structures ('vannam allavaa' / 'ennam allavaa'), creating a pleasing lyrical rhythm.

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Thavikkiraen thudikkiraen

Repetition of the initial consonants ('Tha' / 'Thu') enhances the emotional intensity and rhythmic beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

The theme of using a cloud as a love messenger (Meghaduta) is a classic motif derived from Kalidasa's ancient Sanskrit poem 'Meghadūta', which lyricist Vaali skillfully adapts into modern Tamil film lyricism.

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