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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh My Dear

From Athaimadi Methaiyadi · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Shailaja
Music director
S. R. Vasu
Details
Athaimadi Methaiyadi1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oh my dear look me hereOh my dear, look at me here
Yellow flower lovely figureYellow flower, lovely figure
Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavoAm I not a flower every single day?
En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththathoWhy then did a thorn pierce my heart?
Female
Oh my dear look me hereOh my dear, look at me here
Yellow flower lovely figure…..Yellow flower, lovely figure...
Female
Medai thorum ival nadamattamthaanHer movement is seen on every stage
Maalai velai dhinam arangaettramthaanEvery evening is a premiere performance
Aadai paadhi ival udal kondathuHer body wears only half a dress
Aasai kodi ila manam kondathuHer young heart holds millions of desires
Female
Poo meniyalla pon veenai endruSaying her body is not a delicate flower, but a golden veena
Yaar vanthu ingaeWho came here
Yaar vanthu ingae…..Who came here...
Irulil enai meetinaaroWho strummed me in the dark?
Female
Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavoAm I not a flower every single day?
En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththathoWhy then did a thorn pierce my heart?
Female
Oh my dear look me hereOh my dear, look at me here
Yellow flower lovely figure…..Yellow flower, lovely figure...
Female
Poovum pennum oru inamallavaaAren't flowers and women of the same species?
Penmai menmai adhan manamallavaaWomanhood is softness—isn't that its fragrance?
Mella alla varum uravallavaaIsn't it a bond to be embraced gently?
Killa villa adhu pagaiyallavaaTo pluck and break it, isn't that hostility?
Female
Sollaamal vanthu sugam kondathaaroWho came unannounced and took pleasure?
Yaarendru ingaeWho it is here
Yaarendru ingae…..Who it is here...
Yaarthaan solvaaroWho will ever tell?
Female
Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavoAm I not a flower every single day?
En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththathoWhy then did a thorn pierce my heart?
Female
Oh my dear look me hereOh my dear, look at me here
Yellow flower lovely figureYellow flower, lovely figure
Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavoAm I not a flower every single day?
En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththatho…Why then did a thorn pierce my heart...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song portrays the inner anguish and sadness of a female stage performer who feels objectified by society. She views herself as a tender flower meant to embody love and delicacy, yet laments why her life has instead brought the sharp pain of a thorn piercing her heart. Behind the glamorous, nightly stage shows and revealing attire lies a young woman longing for genuine affection and respect. She questions the cruel treatment of women, drawing a poignant parallel between women and flowers, emphasizing that femininity deserves gentle warmth rather than forced exploitation. Through poetic imagery like being strummed like a veena in the dark, she expresses her deep pain over betrayal and loss, wondering who will ever understand her plight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Contrast)

Ennalumae naanthaan poovallavo / En nenjilae yaenthaan mull thaiththatho

Contrasts the softness of a flower ('poo') with the sharp pain caused by a thorn ('mull') piercing the heart.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Poo meniyalla pon veenai endru

Compares the performer's delicate body to a golden music instrument (veena).

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mella alla varum uravallavaa / Killa villa adhu pagaiyallavaa

Rhyming of the second consonant 'll' in 'Mella' and 'Killa'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Poovum pennum oru inamallavaa / Penmai menmai adhan manamallavaa

Repeated line endings with the word 'allavaa' to create musical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Vaali for the 1989 film Athaimadi Methaiyadi, the song uniquely blends catchy English catchphrases ('Oh my dear look me here') with emotive Tamil poetry that criticizes the societal objectification of female stage performers.

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