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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Aathukku Karaiyum

From Rudra Thaandavam – 1978 · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
A. V. Ramanan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Rudra Thaandavam – 19781978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru aaththukku karaiyumFor a river, a bank,
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyumAnd for a drama performed by two, a curtain
Pottukka venum kannae kannaattiMust be drawn, my dear, my darling!
Female
AmmammaaOh my!
Male :AmmammaaMale: Oh my!
Male
Oru aaththukku karaiyumFor a river, a bank,
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyumAnd for a drama performed by two, a curtain
Pottukka venum kannae kannaattiMust be drawn, my dear, my darling!
Female
Ennai kadaththiya mannaOh king who stole my heart,
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaaLet delightful stories unfold, my beloved!
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaaI found ultimate joy because of you, my lover!
AmmammaaOh my!
Male: AmmammaaMale: Oh my!
Female
Ennai kadaththiya mannaOh king who stole my heart,
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaaLet delightful stories unfold, my beloved!
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaaI found ultimate joy because of you, my lover!
Ohho ho kandaen kannaalaaOh, I found it, my lover!
Male
Adi ponnalla ilam poovallaHey girl, you are not mere gold, nor a tender flower,
Adi ponnalla ilam poovallaHey girl, you are not mere gold, nor a tender flower,
Aah maniyalla kiliyallaAh, not a gem, nor a parrot,
Silai seiyyum panjalogamYou are the sacred five-metal alloy used to carve statues!
Female
En kannalla kani thaenallaMy dear, you are not just my eyes, nor just fruit and honey,
En kannalla kani thaenallaMy dear, you are not just my eyes, nor just fruit and honey,
Nee azhagalla arasallaYou are not just beauty, nor just a king,
Neeyoru sorkkalogamYou are a world of poetic paradise!
Male
Oru kappal kollaatha sarakkuA cargo so vast that even a ship cannot hold it,
Adhu unakendru ennidam irukkuThat lies with me, meant only for you!
Oru kappal kollaatha sarakkuA cargo so vast that even a ship cannot hold it,
Adhu unakendru ennidam irukkuThat lies with me, meant only for you!
Chumma singaaram pannunga sangeetham paadungaJust groom yourself and sing melodies,
Kalyaanamthaan venum enakkuAll I truly want is marriage!
Female
Ennai kadaththiya mannaOh king who stole my heart,
Suga kathaigal nadakkattum kannaaLet delightful stories unfold, my beloved!
Aanantham unnaal kandaen kannaalaaI found ultimate joy because of you, my lover!
AmmammaaOh my!
Male :AmmammaaMale: Oh my!
Female
Mani muththaattamLike sparkling pearls,
Malar koththaattamLike a cluster of flowers,
Mani muththaattamLike sparkling pearls,
Malar koththaattamLike a cluster of flowers,
Siru mottaattam chittaattamLike a tender bud, like a playful swift bird,
Eduththu kol intha neramEmbrace me at this moment!
Male
Poopanthaattam suvai paalaattamLike playing with flower balls, like sweet milk,
Poopanthaattam suvai paalaattamLike playing with flower balls, like sweet milk,
intha pennodu kondaattamCelebration with this woman
Naan kanda inba raagamIs the joyful melody I have discovered!
Female
Iru kayil pattaaga eduthuLifting it like soft silk in both hands,
Silai idhuvendru thaerottam nadaththuConduct a temple chariot procession for this idol!
Iru kayil pattaaga eduthuLifting it like soft silk in both hands,
Silai idhuvendru thaerottam nadaththuConduct a temple chariot procession for this idol!
Male
Villaiyillaatha vairangalPriceless diamonds,
Thaalaattum sirpangalAnd soothing sculptures that hum lullabies,
Ellaamum unnodu irukkuEverything resides within you!
Male
Oru aaththukku karaiyumFor a river, a bank,
Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyumAnd for a drama performed by two, a curtain
Pottukka venum kannae kannaattiMust be drawn, my dear, my darling!
Female
AmmammaaOh my!
Male :AmmammaaMale: Oh my!
Female :AmmammaaFemale: Oh my!
Male :AmmammaaMale: Oh my!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet from the 1978 movie 'Rudra Thaandavam' features a back-and-forth exchange between lovers expressing their passion, admiration, and desire for marriage. The song opens with a wise metaphor: just as a river needs banks to contain it and a play needs a curtain for privacy, romance between two lovers needs a sense of boundary and intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Oru aaththukku karaiyum / Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum

The second consonant sound 'th' (த்) is repeated across the key words ('aaththukku', 'kooththukku') in consecutive lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oru aaththukku karaiyum / Iruvar pannum kooththukku thiraiyum

The lines end with rhyming sounds ('karaiyum' and 'thiraiyum').

Uvamaani / Simile & Metaphor

Silai seiyyum panjalogam

The heroine is metaphorically described as 'Panjalogam' (a precious five-metal alloy used for casting divine idols), highlighting her divine beauty and value.

Hyperbole

Oru kappal kollaatha sarakku

Exaggeration describing love/beauty as cargo so immense that an entire ship cannot hold it.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Rudra Thaandavam' (1978) features music composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), with lyrics penned by Vaali, one of Tamil cinema's most prolific lyricists. Sung by A. V. Ramanan and L. R. Eswari, the song showcases L.R. Eswari's signature energetic vocal style paired with A. V. Ramanan's versatile voice.

Keep listening

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