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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Koppaiyile

From Ratha Thilagam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Ratha Thilagam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine
Oru kola mayil en thunai iruppuA majestic peacock is my companion
Isai paadalilae en uyir thudippuMy heartbeat lies within musical songs
Naan paarpathellaam azhagin sirippuEverything I behold is the smile of beauty
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine
Male
Kaaviya thaayin ilaiyamaganI am the younger son of Mother Literature
Kaadhal pengalin perunthalaivanThe supreme leader of loving women
Naan kaaviya thaayin ilaiyamaganI am the younger son of Mother Literature
Kaadhal pengalin perunthalaivanThe supreme leader of loving women
Paamara jaadhiyil thani manithanA unique solitary man among common folk
Naan padaippathanaal en per iraivanBecause I create, my name is God
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine
Oru kola mayil en thunai iruppuA majestic peacock is my companion
Isai paadalilae en uyir thudippuMy heartbeat lies within musical songs
Naan paarpathellaam azhagin sirippuEverything I behold is the smile of beauty
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine
Male
Maanida inaththai aatti vaippenI shall sway and rule the human race
Avar maandu vittaal adhai paadi vaippenWhen they perish, I shall sing their eulogy
Naan maanida inaththai aatti vaippenI shall sway and rule the human race
Avar maandu vittaal adhai paadi vaippenWhen they perish, I shall sing their eulogy
Naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillaiI am eternal, I do not perish
Entha nilaiyilum enakku maranam illaiUnder no circumstance do I suffer death
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine
Oru kola mayil en thunai iruppuA majestic peacock is my companion
Isai paadalilae en uyir thudippuMy heartbeat lies within musical songs
Naan paarpathellaam azhagin sirippuEverything I behold is the smile of beauty
Male
Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppuMy residence is inside a glass of wine

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic philosophical masterpiece celebrates the immortal nature of an artist and poet. The protagonist embraces a bohemian lifestyle—finding solace in alcohol, female companionship, and music—while declaring his supreme divine purpose as a creator. He considers himself the youngest son of Mother Literature and equates a poet's power of creation to that of God.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oru koppaiyilae en kudiyiruppu / Oru kola mayil en thunai iruppu / Isai paadalilae en uyir thudippu / Naan paarpathellaam azhagin sirippu

The endings 'kudiyiruppu', 'thunai iruppu', 'thudippu', and 'sirippu' create a rich rhyming rhythm at the end of each stanza line.

Metaphor

Naan padaippathanaal en per iraivan

The poet equates the act of artistic creation to divine creation, declaring himself God because he creates poetry.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaaviya thaayin ilaiyamagan / Kaadhal pengalin perunthalaivan

The repetition of the 'Kaa' sound at the start of consecutive lines creates melodic flow.

Hyperbole / Self-Affirmation

Naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillai / Entha nilaiyilum enakku maranam illai

An emphatic declaration of immortality, emphasizing that a true poet's legacy and words never die even if the physical body perishes.

Did you know?

Trivia

The iconic line 'Naan nirantharamaanavan azhivathillai, entha nilaiyilum enakku maranam illai' (I am eternal, I do not perish; under no circumstance do I suffer death) became closely synonymous with Kannadasan himself. It is widely regarded as his own self-composed epitaph, symbolizing the timeless nature of his literary genius. The song was set to music by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan for Sivaji Ganesan.

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