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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naal Iravu

From Kaaviya Thalaivi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kaaviya Thalaivi1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oru naal iravuOne night,
Pagal pol nilavuWith moonlight bright as day,
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaalMy mother came into my dream.
Oru naal iravuOne night,
Pagal pol nilavuWith moonlight bright as day,
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaalMy mother came into my dream.
Kanna sugama krishna sugamaAre you well, my dear Kanna? Are you well, my Krishna?
Kanmani sugama sol endraalTell me, my precious child, are you doing well? She asked.
Kanmani sugama sol endraalTell me, my precious child, are you doing well? She asked.
Female
Oru naal iravuOne night,
Pagal pol nilavuWith moonlight bright as day,
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaalMy mother came into my dream.
Female
Kungumam irunthathu netriyilaeVermilion adorned her forehead,
Siru kuzhappam medhanthathu kangalilaeA slight confusion floated in her eyes.
Kungumam irunthathu netriyilaeVermilion adorned her forehead,
Siru kuzhappam medhanthathu kangalilaeA slight confusion floated in her eyes.
Thangam pondra idhazhgalilaeOn her golden lips,
Oru thayakkam piranthathu vaarthayilaeA hesitation was born in her words.
Thayakkam piranthathu vaarthayilaeA hesitation was born in her words.
Female
Ennuyir thaayae neeyum sugamaMy life-giving mother, are you well too?
Ennuyir thaayae neeyum sugamaMy life-giving mother, are you well too?
Irupathu engae sol endrenTell me where you reside, I asked.
Annai mugamo kanbathu nijamoIs this my mother's face? Is what I see real?
Kanavo nanavo sol endrenTell me, is this a dream or reality? I asked.
Kanavo nanavo sol endrenTell me, is this a dream or reality? I asked.
Female
Kanna sugama krishna sugamaAre you well, my dear Kanna? Are you well, my Krishna?
En kanamani sugama sol endrenTell me, my precious child, are you doing well? I asked.
Female
Kanna sugama krishna sugamaAre you well, my dear Kanna? Are you well, my Krishna?
Kanamani sugama sol endrenTell me, my precious child, are you doing well? She asked.
Kanamani sugama sol endrenTell me, my precious child, are you doing well? She asked.
Female
Vaanathil irunthae padugirenI am singing from the sky,
Entha vazhiyilum unnai thedugirenI search for you on every path,
Vaanathil irunthae padugirenI am singing from the sky,
Entha vazhiyilum unnai thedugirenI search for you on every path,
Magalae vaazhvena vaazhthugirenMy daughter, I bless you to live well,
Naan marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppenIf I am born again, we will be together.
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppenIf I am born again, we will be together.
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppenIf I am born again, we will be together.
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppenIf I am born again, we will be together.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional song depicts a dreamlike encounter between a daughter and her departed mother on a bright moonlight night. The mother appears in her daughter's dream, lovingly inquiring about her well-being while carrying a subtle hesitation and longing in her expression. The daughter eagerly questions her mother, asking whether the vision is a reality or just a dream and seeking to know where her mother resides now.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Pagal pol nilavu

Compares the brightness of the night's moonlight to daytime using 'pol'.

Upamai (Simile)

Thangam pondra idhazhgalilae

Compares the beauty and precious nature of lips to gold ('thangam pondra').

Muran (Antithesis)

Kanavo nanavo sol endren

Uses contrasting opposites 'Kanavo' (dream) and 'Nanavo' (reality) to highlight the speaker's confusion.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1970 Tamil movie 'Kaaviya Thalaivi', directed by K. Balachander and starring Sowcar Janaki, featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Kannadasan. The film heavily revolved around theme of maternal love and emotional sacrifices.

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