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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Paatale Solli

From Deiva Vaakku · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Deiva Vaakku1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan pethedhuthidaadhaWhom I did not give birth to,
Muththu mani thaeraeO pearl-studded chariot!
Naan thatheduthidaadhaWhom I did not adopt,
Thangamani cheeraeO golden treasure!
Oru sondham irundhumDespite having a kinship,
Bandham irundhum sollavillaiyaeAnd having a bond, I never expressed it.
Adi kannae toongaadhaeO my dear child, do not fall asleep!
Siru pennae kalangaadhaeO little girl, do not be distressed!
Male
Oru paattaalaeWith just a song,
Solli azhaichenI called out to you in words,
Oru palan kettu kannu muzhichenAsking for a blessing, I stayed awake and watchful.
Adi aaththaadi onna nenachenOh my dear, I thought of you,
Oru anbaalae mettu padichenOut of pure love, I composed a tune.
Female
Un sogam parakkaFor your sorrow to fly away,
En paattu virundhuMy song is a feast!
Adha kettu marandhaaIf you listen and forget your pain,
En paattu marundhuMy song becomes your medicine!
Nee kooda irundhaaIf you stay by my side,
Adhu podhum enakkuThat alone is enough for me.
Vaadi irundha thunbam enakkuSeeing you wilt brings grief to me.
Male
Oru paattaalaeWith just a song,
Solli azhaichenI called out to you in words,
Oru palan kettu kannu muzhichenAsking for a blessing, I stayed awake and watchful.
Male
Naan aadhaaram illaaI am like the supportless
Andharaththu vaanamSky suspended in mid-air.
En naavodu serumJoined on my tongue is
Naattuppura gaanamA rustic folk song.
En sondha kadhaiyaTo tell my own life story,
Solli padikka sandhamillaiyaeThere is no rhythmic verse.
Adhu sonnaa aaraadhuExpressing it will not heal the wound,
En sondham maaraadhuMy deep relationship will not change.
Male
Naan thaayaaraMy own mother,
Paarththadhum unduI have indeed seen,
Aanaal thaayinnu sollavum illaBut I couldn't even address her as my mother.
Dhinam paalootti enna valarththaWho fed me milk daily and raised me,
Parivaana sondhamum illaI have no loving family like that.
Male
Indha ooru muzhukkaYet across this entire village,
En bandha jananggaAre my bound relations and people,
Unmai irukkum vella mananggaPure-hearted folk filled with truth.
Oru kaaval irukkuThere is a divine protection,
En kaiyi vananggaWhere my hands bow in prayer.
Naan gaanam padichen kanna thorakkaI sang a song to make you open your eyes.
Male
Naan thaayaaraMy own mother,
Paarththadhum unduI have indeed seen,
Aanaal thaayinnu sollavum illaBut I couldn't even address her as my mother.
Male
Oru ee erumbu kadichaalumEven if a fly or an ant bites,
Thaai manasu nogumA mother's heart aches.
Nee paai virichi paduththaalaeIf you lie down spreading a mat like this,
Ippo enna aagumWhat will happen now?
Unna alli edhuthu ootti valarthuGathering you in arms, feeding and raising you,
Kaathu kidandhaaIf she waits endlessly watching over you,
Andha thaaiyoda mugam paaruLook at that mother's face!
Kannu oru naalum urangaadhuHer eyes never sleep even for a day.
Male
Naan paadaadha paattugal illaThere are no songs I haven't sung,
Adha ketkaadha aatkalum illaThere are no people who haven't heard them.
Naan naavaara paadi azhaichaWhen I sing with all my heart and call out,
Vandhu paarkkaadha paarvaiyum illaThere is no gaze that hasn't turned to look.
Male
En thaai kodutha oru sakthi irukkuThere is a power given by my mother,
Unna thatti ezhuppa buththi irukkuI have the wisdom and strength to wake you up.
Unna thaavi anaikka oru neram irukkuThere is a destined time to leap and embrace you,
Andha neram varaikkum bhaaram enakkuUntil that time comes, it is a burden on me.
Male
Naan paadaadha paattugal illaThere are no songs I haven't sung,
Adha ketkaadha aatkalum illaThere are no people who haven't heard them.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a deep emotional plea from a male protagonist trying to awaken or revive a loved young girl lying unconscious or ailing. Despite not being her biological father, he feels an unshakeable bond and affection for her, referring to her fondly as a precious chariot and golden treasure. Through the medium of his soulful music, he calls out to her, offering his song as a comforting feast and healing medicine to dispel her suffering. Simultaneously, the narrator reflects on his own rootless existence and personal tragic past—having known his mother yet never being able to acknowledge or be raised by her. Despite his personal pain, he finds solace in the pure-hearted village community and relies on his innate musical talent, inherited maternal strength, and divine faith to awaken the girl and restore her to life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Naan pethedhuthidaadha / Naan thatheduthidaadha

The second letter consonant sound ('t' / 'th') rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor

Naan aadhaaram illaa / Andharaththu vaanam

The speaker compares his rootless, lonely life to a supportless sky suspended in mid-air.

Metaphor

En paattu virundhu... En paattu marundhu

The song is metaphorically described both as a 'feast' (virundhu) for the spirit and 'medicine' (marundhu) to heal pain.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Naan paadaadha paattugal illa / Adha ketkaadha aatkalum illa

The ending word 'illa' repeats across lines to emphasize the universality of his music.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Deiva Vaakku' (1992), directed by M. S. Madhu, features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The film stars Karthik and Revathi in lead roles. This particular emotional folk ballad showcases Gangai Amaran's mastery in capturing rustic Tamil familial sentiments and tender emotional bonds through conversational lyrics.

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