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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Tharam Ore Tharam

From Sumathi En Sundari · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sumathi En Sundari1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru tharam orae tharamJust once, only once,
Udhavi seidhaal enna paavamWhat sin is there if you help me?
Iruvarum arimugamNow that we both know each other,
Aanadhil verenna laabamWhat else is gained beyond this?
Male
Oru tharam orae tharamJust once, only once,
Udhavi seidhaal enna paavamWhat sin is there if you help me?
Iruvarum arimugamNow that we both know each other,
Aanadhil verenna laabamWhat else is gained beyond this?
Female
Iruvarukkum mudhal mayakkamThis is the first infatuation for both of us,
Idam koduthaal adhu yedhu varaikkumIf given room, how far will it extend?
Penmai endraal kan maraivaaiWhen it comes to womanhood, hidden out of sight,
Moodi vaithaal suvai irukkumIt holds its charm when kept veiled.
Female
Iruvarukkum mudhal mayakkamThis is the first infatuation for both of us,
Idam koduthaal adhu yedhu varaikkumIf given room, how far will it extend?
Male
Ulladhellaam alli thandhaalIf you shower and yield all that you have,
Kaalamellaam suvai irukkumIt will remain sweet for a lifetime.
Female
Oru tharam orae tharamJust once, only once,
Uravu thaedum kangal paavamPity these eyes that search for intimacy,
Thanimaiyil urugidumMelting away in loneliness,
Paarvaiyil ennenna baavamOh, what emotions reside in that gaze!
Male
Vanna silai edhir vandhaaloDid a colorful statue appear before me?
Kannukkoru badhil thandhaaloDid she offer an answer to my eyes?
Thottu kolla thadai seivaaloWill she forbid me from touching her?
Thathi thathi mella selvaaloOr will she slowly toddle away?
Female
Thanga valai thalir kaiyoduWith golden bangles on tender, leaf-like hands,
Velli thingal iru kannoduWith two eyes resembling silver moons,
Muthu pandhal nagai thannoduWith a smile like a canopy made of pearls,
Mannan mattum ival nenjoduOnly her king resides in her heart.
Female
Oru tharam orae tharamJust once, only once,
Uravu thaedum kangal paavamPity these eyes that search for intimacy,
Thanimaiyil urugidumMelting away in loneliness,
Paarvaiyil ennenna baavamOh, what emotions reside in that gaze!
Male
Sithirathin mugam kandenaeI beheld a face like a fine painting,
Sembavalam niram endrenaeI declared her complexion to be red coral,
Unna unna idhazh senthaenaeAs I savored your lips of pure honey,
Unnidathil ennai thandhaenaeI surrendered myself completely to you.
Female
Illai enum idai thallaadaAs your thin, subtle waist sways,
Mella mella unnai mandraadaAs I softly and repeatedly plead with you,
Solla solla thoda vandhaayoDid you come to touch me as I kept speaking?
Enna enna sugam kandaayoWhat sweet delight did you discover?
Male
Oru tharam orae tharamJust once, only once,
Udhavi seidhaal enna paavamWhat sin is there if you help me?
Iruvarum arimugamNow that we both know each other,
Aanadhil verenna laabamWhat else is gained beyond this?
Oru tharamJust once,
Female :Orae tharamFemale: Only once!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet from 'Sumathi En Sundari' depicts a charming exchange between two lovers. The male protagonist playfully requests a gesture of love or affection ('help me just once'), arguing that their mutual acquaintance should naturally blossom into intimacy. The female lead playfully responds, reminding him of the modesty, elegance, and traditional boundary of womanhood, where beauty and charm lie in subtlety and patience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Vanna silai edhir vandhaalo / Kannukkoru badhil thandhaalo / Thottu kolla thadai seivaalo / Thathi thathi mella selvaalo

The deliberate repetition of the '-aalo' suffix at the end of consecutive lines creates a melodic end-rhyme structure.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Rūpaka)

Velli thingal iru kannodu / Muthu pandhal nagai thannodu

Eyes are poetically compared to 'silver moons' (velli thingal) and a charming smile is compared to a 'canopy of pearls' (muthu pandhal).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thanga valai thalir kaiyodu / Thathi thathi mella selvaalo

Alliteration using the consonant sound 'Th' at the start of words within the stanzas.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Vanna silai edhir vandhaalo / Kannukkoru badhil thandhaalo

The second letter consonant 'nn' matches between 'Vanna' and 'Kanna'.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1971 Tamil film 'Sumathi En Sundari' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and this popular romantic song was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, featuring poetic lyrics penned by Vaali.

Keep listening

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