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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oruvan Vanthan

From Rathna Manjari · 1961

Lyricist
Puratchi Dasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Rajan Nagendra
Details
Rathna Manjari1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oruvan vandhan .. oruvan ponaanOne man arrived.. one man departed
Naduvil nindravanThe one who stood in the middle
Azhudhan sirithaanHe wept and he laughed
Vaazhndhavan utkaarndhaanThe one who lived life has now sat down
Vaaliban nadakkindraanThe young man keeps walking on
Male
Iravu pagal varugiradhuNight and day keep coming and going
Yedhyedho nadakkirathuAll kinds of events keep transpiring
Nedunaal ulagam paarkkiradhuThe world has been watching this for ages
Nimmadhi izhandhu irukkiradhuAnd remains having lost its peace of mind

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deep philosophical reflection on the transience of human life, the inevitability of aging, and the relentless march of time. It illustrates the human condition where one generation passes away while a new generation steps up, experiencing the same spectrum of emotions—joy, sorrow, vitality, and eventual decline. Through all this human drama, nature's cycles of day and night continue uninterrupted while the world watches on, burdened by a perpetual loss of peace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

Oruvan vandhan .. oruvan ponaan

Uses contrasting ideas of arrival ('vandhan') and departure ('ponaan') in the same line to emphasize the birth-and-death cycle of human life.

Muran (Antithesis)

Azhudhan sirithaan

Contrasts weeping ('Azhudhan') with laughing ('sirithaan') to represent the dual nature of human emotion.

Antithesis / Binary Pairing

Iravu pagal varugiradhu

Pairs opposing elements of nature—night ('iravu') and day ('pagal')—to symbolize the continuous, unstoppable progression of time.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Yedhyedho nadakkirathu / Nimmadhi izhandhu irukkiradhu

The matching end sounds 'nadakkirathu' and 'irukkiradhu' create a rhythmic and musical flow at the conclusion of these couplets.

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Trivia

'Rathna Manjari' (1961) was a Tamil dub/bilingual release of the hit Kannada fantasy-adventure film 'Ratnamanjari', directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy. The music was composed by the legendary Kannada composer duo Rajan–Nagendra. Singer P. B. Sreenivas was renowned across South Indian cinema for delivering deep, contemplative philosophical songs with his signature velvet voice, and lyricist Puratchi Dasan crafted lyrics that seamlessly adapted Tamil philosophical sensibilities into dubbed musical tracks.

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