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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oxygen

From Kavan · 2017

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
Hiphop Tamizha, Sudharshan Ashok
Music director
Hiphop Tamizha
Details
Kavan2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oxygen thanthaayaeYou gave me oxygen
Munnoru pozhudhinilaeIn a time long before
Moochu kaatrai moththamThe entirety of my breath
Thirudi ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you steal and go away?
Male
Odum nadhiyil ilaiyai polaeLike a leaf in a running river
Naatkal nagargirathaeThe days are passing by
Ilaiyin meedhu nilavin oliyoThe moonlight upon the leaf
Soodaai pozhigirathaePours down hot like fire
Male
Kalaabamae enai keerinaaiOh peacock feather, you scratched me
Mazhai meghamaeOh rain cloud
Pizhai aaginaaiYou became a mistake
Male
En vaasalil suvar aaginaaiYou became a wall at my doorstep
Meendum oru thoondilIs it to cast a fish hook again
Idavaa… thondrinaaiThat you appeared?
Male
Oxygen thanthaayaeYou gave me oxygen
Munnoru pozhudhinilae..ehh…In a time long before.. ehh..
Moochu kaatrai moththamThe entirety of my breath
Thirudi ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you steal and go away?
Ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you go?
Ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you go?
Edhanaalae ..ohooo…..hmmmmWhy.. ohooo.. hmmmm
Male
Ula ula kalloori mannilaaStrolling on the college campus ground
Un theendal ovvondrumEvery single touch of yours
Enai koiyum thendralaaIs it a gentle breeze plucking at me?
Male
Muyal idaiA rabbit-like waist
Thirai neengum podhellaamWhenever the curtain parts
Siru mogam vandhadhaaiA small passion arose
Selai cindrellaaSaree-clad Cinderella
Male
Vettaveli vaanam engumAcross the open vast sky
Vatta mugam kanden kandenI saw your round face everywhere
Natta nadu nenjil nenjilRight in the middle of my heart
Yutham idum kadhal kondenI held a warring love
Male
Kaalam adhu theerndhaal koodaEven if time comes to an end
Kaadhal adhu vazhum endrenI said that love will live on
Paavai ne piriyum podhuWhen you, my maiden, separated
Paadhiyil kanavai kondrenI killed my dream midway
Male
Oxygen thanthaayaeYou gave me oxygen
Munnoru pozhudhinilae..ehh…In a time long before.. ehh..
Moochu kaatrai moththamThe entirety of my breath
Thirudi ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you steal and go away?
Female
Aahaaaaaa…aaaaaa…Aahaaaaaa…aaaaaa…
Aahaaaaaa…aaaaaa…Aahaaaaaa…aaaaaa…
Male
Thaniyaaga nadamaadumWalking around all alone
Pidivaadham unadhuStubbornness is yours
Nizhalodum urasaadhaWithout brushing against even a shadow
Thanmaanam enadhuSelf-respect is mine
Male
Edai illaa porul allaIt is not a weightless object
Adi kaadhal manadhuOh dear, a loving heart
Agalaadha oru ninaivuAn unyielding memory
Adhu malaiyin alavuIt is as huge as a mountain
Male
Aalattra araiyil koodaEven in an unpeopled empty room
Aniyaaya thooram thollaiUnfair distance is a trouble
Un idhayam ariyadhazhagaeYour heart does not know, my beauty
En idhayam ezhudhum sollaiThe words that my heart writes
Male
Mounamaai thooram nindraalIf you stand far away in silence
Madiyilae baaram illaiThere is no weight on my lap
Meendum oru kadhal seiyyaTo make love once again
Kangalil eeram illaiThere is no moisture in my eyes
Male
Oxygen thanthaayaeYou gave me oxygen
Munnoru pozhudhinilaeIn a time long before
Moochu kaatrai moththamThe entirety of my breath
Thirudi ponaai edhanaalaeWhy did you steal and go away?
Male
Odum nadhiyil ilaiyai polaeLike a leaf in a running river
Naatkal nagargirathaeThe days are passing by
Ilaiyin meedhu nilavin oliyoThe moonlight upon the leaf
Soodaai pozhigirathaePours down hot like fire
Male
Kalaabamae enai keerinaaiOh peacock feather, you scratched me
Mazhai meghamaeOh rain cloud
Pizhai aaginaaiYou became a mistake
Male
En vaasalil suvar aaginaaiYou became a wall at my doorstep
Meendum oru thoondilIs it to cast a fish hook again
Idavaa… thondrinaaiThat you appeared?
Chorus
:Hmmmmm…mmmmm..mmm:Hmmmmm…mmmmm..mmm
Hmmmmm…mmmmm..mmmHmmmmm…mmmmm..mmm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oxygen' from the movie Kavan (2017) is a poignant Tamil romantic track composed by Hiphop Tamizha and sung by Hiphop Tamizha and Sudharshan Ashok, with lyrics penned by Kabilan. The song portrays the deep emotional turmoil of a lover who once found life and breath in his beloved, but is now left breathless and heartbroken after their separation. He reflects on their nostalgic college memories alongside the present pain where even soothing elements like moonlight feel burning hot.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Odum nadhiyil ilaiyai polae

Compares the helpless passage of days to a dry leaf floating down a flowing river ('Odum nadhiyil ilaiyai polae').

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Oxygen thanthaayae

Metaphorically calls the lover 'Oxygen', equating her presence to the essential element of life.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Ilaiyin meedhu nilavin oliyo / Soodaai pozhigirathae

Describes cool moonlight pouring down hot ('Soodaai pozhigirathae'), highlighting psychological anguish.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Vettaveli vaanam engum / Vatta mugam kanden kanden

Repetition of initial consonants like 'M' in 'Mazhai meghamae' / 'Meendum' or 'V' in 'Vettaveli vaanam engum / Vatta mugam kanden kanden'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context listed Music and Singers as 'Unknown', this track was composed by Hiphop Tamizha (Aadhi & Jeeva) for the KV Anand directorial 'Kavan' starring Vijay Sethupathi and Madonna Sebastian. The song was a massive hit among youth for its fusion of contemporary pop arrangements with traditional Tamil lyrical motifs.

Keep listening

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