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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pallavi Ondru

From Sollathan Ninaikkiren · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janki, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sollathan Ninaikkiren1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pallavi ondru mannan ketka paaduvenadiI will sing a opening line (pallavi) for the king to hear, my friend
Aa…aa…aa…..aa….Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Pallavi ondru mannan ketka paaduvenadiI will sing a opening line (pallavi) for the king to hear, my friend
Anu pallaviyai polLike the sub-opening line (anupallavi) that follows the opening line
Avanai vanthu sera solladiTell him to come and unite with me, my friend
Anu pallaviyai polLike the sub-opening line (anupallavi) that follows the opening line
Avanai vanthu sera solladiTell him to come and unite with me, my friend
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Female
Saranam endru naanum vanthaenI have come seeking refuge (saranam/verse)
Yaerkka solladiTell him to accept me, my friend
Saranam endru naanum vanthaenI have come seeking refuge (saranam/verse)
Yaerkka solladiTell him to accept me, my friend
Avan sannathiyilIn his presence
Enthan nilaiyai eduththu solladiExplain my plight to him, my friend
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Female
Meera….meera…..meera…Meera... Meera... Meera...
Meera paadiya paadalai ketkaTo hear the song that Meera sang
Kannan varavillaiyoDidn't Lord Krishna come?
Antha mangaiyin paadal mannanukkenoWhy didn't that maiden's song bring enchantment
Mayakkam tharavillaiyoTo her king?
Female
Thanjam endru nenjamA heart seeking refuge
Ondru paadugindrathuSings a song
Adhu thannai kakkum thalaivanIt seeks the shadow of the leader
Nizhalai thedugindrathuWho will protect it
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Female
Thingal vanthu thazhuvaththaanae vaan piranthathuThe sky was created for the moon to come and embrace it
Isai thaenee vanthu parugaththaanae thaen piranthathuHoney was created for the musical honeybee to drink
Nalla kanavan maalai sooda naan piranththuI was born to garland a good husband
Intha nangai enni yaengum antha naal piranthathuAnd the day this young woman yearned for has arrived
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Paaduvenadi endru paaduvenadiWhen will I sing, my friend? When will I sing?
Female
Yaarukkendru yaaraiWhom will God unite
Antha deivam searkkumoWith whom?
Athu intha naalil ingu nalla theerppu koorumoWill God pronounce a good judgment here today?
Chorus :Yaarukkendru yaaraiChorus: Whom will God unite with whom?
Antha deivam searkkumoAntha deivam searkkumo
Athu intha naalil ingu nalla theerppu koorumoWill God pronounce a good judgment here today?
Female
Ninaiththa vannam nenjirendaiWill He unite two hearts
Inaiththu vaikkumoJust as desired?
Female
Nedu naatkkal naanum thaedugindraWill I get the protective shadow
Nizhal kidaikkumoThat I have been searching for all these days?
Paaduvenadi endrum paaduvenadiI will always sing, my friend, I will sing
Chorus :Paaduvenadi endrum paaduvenadiChorus: I will always sing, my friend, I will sing
Female
Pallavi ondru mannan ketka paaduvenadiI will sing a pallavi for the king to hear, my friend
Anu pallaviyai polLike an anupallavi
Avanai vanthu sera solladiTell him to come and unite with me, my friend
Chorus :Paaduvenadi endrum paaduvenadiChorus: I will always sing, my friend, I will sing
Paaduvenadi endrum paaduvenadiI will always sing, my friend, I will sing

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a masterfully crafted lyrical masterpiece that cleverly weaves Carnatic music structure terms—Pallavi (theme/opening section), Anupallavi (sub-theme), and Saranam (verse, also meaning refuge)—into a desperate plea for love and acceptance. The protagonist expresses her devotion to her beloved (referred to as her 'king') and asks her companion to relay her deep love and current plight to him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)

Pallavi ondru mannan ketka paaduvenadi... Saranam endru naanum vanthaen

Vaali brilliantly uses musical terms 'Pallavi', 'Anupallavi', and 'Saranam' with double meanings: as components of a song structure and as metaphorical representations of love's progression and seeking 'saranam' (refuge).

Metaphor & Analogy

Thingal vanthu thazhuvaththaanae vaan piranthathu

Compares the sky existing for the moon, honey for the bee, and her birth for marrying a good husband, illustrating natural union.

Allusion (Purana Reference)

Meera paadiya paadalai ketka Kannan varavillaiyo

Refers to Saint Meera's unyielding devotion to Lord Krishna as an exemplar of eternal love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song belongs to K. Balachander's 1973 classic movie 'Sollathaan Ninakkiren' starring Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar, Jayachitra, and Srividya. Vaali's creative genius shines here by converting musical composition terminology directly into emotional lyrical narrative, which remains one of the most famous wordplay songs in Tamil cinema history.

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