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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pazhaya Kural

From Iyarkai · 2003

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Sujatha Mohan
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Iyarkai2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pazhaiya kural ketkirathaeAn old voice is heard
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Pudhiya kural azhaikkirathaeA new voice is calling
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Female
Ethanodu en nenjamTo which of these will my heart
Sevi saaikumoLend its ear?
Irandodum seraamalWithout joining either of them,
Uyir maaikkumWill it end its own life?
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Female
Pazhaiya kural ketkirathaeAn old voice is heard
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Pudhiya kural azhaikkirathaeA new voice is calling
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Male
Aaah…..Aaah…..
Female
Pagalil sooriyanSun in the day
Iravil nilavuMoon at night
Irandum pizhaiyaaAre both wrong?
Irandum sariyaaAre both right?
Iyarkkai theerppuWill nature's verdict
SollumaBe pronounced?
Female
Entha kannaalThrough which eyes
Ulagam paarppenShall I view the world?
Nonthu ilaiththenI have withered away in pain
NoolaagaLike a thin thread
Rettai pillaiyilAmong twin children,
Ethan mel nesamWhich one to love more—
Endru mayangumLike a mother who gets bewildered
ThaayaagaIn confusion
Female
Thudikkum thudikkumThrob, throb
ManathuThe heart does
Thadukkum thadukkumRestrain, restrain
MarabuTradition does
Enadhu vaanathilIn my sky
ennavo ethooSomething inexplicable happens
Irandu thingalai iravuA night with two moons
Female
Pazhaiya kural ketkirathaeAn old voice is heard
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Pudhiya kural azhaikkirathaeA new voice is calling
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Female
Kadalil oruvanOne man in the ocean
Karaiyil oruvanOne man on the shore
Avano uyirilHe is in my soul
Ivano manadhilHe is in my heart
Irandil ethu thaanWhich of the two
VellumoooWill prevail?
Female
Solli mudikkumIf it were a sorrow
Thuyaram endralThat could be expressed in words,
Solli iruppen naanagaI would have voiced it myself
Ullukullae moodi maraithenI hid and buried it inside
Oomai kanda kanavaagaLike a dream seen by a mute person
Female
Thudikkum thudikkumThrob, throb
ManathuThe heart does
Thadukkum thadukkumRestrain, restrain
MarabuTradition does
Enadhu vaanathilIn my sky
ennavo ethooSomething inexplicable happens
Irandu thingalai iravuA night with two moons
Female
Pazhaiya kural ketkirathaeAn old voice is heard
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Pudhiya kural azhaikkirathaeA new voice is calling
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone
Female
Ethanodu en nenjamTo which of these will my heart
Sevi saaikumoLend its ear?
Irandodum seraamalWithout joining either of them,
Uyir maaikkumWill it end its own life?
Yaaro yaaroSomeone, someone

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from 'Iyarkai' depicts the severe emotional conflict of the protagonist, who finds herself caught between two loves: a past lover lost at sea whom she held in her soul, and a new companion on the shore who has won a place in her heart. She feels completely paralyzed by this duality, questioning whether nature itself can grant a resolution to her torment. Through evocative metaphors—such as a mother unable to choose between twin children, a mute person trying to convey a dream, and a sky impossibly illuminated by two moons at night—she expresses the painful clash between the beating desires of her heart and the binding restraints of social tradition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Rettai pillaiyil / Ethan mel nesam / Endru mayangum / Thaayaaga

Compares her dilemma of choosing between two lovers to a mother who is bewildered about which of her twin infants to love more.

Surrealist Imagery / Symbolism

Irandu thingalai iravu

Uses the surreal imagery of a night sky containing two moons to symbolize the impossible presence of two deep loves coexisting in her life.

Ethiray / Phonetic Rhyme & Contrast

Thudikkum thudikkum Manathu / Thadukkum thadukkum Marabu

Contrasts 'Thudikkum' (throbbing/desire) with 'Thadukkum' (restraining/tradition) to highlight the central thematic conflict of heart versus societal norms.

Analogy (Uvamai)

Oomai kanda kanavaaga

Compares her unexpressed internal anguish to a dream experienced by a mute person who lacks the speech to explain it to the world.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Iyarkai' (2003), directed by S. P. Jananathan, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar. The storyline is heavily inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story 'White Nights'.

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