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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnel Yeri Karaiyoram

From Uzhavan Magan · 1987

Lyricist
Aabavanan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Details
Uzhavan Magan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aah….aa….aa…aa…Vocalizations (Aah... aa... aa... aa...)
Chorus
Ponnel yaeri karaiyoramAlong the banks of the golden paddy lake
Pozhuthu saayuthu nadhiyoramThe sun sets by the river side
Angae adikkanum thoottranumThere we must thresh and winnow the grain
Payanam vegu dhooram….The journey ahead is very long...
Chorus
Ponnel yaeri karaiyoramAlong the banks of the golden paddy lake
Pozhuthu saayuthu nadhiyoramThe sun sets by the river side
Angae adikkanum thoottranumThere we must thresh and winnow the grain
Payanam vegu dhooram….The journey ahead is very long...
Male
Nettri vervaiyae nellaachchuSweat on the forehead has turned into paddy
Nellae namakku seeraachchuPaddy has become our rich wealth and legacy
Ninaichchathu polae velainjaachchuThe crops have yielded just as wished
Nelamae namakku thaayachchuThe land has become a mother to us
Aahaahahhhahaa lalaalaalaaVocalizations (Aahaahahhhahaa lalaalaalaa)
Chorus
…………….
Male
Margazhi maasam poyaachchuThe month of Margazhi has passed
Mangala naanum pottaachchuThe auspicious sacred thread has been tied
Parisham pottathu pazhasaachchuThe formal betrothal has become a thing of the past
Panthamaagiyae pudhusaachchuA new bond of togetherness has formed
Chorus
Naanuthu naanuthu sengathir naanuthuShyly blushes, the reddish ear of paddy blushes
Naalaiya thedhiyil naayagi aaguthuTomorrow it becomes the reigning heroine
Male :Kodimalar pooththathu kaalaiyilaeMale: The climber flower bloomed in the morning
Konjuthu kuzhaiyuthu maalaiyilaeIt coos and cuddles softly in the evening
Aahahahhahaa….lalaalaallaaVocalizations (Aahahahhahaa... lalaalaallaa)
Chorus
…………….
Male
Saainthaadammaa saainthaaduSway and dance, dear one, sway and dance
Saayakkiliyae saainthaaduSwaying parrot, dance gracefully
Cholai pookkal sarinthaadaAs the grove's flowers bow and sway
Chella kiliyae sathiraaduBeloved parrot, dance rhythmically
Chorus
Aaduthu aaduthu ponmayil aaduthuDancing, dancing, the golden peacock dances
Paaduthu paaduthu poonguyil paaduthuSinging, singing, the sweet cuckoo sings
Male :Manjal veyyil maalaiyilaeMale: In the evening's golden yellow sunlight
Kolampoduthu cholaiyilaeIt draws decorative patterns in the grove
Aahaahahhahaa….lalaalaallaa…Vocalizations (Aahaahahhahaa... lalaalaallaa...)
Chorus
Ponnel yaeri karaiyoramAlong the banks of the golden paddy lake
Pozhuthu saayuthu nadhiyoramThe sun sets by the river side
Angae adikkanum thoottranumThere we must thresh and winnow the grain
Payanam vegu dhooram….The journey ahead is very long...
Male
Nettri vervaiyae nellaachchuSweat on the forehead has turned into paddy
Nellae namakku seeraachchuPaddy has become our rich wealth and legacy
Ninaichchathu polae velainjaachchuThe crops have yielded just as wished
Nelamae namakku thaayachchuThe land has become a mother to us
Aahaahahhahaa….lalaalaallaa…Vocalizations (Aahaahahhahaa... lalaalaallaa...)
Chorus
………………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This celebratory folk song from the movie Uzhavan Magan highlights the rewarding life of farmers and their deep bond with the land. It describes the evening harvest routine along riverbanks, framing hard work and sweat as the true wealth that turns into golden paddy. Parallel to the agricultural harvest, the lyrics weave a romantic narrative of marriage, new beginnings, and nature's beauty blooming in rhythm with the lives of rural folk.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Nettri vervaiyae nellaachchu / Nellae namakku seeraachchu

The second consonant 'tt/ll/n' matches across successive lines (Nettri / Nellae / Ninaichchathu / Nelamae), creating traditional Tamil poetic rhythm.

Personification (Uruvakam / Markole)

Naanuthu naanuthu sengathir naanuthu / Naalaiya thedhiyil naayagi aaguthu

The ear of paddy (Sengathir) is personified as a shy bride blushing and becoming a heroine, drawing a parallel between agriculture and human relationships.

Metaphor

Nettri vervaiyae nellaachchu

Hard work represented by sweat on the forehead is directly conceptualized as the golden grain yielded.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Aaduthu aaduthu ponmayil aaduthu / Paaduthu paaduthu poonguyil paaduthu

Repetition of verbs like 'Aaduthu aaduthu' and 'Paaduthu paaduthu' adds folk melody and rhythmic cadence to the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Uzhavan Magan (1987) was a hit village-centric action drama starring Vijayakanth and Radhika, directed by R. Aravindraj and written/produced by Aabavanan. The music was composed by the duo Manoj–Gyan, who were well known for blending authentic Tamil folk elements with melodic orchestration during the late 1980s.

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