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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Punnagai Maayai

From 99 Songs · 2021

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Abhay Jodhpurkar, Shashaa Tirupati
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
99 Songs
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
24 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aa….aa…haa….aaa…
Yen maunamai thoondil ondru veesinaai
En dhevadhai isai mozhi thandhaai
Paarvaiyaal pesinaai ennai thandhen
Un ooviyam oosaiyaai korkkiren
Adhil aayiram vaanavil kaangiren
Yaaridam kelaa paadalai
Unniru kannaal paarkkiren
Un ooviyam oosaiyaai korkkiren
Adhil aayiram vaanavil kaangiren
Yaaridam kelaa paadalai
Unniru kannaal paarkkiren
Paadum isai yaavum un kannin
Mozhiyoo mozhiyoo
Paadum isai yaavum un kannin
Mozhiyoo mozhiyoo
Un poo mugam poothidum thaavaram
Punnagai maayai ival
Aa... aa... aa... haa... aa...
Why did you silently cast a hook to catch me?
My angel, you gave me the language of music.
You spoke with your eyes, and I gave myself to you.
I weave your image into melody,
and in it, I see a thousand rainbows.
A song never heard from anyone before,
I see through both your eyes.
I weave your image into melody,
and in it, I see a thousand rainbows.
A song never heard from anyone before,
I see through both your eyes.
Is all this singing music
the language of your eyes?
Is all this singing music
the language of your eyes?
Your flower-like face is a blossoming plant,
and she is a magic woven of smiles.
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the musical film '99 Songs' explores the profound connection between love, visual art, and music. The protagonist describes how their silence was interrupted by love, transforming visual beauty—such as paintings, glances, and smiles—into musical harmony. Eyes become a medium through which unheard melodies are experienced, blending the sensory boundaries of sight and sound.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Yen maunamai thoondil ondru veesinaai

Comparing silence to water where a fishing hook ('thoondil') is cast to catch emotions or music.

Synesthesia

Un ooviyam oosaiyaai korkkiren

Blending visual art ('ooviyam' - painting) with auditory art ('oosai' - sound), expressing the act of turning sights into music.

Hyperbole

Adhil aayiram vaanavil kaangiren

Exaggerating the visual and emotional impact of music by describing it as seeing a thousand rainbows.

Uvamaani / Metaphor (Poo mugam)

Un poo mugam poothidum thaavaram

Comparing the lover's face to a soft flower ('poo mugam') on a blooming plant.

Did you know?

Trivia

'99 Songs' (2021) marks A. R. Rahman's debut as a film story writer and producer. The soundtrack is deeply rooted in the concept of music as a spiritual and transformative art. Lyricist Thamarai adapted the Tamil version to reflect Rahman's intricate, melody-driven arrangement.

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