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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Punnagai Thavazhum

From Maragatham · 1959

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Maragatham1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Punnagai thavazhum madhi mugamoIs it a moon-like face where a smile gently hovers?
Punnagai thavazhum madhi mugamoIs it a moon-like face where a smile gently hovers?
Vennilaa umizhum nirai mathiyoOr is it the full moon shedding white moonlight?
Punnagai thavazhum mathi mugamoIs it a moon-like face where a smile gently hovers?
Vennilaa umizhum nirai mathiyo mathi mayangumOr is it the full moon shedding white moonlight that bewilders the mind?
Male
Punnagai thavazhum mathi mugamoIs it a moon-like face where a smile gently hovers?
Male
Ennullam kavar vaenthanIs it the skillful craftsmanship...
Kaivarisaiyo…oo….oo…..ae….ae…...of the king who stole my heart?
Ennullam kavar vaenthanIs it the king who stole my heart...
Kaivarisaiyo…...showing his artistic dexterity?
Ezhil annai pariso pal varisaiyoIs it a gift from Mother Beauty, or a gift of pearl-like teeth?
Male
Punnagai thavazhum mathi mugamoIs it a moon-like face where a smile gently hovers?
Female
Enathullam IndrennavoWhat has happened to my heart today?
Thaniyae inbuttru alaigindrathae….ae….ae…It wanders around enjoying joy all by itself...
Enathullam IndrennavoWhat has happened to my heart today?
Thaniyae inbuttru alaigindrathaeIt wanders around enjoying joy all by itself...
Female
Dhinamulla malar solaiyaeSeeing this, even the blooming flower garden...
Idhai kandu sinthai suzhalgindrathae...feels its mind spinning in wonder!
Dhinamulla malar solaiyaeSeeing this, even the blooming flower garden...
Idhai kandu sinthai suzhalgindrathae...feels its mind spinning in wonder!
Female
Manamingu vilaiyaadalai virumbaamalMy mind no longer desires playful games here,
Thanimayae venduthadiIt seeks solitude, oh friend!
Manamingu vilaiyaadalai virumbaamalMy mind no longer desires playful games here,
Thanimayae venduthadiIt seeks solitude, oh friend!
Female
Kanavil nadappathu polAs if walking in a dream,
Kaanbathellam kanaththil marayuthadi….ee….ee…Everything seen vanishes in an instant, oh friend!
Kanavil nadappathu polAs if walking in a dream,
Kaanbathellam kanaththil marayuthadiEverything seen vanishes in an instant, oh friend!
En paangi kanaththil marayuthadiOh my friend, it vanishes in an instant!
Female
Paangiyae nee virainthu vaarayadiMy friend, come running quickly!
Indha vindhaiyai paaraayadiLook at this wonder, oh friend!
Paangiyae nee virainthu vaarayadiMy friend, come running quickly!
Indha vindhaiyai paaraayadiLook at this wonder, oh friend!
Female
Enthan vadivam thanai varainthaaroDid someone sketch my own form?
Aaa….aa….aa…..aa….aaa…..Aaa....aa....aa.....aa....aaa.....
Enthan vadivam thanai varainthaaroDid someone sketch my own form?
Idhai kandaen manamae mayanguthadiSeeing this, my heart feels intoxicated, oh friend!
Enthan vadivam thanai varainthaaroDid someone sketch my own form?
Idhai kandaen manamae mayanguthadiSeeing this, my heart feels intoxicated, oh friend!
Male
Enathullam IndrennavoWhat has happened to my heart today?
Thaniyae inbuttru alaigindrathae….ae….ae…It wanders around enjoying joy all by itself...
Enathullam IndrennavoWhat has happened to my heart today?
Thaniyae inbuttru alaigindrathaeIt wanders around enjoying joy all by itself...
Male
Dhinamulla malar solaiyaeSeeing this, even the blooming flower garden...
Idhai kandu sinthai suzhalgindrathae...feels its mind spinning in wonder!
Dhinamulla malar solaiyaeSeeing this, even the blooming flower garden...
Idhai kandu sinthai suzhalgindrathae...feels its mind spinning in wonder!
Male
Manamingu vilaiyaadalai virumbaamalMy mind no longer desires playful games here,
Thanimayae venduthadaaIt seeks solitude, oh dear!
Manamingu vilaiyaadalai virumbaamalMy mind no longer desires playful games here,
Thanimayae venduthadaaIt seeks solitude, oh dear!
Male
Kanavil nadappathu polAs if walking in a dream,
Kaanbathellam kanaththil marayuthadaaEverything seen vanishes in an instant, oh dear!
Kanavil nadappathu polAs if walking in a dream,
Kaanbathellam kanaththil marayuthadaaEverything seen vanishes in an instant, oh dear!
Male
Paarkka paarkka thigattaathaNever cloying no matter how much one gazes,
Unnazhagai paruga pasi theerumaeDrinking in your beauty quenches all hunger!
Paarkka paarkka thigattaathaNever cloying no matter how much one gazes,
Unnazhagai paruga pasi theerumaeDrinking in your beauty quenches all hunger!
Male
Ketka ketka azhukkaatha unthanNever wearying no matter how much one listens,
Uyar geetham amutham naerumaeYour sublime song equals divine nectar!
Ketka ketka azhukkaatha unthanNever wearying no matter how much one listens,
Uyar geetham amutham naerumaeYour sublime song equals divine nectar!
Paavai unnai aarkka paarkka thigattaathaOh maiden, gazing at you endlessly without satiety,
Unnazhagai paruga pasi theerumae…..Drinking in your beauty quenches all hunger...
Male
Paalum neerumpol piriyaaLike milk and water that blend inseparably,
Uravae paarinil perum aananthamA bond like that is the supreme joy in this world!
Paalum neerumpol piriyaaLike milk and water that blend inseparably,
Uravae paarinil perum aananthamA bond like that is the supreme joy in this world!
Female
Pakkuvam adaiyaadha padham pera kaayaathaUnripened, not having reached proper condition, unboiled...
Paalukku suvaiyaethu Paalukku suvaiyaethuWhat taste can such milk have? What taste can such milk have?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Punnagai thavazhum madhi mugamo from Maragatham (1959) is a classical Tamil romantic composition penned by the celebrated lyricist Papanasam Sivan. The song captures the bewildered enchantment of a woman mesmerized by a portrait or recollection of her beloved. She compares his radiant face to the full moon, pondering whether it is a masterwork crafted by her heart's king or a gift from Mother Nature. Caught in a dreamlike trance, her mind rejects playfulness and craves reflective solitude, prompting her to call her friend to witness this sweet perplexity. The lyric gracefully transitions into praising the eternal nature of true beauty and art—gazing upon the beloved quenches soul-hunger, and listening to his melody is as rejuvenating as nectar. It concludes with a timeless metaphor of ideal love: lovers should be inseparably blended like milk and water, while gently observing that love without maturity and proper refining is like unboiled milk that lacks real sweetness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Vennilaa umizhum nirai mathiyo

Compares the beloved's smiling face to the full moon emitting bright white light ('Vennilaa umizhum nirai mathiyo').

Metaphor (Urugavam)

Unnazhagai paruga pasi theerumae

Treats beauty as a drinkable nectar that quenches physical hunger ('Unnazhagai paruga pasi theerumae').

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Punnagai thavazhum madhi mugamo / Vennilaa umizhum nirai mathiyo

Rhyming of second consonant 'n' sound between 'Punnagai' and 'Vennilaa'.

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Paarkka paarkka thigattaatha

Repetition of words like 'Paarkka paarkka' and 'Ketka ketka' to emphasize continuous gazing and listening.

Traditional Analogy

Paalum neerumpol piriyaa

Uses the classical Tamil literary imagery of milk and water ('Paalum neerumpol') blending inseparable as a symbol for true love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maragatham (1959) is a Tamil film directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The film's music was scored by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, with legendary Carnatic composer Papanasam Sivan contributing timeless lyrics that blend classical Tamil poetic tropes with film narrative.

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