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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Radhai Manathil

From Snegithiye · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Snegithiye2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ Radhai manathil radhai manathil enna ragasiyamo{ What secret lies within Radha's heart, Radha's heart?
Kan rendum thandhi adika kanna vaa kandu pidika } (2)Both eyes send telegrams, Oh Krishna, come find out! } (2)
Female
Kollai nilavadikum vellai raathiriyilOn a white night illuminated by abundant moonlight,
Kodhai radhai nadanthaalThe beautiful maiden Radha walked.
Female
Moongil kaatil oru gaanam kasinthavudanAs a melody seeped out from the bamboo forest,
Moochu vaangi uraindhaalShe gasped for breath and froze.
Female
Nenjin osai odunkivitaalThe heartbeat's sound fell silent,
Nizhalai kandu nadungi vitaalShe trembled upon seeing her own shadow.
Kannan thedi vandha magalThe girl who came searching for Krishna,
Thannai tholaithu mayangivitaalLost herself and swooned.
Female
Thaan irukindra idathinil irudhayam kaanavillaiHer heart was missing from where she stood,
Engae engae sol solWhere is it, where is it, tell me, tell me!
Female
Kan rendum thandhi adika kanna vaa kandu pidikaBoth eyes send telegrams, Oh Krishna, come find out!
Female
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Female
Kannan oodhum kuzhal kaatril thoongivituFloating in the breeze of Krishna's flute music,
Kaantham polae ilukumIt pulls like a magnet.
Female
Mangai vandhavudan maraindhu kolluvadhuHiding as soon as the young maiden arrives,
Maaya kannan vazhakamIs the habit of the magical Krishna.
Female
Kaadu irunduvida kangal sivandhuvidaAs the forest grew dark and her eyes turned red,
Kaadhal radhai alaindhaalLove-struck Radha wandered around.
Female
Avanai thedi aval kannai tholaithu vittuSearching for him, she lost her sight,
Aasai noyil vilundhaalAnd fell ill with longing desire.
Female
Udhadu thudikum pechu illaiHer lips quiver, but there are no words,
Uyirum iruku moochu illaiLife is present, but there is no breath.
Vandha paathai ninaivu illaiShe doesn't remember the path she came from,
Pogum paathai puriyavillaiShe doesn't understand the path ahead.
Female
Un pullaanguzhal satham vanthaalIf the sound of your flute arrives,
Pedhai radhai jeevan kolvaalSimple Radha will regain life.
Kanna ingae vaa vaaOh Krishna, come here, come!
Female
Kanneeril uyir thudika kanna vaa uyir kodukaAs life throbs in tears, Oh Krishna, come give life!
Female
Radhai manathil radhai manathil enna ragasiyamoWhat secret lies within Radha's heart, Radha's heart?
Kan rendum thandhi adika kanna vaa kandu pidikaBoth eyes send telegrams, Oh Krishna, come find out!
Female
Kannam theendiyadhum kannan endruWhen her cheek was touched, thinking it was Krishna,
Andha kanni kangal vizhithaalThat maiden opened her eyes.
Female
Kannam theendiyadhu kannan allaWhat touched her cheek was not Krishna,
Verum kaatru endru thigaithaalShe was stunned to realize it was merely the wind.
Female
Kangal moodi kondu kannan perai solliClosing her eyes and calling out Krishna's name,
Kaigal neeti azhaithaalShe reached out her hands and called for him.
Female
Kaatil tholaithuvita kannin neer thuliyaiThe tear drop she had lost in the forest,
Ingu kandu pidithaalShe found right here.
Female
Vizhiyin siragai vaangikonduBorrowing wings from her eyes,
Kizhaku noki siragadithaalShe flapped her wings towards the east.
Kuyilin kuralai vaangi konduBorrowing the voice of the cuckoo bird,
Koovi koovi aval azhaithaalShe called out repeatedly for him.
Female
Aval kurai uyir karaiyum munBefore her remaining life dissolves,
Udal mannil sariyum munBefore her body collapses onto the ground,
Kanna kanna nee vaaOh Krishna, Krishna, you come!
Female
Kanneeril uyir thudika kanna vaa uyir kodukaAs life throbs in tears, Oh Krishna, come give life!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Radhai Manathil from the movie Snegithiye (2000), composed by Vidyasagar with lyrics by Vairamuthu, is a classical-fusion depiction of divine love and longing (Viraha Bhakti). The song describes Radha wandering through a serene, moonlit forest, captivated by the distant melody of Krishna's flute. Her intense romantic and spiritual yearning causes her to lose her sense of direction and self, mistaking the cool forest breeze on her cheek for Krishna's gentle touch.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Kan rendum thandhi adika kanna vaa kandu pidika

Compares the nervous twitching or expressive flutter of Radha's eyes to sending a telegram (thandhi) to signal her love to Krishna.

Simile (Uwamai)

Kannan oodhum kuzhal kaatril thoongivitu / Kaantham polae ilukum

Compares the hypnotic attraction of Krishna's flute music floating in the breeze to the irresistible pull of a magnet.

Assonance / Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Vizhiyin siragai vaangikondu / Kizhaku noki siragadithaal

The second consonant 'zhi' rhymes between 'Vizhiyin' and 'Kizhaku', creating melodic lyricism.

Hyperbole & Personification

Moongil kaatil oru gaanam kasinthavudan / Moochu vaangi uraindhaal

Poetically describes music as something that 'seeps' out of a bamboo forest, causing Radha's heart to freeze and her shadow to intimidate her.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context listed the composer as unknown, 'Radhai Manathil' was composed by Vidyasagar for Priyadarshan's female-centric mystery thriller 'Snegithiye' (2000). The song is sung by K. S. Chithra, Sujatha Mohan, and Sangeetha Sajith. It became immensely popular for its unique blend of Carnatic-inspired vocals with modern rhythmic arrangements.

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