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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rathiri Pozhuthu

From Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Jeyachandran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Male
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Female :HaFemale: Ha
Male :Unna paakkura pozhuthuMale: When looking at you
Female :HoiFemale: Hoi
Male :Adi vaerththu kottuthuMale: Oh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu ketkkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Female :AahaanFemale: Aahaan
Male :Ada unkittaththaan enna irukkuMale: Hey, what is it that you have?
Adhai therinjukkiraen kitta nerungu….oo…Let me find out, come closer... oo...
Male
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Male
Oodaiyilae pani vaadaiyilae….In the stream, in the chilly northern wind...
Oodaiyilae pani vaadaiyilae….In the stream, in the chilly northern wind...
Ottikitta namakku uththaravu edhukkuWhen we cling together, why do we need permission?
Ottikitta namakku uththaravu edhukkuWhen we cling together, why do we need permission?
Female
Pakkaththila machchaan machchaan ada hoiRight next to me is my beloved cousin, hey hoi!
Paasaththaiyae vachchaan vachchaan ada hoiHe poured out all his affection, hey hoi!
Pakkaththila machchaan machchaan ada hoiRight next to me is my beloved cousin, hey hoi!
Paasaththaiyae vachchaan vachchaan adaHe poured out all his affection, hey
Male
Maanae ilamaanae unai muththaadaOh deer, my young deer, to kiss you
Vanthaenae….naanae…..I have come... it's me...
Male
{Raaththiri pozhuthu{During the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthu} (2)Words choke up when listening} (2)
Female
Ada unkittaththaan enna irukkuHey, what is it that you have?
Adhai therinjukkiraen kitta nerungu….hoi…Let me find out, come closer... hoi...
Female
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Female
Thaenirukku thenai maavirukkuThere is honey, there is millet flour
Thaenirukku thenai maavirukkuThere is honey, there is millet flour
Saeththu vachcha virunthu kaaththukittu irukkuThe feast prepared and saved is waiting
Saeththu vachcha virunthu kaaththukittu irukkuThe feast prepared and saved is waiting
Male
Aadiyilae kaveriyaam ada hoi….Like the river Cauvery overflowing in the month of Aadi, hey hoi...
Intha pakkam nee vaareeyaa ada hoi….Will you come to this side, hey hoi...
Aadiyilae kaveriyaam ada hoi….Like the river Cauvery overflowing in the month of Aadi, hey hoi...
Intha pakkam nee vaareeyaa ada hoi….Will you come to this side, hey hoi...
Female
Aasai oru poosai nee ingae vaaDesire is a ritual of worship, come here
Anbaaga pesaTo talk with love
Male
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Female
Raaththiri pozhuthuDuring the night time
Unna paakkura pozhuthuWhen looking at you
Adi vaerththu kottuthuOh girl, sweat pours out
Vaarththai muttuthu kekkura pozhuthuWords choke up when listening
Male
Ada unkittaththaan enna irukkuHey, what is it that you have?
Adhai therinjukkiraen kitta nerungu….hoi…Let me find out, come closer... hoi...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively and seductive romantic duet set during a chilly night near a stream. The lovers express their intense physical attraction, nervousness, and overwhelming affection for each other. The lyrics use rural metaphors such as honey and foxtail millet flour (thenai maavu), as well as the overflowing Cauvery river during the monsoon month of Aadi, to symbolize abundance, passion, and natural desire. Through playful exchanges and rhythmic refrains, the couple discards social inhibitions and invites one another closer to embrace their love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Oodaiyilae pani vaadaiyilae….

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'd' in consecutive lines 'Oodaiyilae' and 'Ottikitta'.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Pakkaththila machchaan machchaan ada hoi

Repetition of the initial consonant 'P' in 'Pakkaththila' and 'Paasaththaiyae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Aasai oru poosai nee ingae vaa

Desire ('Aasai') is conceptualized as a sacred ritual of worship ('Poosai').

Cultural Imagery & Simile

Aadiyilae kaveriyaam ada hoi….

The rush of romantic passion is compared to the flooding of the River Cauvery during the Tamil month of Aadi.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Paasaththaiyae vachchaan vachchaan ada hoi

Repetition of words like 'machchaan machchaan' and 'vachchaan vachchaan' to create a rhythmic, folkloric bounce.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Raaththiri Pozhuthu' is from the 1983 Tamil film 'Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu', written and directed by veteran filmmaker C. V. Sridhar. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Sailaja, the track features distinct folk-pop rhythm patterns characteristic of Ilaiyaraaja's early 1980s romantic duets.

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