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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Satham Illatha Thanimai

From Amarkalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Amarkalam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ Satham illaadha thanimai ketenI asked for noise-free solitude
Yutham illaadha uzhagam ketenI asked for a war-free world
Rathathil endrendrum vegam ketenI asked for eternal speed in my blood
Ragasiyamillaa ullam keten } (2)I asked for a heart without secrets
Male
Satham illaadha thanimai ketenI asked for noise-free solitude
Yutham illaadha uzhagam ketenI asked for a war-free world
Rathathil endrendrum vegam ketenI asked for eternal speed in my blood
Ragasiyamillaa ullam ketenI asked for a heart without secrets
Male
Uyirai killaadha uravai ketenI asked for a relationship that doesn't hurt the soul
Otrai kanneer thuliyai ketenI asked for just a single tear drop
Valigal seiyaadha vaarthai ketenI asked for words that do not cause pain
Vayadhuku chariyaana vaazhkai ketenI asked for a life appropriate to my age
Male
Idigal illaadha megam ketenI asked for clouds without thunder
Ilamai kedaadha mogamketenI asked for passion that doesn't ruin youth
Parandhu parandhu nesam ketenI asked for love that flies far and wide
Paasaangillaadha paasam ketenI asked for affection free of pretension
Male
Pullin nuniyil paniyai ketenI asked for the dew drop at the tip of the grass
Poovin madiyil padukai ketenI asked for a bed in the lap of a flower
Thaanae urangum vizhiyai ketenI asked for eyes that fall asleep on their own
Thalaiyai kodhum viralai ketenI asked for fingers to stroke my head
Male
Nilavil nanaiyum solai ketenI asked for a grove drenched in moonlight
Neela kuyilin paadal ketenI asked for the song of a blue cuckoo
Nadandhu poga nadhikarai ketenI asked for a riverbank to walk along
Kidandhu urula pulveli ketenI asked for a grassland to lie down and roll on
Male
Thottu paduka nilavai ketenI asked for the moon to touch and lie beside
Etti parika vinmeen ketenI asked for a star to reach out and pluck
Thukam marandha thookam ketenI asked for a sleep that forgets sleep itself
Thookam manakum kanavai ketenI asked for a dream that smells of sleep
Male
Boomikellam oru pagal ketenI asked for one daytime for the entire Earth
Poovukellam aayul ketenI asked for longevity for all flowers
Manidharkellam oru manam ketenI asked for a unified heart for all humans
Paravaikellam thaai mozhi ketenI asked for a mother tongue for all birds
Male
Uzhagukellam sama mazhai ketenI asked for equal rainfall for the whole world
Oorukellam oru nadhi ketenI asked for a river for every village
Vaanam muzhuka nilavai ketenI asked for the entire sky to be filled with the moon
Vaazhumbodhae svargam ketenI asked for heaven while still alive
Male
Ennam ellam uyara ketenI asked for all thoughts to be noble
Eriyum theeyaai kavidhai ketenI asked for poetry like a burning fire
Kanneer kadandha gnaanam ketenI asked for wisdom beyond tears
Kaamam kadandha yogam ketenI asked for spiritual balance beyond lust
Male
Sutrum kaatrin sudhandhiram ketenI asked for the freedom of the blowing wind
Situ kuruviyin siragai ketenI asked for the wings of a sparrow
Uchandhalaimel mazhaiyai ketenI asked for rain upon the crown of my head
Ullangaalil nadhiyai ketenI asked for a river beneath the soles of my feet
Male
Pankonda paadal payila ketenI asked to learn a song filled with melody
Paravaikirukum vaanam ketenI asked for the sky where birds roam
Nandri kedaadha natpai ketenI asked for a friendship that never loses gratitude
Nadunga vidaadha selvam ketenI asked for wealth that doesn't let one shiver
Male
Malaril oru naal vasika ketenI asked to reside in a flower for a day
Mazhaiyin sangeedham rusika ketenI asked to taste the music of the rain
Nilavil nadhiyil kulika ketenI asked to bathe in the moon and in the river
Ninaivil sandhanam manaka ketenI asked for the scent of sandalwood in memory
Male
Vizhundhaal nizhal pol vizhavae ketenI asked to fall gently like a shadow if I fall
Azhudhaal mazhai pol azhavae ketenI asked to weep like rain if I cry
Ekaandham ennodu vaazha ketenI asked for solitude to live with me
Eppodhum sirikindra udhadugal ketenI asked for lips that are always smiling
Male
Panithuli pol oru sooriyan ketenI asked for a sun like a dewdrop
Sooriyan pol oru panithuli ketenI asked for a dewdrop like the sun
Raajaraajanin vaalai ketenI asked for the sword of King Rajaraja Chola
Valluvan ezhudhiya kolai ketenI asked for the stylus with which Valluvar wrote
Male
Bhaaradhiyaarin sollai ketenI asked for the powerful words of Bharathiyar
Paarthiban thodutha villai ketenI asked for the bow aimed by Parthiban
Maaya kannan kuzhalai ketenI asked for the flute of the magical Krishna
Madurai meenaakshi kiliyai ketenI asked for the parrot of Madurai Meenakshi
Male
Sondha uzhaipil sorai ketenI asked for food earned through my own labor
Thottu kolla paasam ketenI asked for love to touch and feel
Mazhaiyai pondra porumaiyai ketenI asked for patience like the rain
Pullai pondra panivai ketenI asked for humility like the grass
Puyalai pondra thunivaiketenI asked for courage like a storm
Male
Idiyai thaangum thozhai ketenI asked for shoulders that can bear thunder
Izhivai thaangum idhayam ketenI asked for a heart that can endure humiliation
Throgam thaangum valimai ketenI asked for strength to bear betrayal
Tholaindhu vidaadha porumaiyai ketenI asked for patience that never gets lost
Male
Sonnadhu ketkum ullam ketenI asked for a mind that listens to what is said
Sonnaal saagum vegam ketenI asked for speed that dies down when told
Kayavarai ariyum kangal ketenI asked for eyes that recognize wicked people
Kaalam kadakum kaalgal ketenI asked for legs that can cross time
Male
Chinna chinna tholvigal ketenI asked for tiny, small failures
Seekiram aarum kaayam ketenI asked for wounds that heal quickly
Moodiyillaadha mugangal ketenI asked for faces without masks
Poliyillaadha punnagai ketenI asked for a smile without falsity
Male
Thavazhum vayadhil thaai paal ketenI asked for mother's milk at the crawling age
Thaavum vayadhil bommaigal ketenI asked for toys at the jumping age
Aindhu vayadhil puthagam ketenI asked for books at five years of age
Aaraam viralaai pena ketenI asked for a pen as a sixth finger
Male
Kaasae vendam karunai ketenI asked for no money, only compassion
Thalaiyanai vendam thaai madi ketenI asked for no pillow, only a mother's lap
Kootu kilipol vaazha ketenI asked to live like a caged parrot
Kuraindha patcha anbai ketenI asked for a minimum amount of love
Male
Ithanai ketum kidaikavillaiDespite asking for so much, I got nothing
Idhilae edhuvum nadakavillaiNone of these came to pass
Vaazhve vaazhve vendam endruSaying I don't want life, life at all
Maranam maranam maranam ketennnnnnnnnnnI asked for death, death, death

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic Tamil song, written by Vairamuthu, is an intense philosophical monologue structured as a relentless list of simple, poetic, idealistic, and profound human desires. The speaker enumerates various wishes spanning nature, peace, love, wisdom, historical greatness, and pure human emotions, using the recurring phrase 'keten' (I asked for).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Epiphora / Antistrophe

Satham illaadha thanimai keten... Maranam maranam maranam keten

Repetition of the word 'keten' ('I asked for') at the end of every line across almost the entire poem to create a rhythmic, pleading cadence.

Chiasmus / Paradox

Panithuli pol oru sooriyan keten / Sooriyan pol oru panithuli keten

Inverting terms to highlight contrasting imagery of scale and nature.

Simile (Upamai)

Vizhundhaal nizhal pol vizhavae keten / Azhudhaal mazhai pol azhavae keten

Comparing natural phenomena to human emotions and actions.

Monai & Ethukai (Tamil Alliteration & Rhyme)

Satham illaadha thanimai keten / Yutham illaadha uzhagam keten

Consistent initial letter and second letter matching across consecutive lines (e.g., Satham/Yutham/Rathathil/Ragasiyamillaa).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Bharathwaj for the 1999 movie 'Amarkalam' starring Ajith Kumar and Shalini, this song is famous for its tragic climax revelation where after listing dozens of beautiful wishes, the character reveals that having received none, they ultimately pray for death.

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