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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Semmaan Magalai

From Vaazhl · 2020

Lyricist
Pradeep Kumar
Singer
Pradeep Kumar
Music director
Pradeep Kumar
Details
Vaazhl2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaa….haa…haa….Aaa...haa...haa...
Aaa……haaa….Aaa...haaa...
Aaa….haa…haa….Aaa...haa...haa...
Aaa……haaa….Aaa...haaa...
Semmaan magalaiThe daughter of the red deer (Valli)
Thirudum thirudanThe thief who steals her heart
Semmaan magalaiThe daughter of the red deer
Thirudum thirudamThe thief who steals her heart
Male
Penmaan muruganLord Murugan, beloved of the female deer
Piravaan iravaanThe immortal one who is neither born nor passes away
Penmaan muruganLord Murugan, beloved of the female deer
Piravaan iravaanThe immortal one who is neither born nor passes away
Male
Summa iru…Be still...
Summa..aa…iru….Be still...
Summa iru sol ara endralumaeEven when advised 'Be still, beyond all words'
Amma…aa…porul ondrum arindhilanaeOh Mother, I did not comprehend its true meaning at all
Chorus
Aahaaa…ahaaa…….Aahaaa...ahaaa...
Male
Mei marandhenI forgot my physical body/self
Mei unarndhenI realized the ultimate divine truth
Male
Aaa….haa…haa….Aaa...haa...haa...
Aaa……haaa….Aaa...haaa...
Aaa….haa…haa….Aaa...haa...haa...
Aaa……haaa….Aaa...haaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song draws deeply from classical Tamil devotional and philosophical traditions, specifically invoking themes from Kandhar Anubhuti and Siddhar poetry dedicated to Lord Murugan. The lyrics narrate the divine love story of Murugan and Valli (referred to as the daughter of the deer) and pivot to the famous spiritual precept 'Summa Iru Sol Ara'—an instruction to quiet the mind beyond spoken words. Through this silence, the seeker transcends physical awareness ('Mei marandhen', forgetting the body) to attain higher spiritual realization ('Mei unarndhen', experiencing absolute truth).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Double Entendre / Wordplay (Pun on Mei)

Mei marandhen / Mei unarndhen

The word 'Mei' in Tamil means both 'body' and 'truth'. 'Mei marandhen' signifies losing body consciousness, while 'Mei unarndhen' signifies realizing divine truth.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Piravaan iravaan

The repetition of 'r' sound in 'Piravaan' and 'Iravaan' provides rhythmic harmony characteristic of classical Tamil verse.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Summa iru sol ara endralumae

Direct allusion to Saint Arunagirinathar's 'Kandhar Anubhuti', which prominently features the phrase 'Summa Iru Sol Ara' as a path to liberation.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates the timeless advaitic command 'Summa Iru Sol Ara' ('Be still, let words cease') given to Saint Arunagirinathar by Lord Murugan. Composer and singer Pradeep Kumar skillfully adapted these spiritual verses into a modern indie-folk arrangement for the movie Vaazhl (2021).

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