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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

September Madham

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Asha Bhosle, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Alaipayuthey2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thunbam tholaindhadhu..epooWhen was sorrow lost?
Inbam tholaindhadhu..epooo..heyWhen was joy lost?
Female
Thunbam tholaindhadhuSorrow was lost
Inbam tholaindhadhu..hey…Joy was lost..
Female
{September maadhamThe month of September
September maadhamThe month of September
Vaazhvin thunbaththaiThe sorrow of life
Tholaiththu vittom} (2)We lost it
Female
October maadhamThe month of October
October maadhamThe month of October
Vaazhvin inbaththaiThe joy of life
Tholaiththu vittomWe lost it
Chorus
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppoWhen was sorrow lost?
Female :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appoFemale: When love was born, right then
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppoChorus: When was joy lost?
Female :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appoFemale: When marriage was completed, right then
Male
September maadhamThe month of September
September maadhamThe month of September
Vaazhvin thunbaththaiThe sorrow of life
Tholaiththu vittomWe lost it
Male
October maadhamThe month of October
October maadhamThe month of October
Vaazhvin inbaththaiThe joy of life
Tholaiththu vittom..We lost it..
Chorus
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppoWhen was sorrow lost?
Male :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appoMale: When love was born, right then
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppoChorus: When was joy lost?
Male :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appoMale: When marriage was completed, right then
Chorus
Ohooo…ohoooo…Ohooo…ohoooo…
Male
Hey pennaeHey girl
Kaadhal enbadhu inikkum virundhuLove is a sweet feast
Kalyaanam enbadhu veppangozhundhuMarriage is a bitter neem leaf
Hey kannae…Hey my dear…
Female
Ohh niraiyai mattumaeOh, only the virtues
Kaadhal paarkkumLove will look at
Kuraiyai mattumaeOnly the flaws
Kalyaanam paarkkum en kannaa…Marriage will look at, my dear…
Male
Kaadhal paarppadhuWhat love looks through
Paadhi kannilIs half an eye
Kalyaanam paarppadhuWhat marriage looks through
Naalu kanniladi pennaeIs four eyes, O girl
Female
Kili mookkin nuni mookkilOn the tip of a parrot-beaked nose
Kobangal azhagedralIf anger is called beautiful
Rasikkum rasikkum kaadhalLove will admire and relish it
Kalyaanam aanaalaeWhen it comes to marriage
Thurumbellaam thoonaagaMaking a speck of straw into a pillar
En en en modhalWhy, why, why the conflict?
Female
Pengal illaamalWithout women
Aangalukkaarudhal kidaikkaadhuMen cannot get comfort
Male :Pengalae ulagil illaiyendraalMale: If women didn't exist in the world at all
Aarudhalae thevaiyirukkaadhu…There wouldn't be a need for comfort…
Aaaa..heeeiiAaaa..heeeii
Hooo..hooo..Hooo..hooo..
Male
Septembar maadhamThe month of September
Septembar maadhamThe month of September
Female :Ahaa aa ahaa ahaa aaFemale: Ahaa aa ahaa ahaa aa
Ahaa ahaa aa ahaa aaAhaa ahaa aa ahaa aa
Male :October maadhamMale: The month of October
October maadhamThe month of October
Chorus
Ohoooo…ohooo…Ohoooo…ohooo…
Ohoooo…ohooo…Ohoooo…ohooo…
Female
Naan kandenI saw it
Kaadhal enbadhu kazhuththil sangiliLove is a chain around the neck
Kalyaanam enbadhu kaalil sangiliMarriage is a chain around the feet
En seivenWhat shall I do?
Male
Kalyaanam enbadhaiThe thing called marriage
Thalli poduPostpone it
Thonnooru varaikkumUntil ninety
Poovai thaadu vaa anbaeCross ninety and come, my love
Female
Kaadhal pozhudhilDuring the time of love
Virumbum kurumbuPlayful antics that one desires
Kalyaanak kattililOn the marriage bed
Kidaippadhillai en nanbaaAre not found, my friend
Male
Pirivondru neraadhaWhere no separation happens
Uravondril sugamillaiThere is no pleasure in such a relationship
Kaadhal kaadhal adhudhaanThat indeed is love
Uravodu silakaalamSome time in togetherness
Pirivodu silakaalamSome time in separation
Naam vaazhvom vaa vaaLet us live like that, come come
Male
Aangal illaamalWithout men
Pengalukkaarudhal kidaikkaadhuWomen cannot get comfort
Female :Aangalae ulagilFemale: If men in the world
Illaiyendraal aarudhalaeDidn't exist, comfort
Thevaiyirukkaadhu….Would not be required…
Male
September maadhamThe month of September
September maadhamThe month of September
Vaazhvin thunbaththaiThe sorrow of life
Tholaiththu vittomWe lost it
Male
October maadhamThe month of October
October maadhamThe month of October
Vaazhvin inbaththaiThe joy of life
Tholaiththu vittom..We lost it..
Chorus
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppoWhen was sorrow lost?
Female :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appoFemale: When love was born, right then
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppoChorus: When was joy lost?
Male :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appo..ooo…Male: When marriage was completed, right then..ooo…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

September Maadham is a witty debate song from Mani Ratnam's film Alaipayuthey (2000), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song metaphorically uses the consecutive calendar months of September and October to contrast the sweet freedom of romance with the sobering realities of marriage. Falling in love ('September') eliminates life's sorrow, but getting married ('October') ironically steals away life's simple joys and carefree passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kaadhal enbadhu inikkum virundhu / Kalyaanam enbadhu veppangozhundhu

Love is directly compared to a sweet feast ('inikkum virundhu'), whereas marriage is compared to bitter tender neem leaves ('veppangozhundhu').

Antithesis / Parallelism

Ohh niraiyai mattumae Kaadhal paarkkum / Kuraiyai mattumae Kalyaanam paarkkum

Contrasts how love focuses exclusively on virtues ('niraiyai') while marriage fixes itself upon defects/flaws ('kuraiyai').

Hyperbole / Idiomatic Expression

Kalyaanam aanaalae / Thurumbellaam thoonaaga

Uses the Tamil idiom 'thurumbellaam thoonaaga' (making a straw into a giant pillar), representing making a mountain out of a molehill in marriage.

Metaphor

Kaadhal enbadhu kazhuththil sangili / Kalyaanam enbadhu kaalil sangili

Love is metaphorically visualized as a light ornament/chain around the neck, while marriage is described as a heavy chain around the feet restricting movement.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features a memorable cameo dance appearance by Swarnamalya alongside Madhavan and Shalini. Choreographed by Farah Khan, the track was composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Vasundhara Das.

Keep listening

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