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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Shanthi My Holy

From Taxi Driver · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Taxi Driver
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Shanthi shanthi shanthi mai holi angel
Female :Babu babu babu mai joly ranger
Poovin melliya shanthi
Punnagai arumbugal yaendhi
Nee vantha pothu naan kanda maathu
Ninaivil nindrathammaa
Enthan ninaivil nindrathammaa
Poo viriththa chozhaiyilae
Ilangaattru vilaiyaadum neramithu
Bodhaiyilae naan mayangi
Un maarbil arangaerum paruvamithu
Babu mai joly ranger
Male :Shanthi mai holi angel
Vaanapanthal valamaana megam
Malargal isaipaadum azhagu
Kattru thaalaattum kanichozhai marangal
Kavithai uruvaakkum azhagu
Kavithai uruvaakkum azhagu
Mangalam vilaigindra manamedaipola
Manthira malairajan azhagu
Sangoli isaiyaaga ulagangal maranthu
Thaavidum paravaigal azhagu
Thaavidum paravaigal azhagu
Thaavi varum ponnaruvi
Thallaadi neeraadi saainthuvidu
Female :Poovithazhil saareduththu
Pollaatha sugam thanthu saernthuvidu
Shanthi mai holi angel
Female :Babu mai joly ranger
Kodai kaalangal kulirkaalamaaga
Tholil uravaada vendum
Male :Odai neeraadi uravaadi magizhnthu
Kadhal padham kaana vendum
Kadhal padham kaana vendum
Un manthu kettapadi
Ovvondrum nee kaana sammathamae
Male :Ennudanae nee irunthaal
Yazhmai ninaiyaathu en manamae
Shanthi mai holi angel……
Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi, my holy angel!
Babu, Babu, Babu, my jolly ranger!
Gentle and soft as a flower, Shanthi,
Carrying budding smiles,
When you arrived, the girl I saw
Remained etched in my memory,
Yes, stayed forever in my memory!
In this blooming garden,
This is the time the gentle breeze plays.
Intoxicated and swooning in bliss,
This is the age to rest upon your chest.
Babu, my jolly ranger!
Shanthi, my holy angel!
The sky as a canopy, the rich clouds,
And the beauty of flowers singing songs,
The orchard trees lullabied by the breeze,
The beauty that creates poetry,
The beauty that creates poetry!
Like an auspicious wedding stage,
The majestic mountain stands in beauty.
To music like conch shells, forgetting the world,
The beauty of birds fluttering in flight,
The beauty of birds fluttering in flight!
Like a leaping golden waterfall,
Sway, bathe in joy, and lean on me.
Drawing sweet nectar from the flower petals,
Give me irresistible pleasure and unite with me.
Shanthi, my holy angel!
Babu, my jolly ranger!
As summer days turn cool like winter,
I want to hold you close upon my shoulder.
Bathing in the stream and sharing our joy,
We must discover the depths of love.
We must discover the depths of love!
Just as your heart desires,
I gladly agree to let you have it all.
As long as you are by my side,
My heart will never feel poor.
Shanthi, my holy angel...
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful romantic duet from 'Taxi Driver' (1978) captures the affection between the lead couple, Babu and Shanthi. By blending fun English terms of endearment like 'holy angel' and 'jolly ranger' with rich Tamil poetic imagery, the song portrays a deep emotional and physical connection set against scenic natural landscapes. The lovers express their desire to be together through changing seasons, viewing nature—blooming gardens, mountain winds, waterfalls, and birds—as an inspiration for their love. The male protagonist reflects that with his lover by his side, even poverty and hardship become completely irrelevant, celebrating the transformative power of genuine love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Code-Switching (Tanglish)

“Shanthi shanthi shanthi mai holi angel”

Mixes English terms ('my holy angel', 'jolly ranger') with Tamil lyrics, a popular trend in 1970s Tamil cinema to give songs a modern, youthful flavor.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Vaanapanthal valamaana megam”

The sky is metaphorically envisioned as a vast canopy ('Vaanapanthal') covered with rich clouds.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Mangalam vilaigindra manamedaipola”

The scenic, majestic mountain is compared directly using 'pola' to an auspicious wedding stage ('manamedaipola').

Alliteration (Monai)

“Kodai kaalangal kulirkaalamaaga”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' consonant sound ('Kodai', 'kulirkaalamaaga') creates a pleasant rhythmic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Taxi Driver' (1978) starred Jaishankar. The song is notable for its upbeat incorporation of westernized phrasing like 'jolly ranger' and 'holy angel' sung exuberantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam.

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