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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Shyamala Varnanae Mayavanae

From Meera (1945) Film · 1945

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
Radha Sadasivam
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Movie name
Meera (1945) Film
Movie release year
1945
Lyrics added on
20 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Shyaamala vannanae maayavanae
Gana shyaamala vannanae maayavanae
Malar thaamarai polum naayaganae
Thaaraga naamanae thooyavanae
Gana thaaraga naamanae thooyavanae
Uyar dwaaragai vaazhum adhipanae
Thaaraga naamanae thooyavanae
Uyar dwaaragai vaazhum adhipanae
Sura maamuniyodum vandhanai puriyum
Sura maamuniyodum vandhanai puriyum
Hae prabo…aa…aa..aa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Haa…aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa….
Sura maamuniyodum vandhanai puriyum
Thiru naarananae pari poorananae
Karunaanidhiyae yenadhu gadhiyae
Vaama suraapadhiyae
Muralidharanae nandha sudhanae
Gokula naayaganae
Muralidharanae nandha sudhanae
Gokula naayaganae
Jaya maadhavanae uyar yaadhavanae
Giridhara gopaalanukki…
Chorus :Jaiiii…..
O dark-hued Lord, O enchanting one!
O Lord dark as rain clouds, O enchanting one!
O Lord charming like a blooming lotus!
O pure one whose name is our salvation!
O pure one of great and saving name!
O King who dwells in glorious Dwaraka!
O pure one whose name is our salvation!
O King who dwells in glorious Dwaraka!
Worshipped by the gods and great sages,
Worshipped by the gods and great sages,
O Lord... Ah...
Ah...
Worshipped by the gods and great sages,
O holy Narayana, O complete and perfect Lord,
O treasure of mercy, my only refuge,
O charming Lord of the gods,
O flute player, son of Nanda,
O Lord of Gokulam!
O flute player, son of Nanda,
O Lord of Gokulam!
Victory to Madhava, noble Yadava!
To Giridhara Gopala...
Chorus: Victory!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sublime devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Krishna, praising His divine attributes, enchanting appearance, and holy manifestations. The lyricist invokes Krishna through various sacred names—Muralidhara, Madhava, Narayana, and Giridhara Gopala—describing His dark complexion like rain clouds, His lotus-like grace, and His abode in Gokulam and Dwarka. The devotee surrenders completely to the Lord, acknowledging Him as the ultimate refuge, the ocean of mercy, and the supreme protector worshipped by sages and celestials alike.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Malar thaamarai polum naayaganae

Compares the divine Lord to a blooming lotus flowers using the explicit comparison word 'polum'.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thiru naarananae pari poorananae

Rhyming of the second letter 'raa' across consecutive lines (Naarananae / Poorananae).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Muralidharanae nandha sudhanae / Gokula naayaganae

Repetition of the vocative suffix '-nae' across multiple line endings creating a melodic rhythmic cadence.

Rupakam (Metaphor)

Karunaanidhiyae yenadhu gadhiyae

Refers to the Lord as 'Karunaanidhi', literally a treasure chest/ocean of mercy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Meera (1945) was a landmark musical film directed by American filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan and starred legendary Carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi. The lyrics were penned by Tamil poet-composer Papanasam Sivan, and the music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman. M. S. Subbulakshmi's portrayal of Saint Meerapai in this film and its subsequent 1947 Hindi remake brought her immortal national and global acclaim.

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