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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Silu Silu Silu Sil

From Genius · 2018

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Al Rufian
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Genius2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Silu silu silu sil…A cool, rustling sound...
Thooral poduthaeA gentle drizzle falls.
Sala sala sala sal…A gushing, flowing sound...
Oothu pesuthaeThe water spring speaks.
Yuga yuga yugamaai…Across endless ages...
Kaathu paaduthaeThe wind sings.
Male
Pattam paathaviBehind status and positions,
Panamthin pinnaalBehind money,
Raththam kothikkaWith blood boiling,
Niththam oodiRunning every single day,
Kaanal neeril meengal thediSearching for fish in a mirage,
Kaalam muzhuthum kavaliyil adiStruck down by anxiety for a lifetime.
Male
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.
Male
Silu silu silu sil…A cool, rustling sound...
Thooral poduthaeA gentle drizzle falls.
Sala sala sala sal…A gushing, flowing sound...
Oothu pesuthaeThe water spring speaks.
Yuga yuga yugamaai…Across endless ages...
Kaathu paaduthaeThe wind sings.
Male
Heyyy…eh eh eyyyHeyyy…eh eh eyyy
Kaalil udaiyum kaalai panithuzhiMorning dewdrop shattering underfoot,
Ilaiyil sikkiya iravin mazhaithuzhiNight's raindrop trapped on a leaf,
Kaattu kuruviyin kalavi sathamThe mating call of a wild bird,
Meetti muditha veenaiyin mounamThe silence after a veena finishes playing,
Male
Mazhaiyaal ezhunthuRising because of rain,
Mazhaiyil mithanthuFloating in the rain,
Mazhaiyaal udainthuBreaking because of rain,
Maraiyum kumazhiA bubble that vanishes.
Ellaam ellaam vadigaal thaanAll of these, all of these are outlets.
Idhayam thudipathu ithanaal thaanThis is why the heart beats.
Male
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.
Chorus
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.
Vazhkai eriyum velaiyilaeWhen life is burning,
Vadigaal vendum moolaiyilaeThe brain needs an outlet.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Genius' addresses the overwhelming pressure, stress, and mental toll brought on by the modern human rat race. People endlessly chase titles, money, and status—a futile pursuit poetically described as searching for fish in a mirage—causing their minds and lives to burn with constant anxiety.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Silu silu silu sil… / Sala sala sala sal…

Words like 'Silu silu' and 'Sala sala' visually and aurally imitate the sensory sounds of cool wind and flowing spring water.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaanal neeril meengal thedi

Chasing meaningless wealth and status is metaphorically compared to searching for living fish inside a dry mirage.

Anaphora / Parallel Structure

Mazhaiyaal ezhunthu / Mazhaiyil mithanthu / Mazhaiyaal udainthu

The repetition of 'Mazhaiyaal' and 'Mazhaiyil' at the start of consecutive phrases emphasizes nature's cyclical and temporary life cycle using rain.

Imagery

Kaalil udaiyum kaalai panithuzhi... Meetti muditha veenaiyin mounam

Vivid sensory imagery evokes touch, sight, and sound through dewdrops underfoot, trapped rain on leaves, bird calls, and the lingering silence of a plucked veena.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Genius' (2018), directed by Suseenthiran with music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, focuses heavily on the dark side of societal pressure, competitive schooling, and the resulting mental health crisis among youth.

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