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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sinthu Nathiyinmisai

From Kai Kodutha Deivam · 1964

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari, J. V. Raghavulu
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kai Kodutha Deivam1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinilaeOn the river Indus, under the moonlight,
Cheranan nattilam pengaludanaeTogether with young maidens of the Chera country,
Sundhara telunginil paatisaithuSinging songs in sweet Telugu,
Thonigal otti vilaiyadi varuvomLet us row boats and play joyfully.
Male
Sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinilaeOn the river Indus, under the moonlight,
Cheranan nattilam pengaludanaeTogether with young maidens of the Chera country,
Sundhara telunginil paatisaithuSinging songs in sweet Telugu,
Thonigal otti vilaiyadi varuvomLet us row boats and play joyfully.
Male
Gangai nadhi purathu kodhumai pandamThe wheat produce from the banks of the Ganges river,
Gangai nadhi purathu kodhumai pandamThe wheat produce from the banks of the Ganges river,
Kaaveri vettrilaikku maaru kolvomWe shall exchange for betel leaves of the Kaveri region.
Singa marattiyar tham kavidhai konduReceiving the poetry of the brave Marathas,
Cherathu thandhangal parisalippomWe shall gift them ivory from the Chera kingdom.
Singa marattiyar tham kavidhai konduReceiving the poetry of the brave Marathas,
Cherathu thandhangal parisalippomWe shall gift them ivory from the Chera kingdom.
Male
Sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinilaeOn the river Indus, under the moonlight,
Cheranan nattilam pengaludanaeTogether with young maidens of the Chera country,
Sundhara telunginil paatisaithuSinging songs in sweet Telugu,
Thonigal otti vilaiyadi varuvomLet us row boats and play joyfully.
Female
Manasidhi nee kosam manu kada nee kosamThis heart is for you, this life is for you,
Both :Manasidhi nee kosam manu kada nee kosamThis heart is for you, this life is for you.
Male :Mamadhaa vaedham mayani madhu paasamAffection is the scripture, an undying sweet bond of love,
Both :Mamadhaa vaedham mayani madhu paasamAffection is the scripture, an undying sweet bond of love.
Manasidhi nee kosam manu kada nee kosamThis heart is for you, this life is for you.
Chorus
Haa..aaaa…Ah... aaa...
Male :Nee kann kanaragamThe melody in your eyes,
Female :Nee madhi anuraagamThe affection in your mind,
Male :Mana ee vaibogamThis grand celebration of ours,
Female :Baguthan alaiyogamIs a wave of fortunate fortune,
Male :Valapula ullaasamExuberance in love,
Female :Narapula dharahasamA smile in every nerve,
Male :Vahithina avagaasamAn opportunity given to us,
Female :Saa nalivulu aavesamAn intense surge of grace and charm.
Male
Singala theevinikoor paalam amaippomWe shall build a bridge to the island of Sri Lanka,
Sedhuvai medu uruthi veedhi amaippomRaising the Sethu causeway into a sturdy highway.
Singala theevinikoor paalam amaippomWe shall build a bridge to the island of Sri Lanka,
Sedhuvai medu uruthi veedhi amaippomRaising the Sethu causeway into a sturdy highway.
Vangathil odi varum neerin migaiyaalWith the surplus water flowing from Bengal,
Maiyathu naadugalil payir seiyuvomWe shall irrigate crops in the central provinces.
Vangathil odi varum neerin migaiyaalWith the surplus water flowing from Bengal,
Maiyathu naadugalil payir seiyuvomWe shall irrigate crops in the central provinces.
Male
Sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinilaeOn the river Indus, under the moonlight,
Cheranan nattilam pengaludanaeTogether with young maidens of the Chera country,
Sundhara telunginil paatisaithuSinging songs in sweet Telugu,
Thonigal otti vilaiyadi varuvomLet us row boats and play joyfully.
Chorus
Haaa..aaa…Ah... aaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's visionary poem, composed decades before Indian Independence and adapted into the 1964 film 'Kai Kodutha Deivam', celebrates the cultural, economic, and geographic integration of India. It paints a picture of harmony where people from different regions share art, produce, and literature—exchanging northern Ganges wheat for southern Kaveri betel leaves, and Maratha poetry for Chera ivory.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Imagery & Cultural Symbolism

Gangai nadhi purathu kodhumai pandam / Kaaveri vettrilaikku maaru kolvom

Bharathiyar uses trade of commodities like wheat, betel leaves, poetry, and ivory to symbolize inter-regional unity and economic interdependence across India.

Epithet / Aesthetic Praise

Sundhara telunginil paatisaithu

Refers to the Telugu language as 'Sundhara' (beautiful), highlighting Bharathiyar's open-minded love for all Indian languages.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Gangai nadhi purathu... / Singa marattiyar...

A traditional Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines rhymes ('ng' in Gangai / Singa).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar during the Indian freedom struggle, music duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy adapted it for 'Kai Kodutha Deivam' (1964) starring Sivaji Ganesan. To highlight Bharathiyar's line praising Telugu ('Sundhara Telunginil'), the composers uniquely incorporated full Telugu verses sang by J. V. Raghavulu and L. R. Eswari alongside T. M. Soundararajan's Tamil vocals.

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