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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Solladi Abirami

From Aathi Parasakthi · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Aathi Parasakthi1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maniyae maniyin oliyaeO Gem, the light of the gem!
Olirum anipunaindha vaniyaeO Goddess adorned with radiant ornaments!
Athum anikalagaeO beauty who wears them as elegance!
Anugadhavarkku piniyaeO affliction to those who do not seek you!
Pinikku marundhaeO medicine for all afflictions!
Amarar perum virundhaeO great feast for the celestial immortals!
Paniyen oruvaraiI bow to no one else,
Nin padma paadham panindha pinnaeAfter bowing at your lotus feet.
Male
Solladi abiraami solladi abiraamiSpeak, O Abirami! Speak, O Abirami!
{Vaanil sudar varumoo{Will a light appear in the sky?
Enakku idar varumooOr will distress come to me?
Bathil solladi abiraami} (2)Give me an answer, speak O Abirami!} (2)
Male
Nilladi munnalae nilladi munnalaeStand before me, stand before me!
Muzhu nilavinai kattu un kannalaeShow the full moon through your eyes!
Solladi abiraamiSpeak, O Abirami!
Male
{Paluyirum padaitha{Even to the Supreme Lord
ParamanukkaeWho created all living beings,
Sakthi padaithathellamGiving him the power to create
Undhan seyal allavoo} (2)Is it not your divine act?} (2)
Male
Nee sollukellaam siranthaAre you not the supreme word
Sol allavooAbove all words?
Nee sollukellaam siranthaAre you not the supreme word
Sol allavooAbove all words?
Indha sodhanai enakkalla unakkallavooIs this trial for me, or is it for you?
Male
Solladi abiraamiSpeak, O Abirami!
Male
{Vaaraayoo{Will you not come?
Oru bathil kooraayooWill you not give an answer?
Nilavena paaraayooWill you not look upon me like the moon?
Arul mazhai thaaraayoo} (2)Will you not shower your rain of grace?} (2)
Male
Vaanam idipadavumEven as the sky cracks with thunder,
Bhoomi podipadavumAnd the earth turns to dust,
Naduvil nindraadum vadivazhgaeO beautiful form dancing in the midst!
Kodigal aada mudigal aadaAs banners sway and crowns dance,
Pudi pada elunthu aadum kalaiazhagaeO artistic beauty rising and dancing amidst ashes!
Male
Pillai ullam thullum vannamIn a way that makes a child's heart leap with joy,
Devi neeO Goddess, you stand!
Kotti varum mathalamum saththamidaAs the beat of drums echoes loudly,
Male
VaaraayooWill you not come?
Oru bathil kooraayooWill you not give an answer?
Nilavena paaraayooWill you not look upon me like the moon?
Arul mazhai thaaraayooWill you not shower your rain of grace?
Male
Senkaiyil vandu galin galin endruWith bees buzzing 'galin galin' at your reddish hands,
Jayam jayam endraadaChanting 'Victory, Victory!',
Idai sangatham endruWith your waist swaying in harmony,
Silambhu pulambodu thandai kalanthaadaAs your anklets chime together,
Iru kongai kodum pagai endrennaSoftly swaying with delicate grace,
Mendru kulainthu kulainthaadaO lotus-dwelling Goddess, as I sing of you,
Male
Malar pangaiyamae unai paadiaThe child moon rises in the sky!
Pillai nilavum elunthaadaCome swiftly!
Viraindhu vaaraayooRise and come!
Elunthu vaaraayooCome with tender compassion!
Kanindhu vaaraayooKali, the fierce one, the bearer of the trident, the divine Matangi,
Male
Kaali bayangari sooli madhanganiAppears in my eyes!
Kangalil therigindraalRising with eyes turned red,
Kangal sivandhidum vannam elunthoruShe grants a divine vision!
Kaatchiyai tharugindraalSaying, 'May this withered son
Male
Vaadiya magan ivanProsper and live long!',
Vaazhiya endru oruShe utters a divine blessing!
Vaazhthum solgindraalAcross the heavens and the earth everywhere,
Vaanagam vaiyagam enganumaeShe appears as a single form!
Oru vadivaai therigindraalShe appears as a form of exquisite beauty!
Ezhil vadivaai theringindraalThe Mother appears!
Male
Annai theringindraalMy Mother appears!
En ammai therigindraalThe Mother appears!
Annai theringindraalMy Mother appears!
En ammai therigindraalOm Shakthi Om!
Male
Om shakthi omOm Shakthi Om!
Om shakthi omOm Shakthi Om!
Om shakthi om

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a dramatic devotional composition based on the famous legend of Abirami Pattar, a 18th-century Tamil saint and devotee of Goddess Abirami. When the King tests Pattar's divine vision by asking what day it was, Pattar—absorbed in divine contemplation—mistakenly says it is a Full Moon night on a New Moon day. Facing execution, Pattar sings praises to Goddess Abirami, challenging her divine grace to save his honor and prove his faith. The song transitions from intense devotion and pleading to ultimate divine epiphany, as the Goddess throws her sparkling earring into the sky to create the illusion of a full moon, vindicating her devotee.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maniyae maniyin oliyae

Matching second consonants across lines ('Maniyae' / 'Olirum').

Antithesis / Paradox

Anugadhavarkku piniyae / Pinikku marundhae

Contrasting 'piniyae' (affliction to non-believers) with 'marundhae' (cure for believers).

Anaphora (Repetition)

Solladi abiraami solladi abiraami

Repeated intense calling upon the deity 'Solladi abiraami'.

Imagery / Visual Metaphor

Vaanam idipadavum Bhoomi podipadavum

Visual imagery of cosmic destruction juxtaposed with divine beauty dancing in between.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic scene and song from the movie 'Aathi Parasakthi' (1971) depicts Sirkazhi Govindarajan singing as Abirami Pattar. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, rooted in the historical events narrated in the Abirami Anthadhi.

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