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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sri Shanmuga

From Sonthangal Vazhga · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Sonthangal Vazhga
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
4 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Pettra thanthaikku mudhalidamaa thaalikku mudhalidamaa
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Pettra thanthaikku mudhalidamaa thaalikku mudhalidamaa
Shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Indhiran magalthaanae deivaanai
Aval thanthaiyai veruththaayo perumaanae
Indhiran magalthaanae deivaanai
Aval thanthaiyai veruththaayo perumaanae
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Paththu thingal sumanthu paalootti
Tamil pallikku selgavendru seeraatti
Paththu thingal sumanthu paalootti
Tamil pallikku selgavendru seeraatti
Paththirandu paruvam valarththavar yaar
Paththirandu paruvam valarththavar yaar
Avarkku uravillaiyo
Sontham mudhal illaiyo
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Magal ennum solthaanae mudhal uravu
Vantha marumagal enum vaarththai maru uravu
Magal ennum solthaanae mudhal uravu
Vantha marumagal enum vaarththai maru uravu
Kaaththaval thaaithaanae pala iravu
Kaaththaval thaaithaanae pala iravu
Adharkku kaaranam thanthai kanda mudhal iravu
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Malai illaiyael aniyum pavalam engae
Pettra kadal illaiyael aniyum muththum engae
Malai illaiyael aniyum pavalam engae
Pettra kadal illaiyael aniyum muththum engae
Thalai illaiyael serum kaalgal engae
Thalai illaiyael serum kaalgal engae
Pettra thanthai indrael vantha sontham engae
Sri shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
Pettra thanthaikku mudhalidamaa thaalikku mudhalidamaa
Shanmugaa enakkoru santhegam
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Does the birth father come first, or the sacred wedding knot?
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Does the birth father come first, or the sacred wedding knot?
Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Deivayanai is Indra's daughter, isn't she?
Did you ever reject her father, O Lord?
Deivayanai is Indra's daughter, isn't she?
Did you ever reject her father, O Lord?
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Carried for ten months and fed with milk,
Lovingly nurtured and sent to Tamil school,
Carried for ten months and fed with milk,
Lovingly nurtured and sent to Tamil school,
Who is the one who raised me through twelve stages of youth?
Who is the one who raised me through twelve stages of youth?
Does he have no bond with me?
Isn't that kinship the very first?
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Isn't the word 'daughter' the first relationship?
And the word 'daughter-in-law' only a later bond?
Isn't the word 'daughter' the first relationship?
And the word 'daughter-in-law' only a later bond?
It was the mother who watched over me through many nights,
It was the mother who watched over me through many nights,
But the root of it all was the father's wedding night.
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Without the mountain, where is the coral to wear?
Without the ocean that gave it birth, where is the pearl to wear?
Without the mountain, where is the coral to wear?
Without the ocean that gave it birth, where is the pearl to wear?
Without a head, where would the feet belong?
Without a head, where would the feet belong?
Without the birth father, where would this new relation come from?
O Lord Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Does the birth father come first, or the sacred wedding knot?
Shanmuga, I have a doubt
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a profound moral dilemma faced by a woman regarding primary emotional allegiance: whether priority belongs to the biological father who nurtured and raised her, or to the husband bound by marriage. Addressing Lord Shanmuga, the singer questions divine precedent and nature itself to establish the irreplaceable importance of birth parents.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinah)

“Pettra thanthaikku mudhalidamaa thaalikku mudhalidamaa”

The lyrics continuously pose questions to Lord Shanmuga to highlight the emotional conflict between filial duty and marital obligations.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Malai illaiyael aniyum pavalam engae / Pettra kadal illaiyael aniyum muththum engae”

Analogy comparing parents to the mountain and ocean that produce precious treasures like coral and pearls.

Anaphora / Alliteration (Monai)

“Paththu thingal sumanthu paalootti / Paththirandu paruvam valarththavar yaar”

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds 'Paththu' and 'Paththirandu' creates rhythm and emotional emphasis on stages of raising a child.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song showcases Kannadasan's signature style of framing complex human ethical and relational dilemmas through devotional addresses to deities.

Keep listening

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