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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaai Avalin

From Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Ilayaraja, Kovai Soundararajan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaai avalin thiru thaazh panindhaenaeI bowed down to the sacred feet of Mother Divine,
Aadhi sivan paarkkaWhile Lord Shiva, the primal one, watched over.
Chorus
Aai ulla podaaHey, move along when called!
Male
Aa… thaai avalin thiru thaazh panindhaenaeAh… I bowed down to the sacred feet of Mother Divine,
Aadhi sivan paarkkaWhile Lord Shiva, the primal one, watched over.
Male
Noothukku maelae maedaiyil yaerinaenI stepped onto the stage over a hundred times,
Male
Naadagamaadinaen janangalellaam paarkka…And performed in plays for all the people to see…
Male
Romba naeramaa kundhi irukkuraTo those of you who have been sitting for a long time,
Ungalukkum en vanakkamMy greetings to you too!
Mundhi mundhiyae munnaal varugiraTo those eager ones who rush ahead and come to the front,
Aarvam ullavarkkum vanakkamMy eager greetings as well!
Saakku pokkula site adikkiraTo those cheerful ones checking out people on the sly,
Jollyaanavarkku vanakkamGreetings to you, cheerful folks!
Site adikkira jollyaanavarkkuTo the cheerful folks checking out people on the sly,
Rite koduppavarkkum vanakkamAnd to those who give them a pass, greetings!
Male
Paattu kaetkavae… ae…Just to listen to songs… oh…
Paattu kaetkavae naattamaa amarndhaTo the grandmothers who sat down authoritatively just to listen to songs,
Paattimaargalukkum vanakkamMy respectful greetings!
Paattmaargala paadhukkaakka vandhaTo the grandfathers who came to protect those grandmothers,
Paattanmaargalukkum vanakkamMy greetings to you too!
Male
Vandhanam vandhanam vandhanamaeWelcome, greetings, welcome!
Vandha sanam kundhanumae ae… ae…May the gathered audience sit down and relax… oh…
Vandhanam vandhanam vandhanamaeWelcome, greetings, welcome!
Vandha sanam kundhanumaeMay the gathered audience sit down and relax!
Naadagam mudichittu naalaikku poganumAfter finishing the play, we must leave tomorrow,
Vandhanam vandhanamaeGreetings and welcome!
Male
Mandhagaasamudan…With a subtle smile…
Aa….aa….aa…..aa….aa….aa….aa…aa..ae….aa…Ah… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… ae… aa…
Male
Mandhagaasamudan udal sondha naesamudanWith a subtle smile and a body full of affection,
Vandhu saerndha radhi yaaradiWho is this divine beauty who has arrived?
Andha logam thannil vindhaiyaana ezhilTell me about this goddess who possesses miraculous beauty in that world!
Konda dhaevi vagai kooradiTell me about the kind of goddess she is!
Konda dhaevi vagai kooradiTell me about the kind of goddess she is!
Female
Aasai naayaganae… ae… ae… ae…Oh beloved lord… oh… oh… oh…
Aasai naayaganae anbu kaadhalanaeOh beloved lord, my loving sweetheart!
Male
SabaashBravo!
Female
Aadum poo vizhi mangai naanI am a maiden with dancing flower-like eyes,
Andha dhaevadhaikku thangai naanI am the younger sister to that goddess!
Anna paedai endrae nadai pottuWalking elegantly like a graceful swan,
Alli veesuvaen aayiram paattuI shower a thousand songs everywhere!
Female
Dhanisaa dhanisarisaaDhanisaa dhanisarisaa (Musical notes)
Dhanisagariga sarinisadhaaDhanisagariga sarinisadhaa (Musical notes)
Mapadhaa padhani dhanisaaMapadhaa padhani dhanisaa (Musical notes)
Rigamaa gamapaa mapadhaaRigamaa gamapaa mapadhaa (Musical notes)
Saririga gamamapa padhadhani saa saa saaSaririga gamamapa padhadhani saa saa saa (Musical notes)
Male
Maasilaa nilavae nam kaadhalai magizhvoduOh flawless moon, with delight, our love
Maanilam kondaadudhaeIs celebrated by the whole world!
Maasilaa nilavae nam kaadhalai magizhvoduOh flawless moon, with delight, our love
Maanilam kondaadudhaeIs celebrated by the whole world!
Kannae… maanilam kondaadudhaeMy dear… the whole world celebrates it!
Female
Pesavum aridhaanaSeeing the supreme skill of love
Praemaiyin thiram kanduWhich is beyond words to describe,
Pesavum aridhaana praemaiyin thiram kanduSeeing the supreme skill of love beyond words,
Baedhangal parandhodudhaeAll differences fly away and disappear!
Kannaa… baedhangal parandhodudhaeMy beloved… all differences fly away!
Male
Maasilaa nilavae nam kaadhalai magizhvoduOh flawless moon, with delight, our love
Maanilam kondaadudhaeIs celebrated by the whole world!
Male
VanakkamGreetings!
Female
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Aiyaa vanakkamGreetings to you, sir!
Chorus
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Rengamani thangamani aiyaavukkuTo the precious and respected master,
Engaloda vanakkamOur heartfelt greetings!
Female
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Aiyaa vanakkamGreetings to you, sir!
Chorus
VanakkamGreetings!
Female
Manmadhan pola thotramAn appearance like the god of love Cupid,
Ungal thotram thaanungaIndeed, that is your grand appearance, sir!
Malliga poovu maala ippa pottaen naanungaI have now placed a garland of jasmine flowers for you, sir!
Male
Nalladhu panna yaaruWho is the one who does good deeds?
Adhu neenga thaanungaIt is none other than you, sir!
Female
Naanga nambina pannaiyaaruThe landlord in whom we placed our trust,
Adhu vaera yaarungaWho else could it be but you, sir?
Male
Kattalai ittaa paaduromIf you command, we shall sing!
Mootta kattida chonnaa oduromIf you tell us to pack our bags, we shall run!
Chorus
Kattalai ittaa paaduromIf you command, we shall sing!
Mootta kattida chonnaa oduromIf you tell us to pack our bags, we shall run!
Male
Arinjidaamae therinjidaamaeWithout knowingly or unknowingly,
Aiyaa arinjidaamae therinjidaamaeSir, without knowingly or unknowingly,
Seiyira kuthattha porukka vaenumYou must forgive the mistakes we commit!
VanakkamGreetings!
Female
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Aiyaa vanakkamGreetings to you, sir!
Chorus
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Rengamani thangamani aiyaavukkuTo the precious and respected master,
Engaloda vanakkamOur heartfelt greetings!
Female
VanakkamGreetings!
Male
Aiyaa vanakkamGreetings to you, sir!
Chorus
VanakkamGreetings!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a multi-part theatrical performance track from a traditional Tamil stage play set within a movie. It begins with an invocation acknowledging divine grace and welcoming various segments of the audience with playful humor, addressing everyone from eager front-row viewers to grandmothers and grandfathers. As the play progresses, it transitions into classical romantic duets celebrating beauty, divine qualities, and cosmic love, highlighted by traditional swara solfa passages.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Noothukku maelae maedaiyil yaerinaen / Naadagamaadinaen janangalellaam paarkka…

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Noothukku' and 'Naadagamaadinaen', or 'Kattalai' and 'Mootta'.

Monae (Initial letter alliteration)

Paattu kaetkavae naattamaa amarndha / Paattimaargalukkum vanakkam

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words such as 'Paattu kaetkavae' and 'Paattimaargalukkum'.

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

Manmadhan pola thotram / Ungal thotram thaanunga

Comparing the beloved's appearance to Lord Manmadhan (Cupid) and comparing the maiden's walk to an 'anna paedai' (graceful swan).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi' (1977) is a Tamil film featuring a classic stage-play sequence written by Panchu Arunachalam. The musical structure shifts between folk greetings, carnatic swara patterns, and comedic dialogic singing.

Keep listening

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