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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaai Thindra Mannae (Classical Version)

From Aayirathil Oruvan (2010) · 2010

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Nithyashree Mahadevan, Vijay Yesudas, Shri Krishn a
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sringaarinchina manchiAdorned in beauty,
Bangaru ooiyalalonaIn a golden swing,
Mari bangaaru ooiyalalonaa aaa..aaa…Indeed, inside a golden swing...
Female
PaaduveeroWill you sing?
ThevaraeOh God/Lord!
BharaniBharani (a genre of poetry)
Kalambagam ulaaKalambagam, Ula (literary genres)
OndraagilumAt least one of them?
Seri eeruketta ethirmariIs it an irregular, mismatched opposite,
Peyar achchammaavathuAt least knowing the fearful name,
AriveeraDo you know?
Male
Nel aadiya nilam engaeWhere is the land where paddy danced?
Sol aadiya avai engaeWhere is the assembly where words danced?
Vil aadiya kalam engaeWhere is the battlefield where bows danced?
Kal aadiya silai engaeWhere is the sculpture where stone danced?
Thaai thindra mannaeOh land that ate its own mother!
Thaai thindra mannaeOh land that ate its own mother!
Female
Chaedaerae chaamindrudaeServants and rulers,
Divya choodaamani chandrudaeThe divine crown-gem of the moon,
Pagathaanintilo chaeranaemDid we reach the house of our enemy?
Pagathaanintilo chaeranaem…mmmDid we reach the house of our enemy...
Female
Thaa thin kaRhythmic vocalization (Thaa thin ka)
Thikku thakkaRhythmic vocalization (Thikku thakka)
ThaaRhythmic vocalization (Thaa)
Thira nena thaaRhythmic vocalization (Thira nena thaa)
Jika thakka thaaRhythmic vocalization (Jika thakka thaa)
Male
Kayal vilaiyaadumWhere carp fish used to play,
Vayal veli thaediSearching for the open paddy fields,
Kaainthu kazhinthanaDried up and withered,
KangalThe eyes.
Male
Kaaviri malarinThe Cauvery river's flower's
Kadi manam thaediSearching for the fragrance,
Karugi mudinthathuBurnt and perished,
Naa..aasiThe nose.
Male
Silai vazhi maevumCarved through the stone statues,
Uli oli thaediSearching for the sound of the chisel,
Thirugi vizhunthanaTwisted and fell,
SevigalThe ears.
Male
Oon pothi sottrinExpecting the honeyed taste
Thaen suvai karuthiOf rice wrapped in meat,
Otti ularnthathuStuck and parched dry,
Naavum mm…mm..The tongue as well...
Male
Puli kodi poriththaInscribed with the tiger flag,
Chozha maanthargalAre these Chola people
Eli kari korippathuvo oo ooGnawing on rat meat?
Kaattrai kudikkumDrinking only the air,
Thaavaram aagiBecoming like plants,
Kaalam kazhippathuvo..oo..oo..Passing their time?
Male
Mandai odugalA land dense with
Mandiya naattaiHuman skulls,
Mannan aaluvatho ooIs the king ruling over this?
Mannan aaluvathoIs the king ruling over this?
Hoo oo oo oo oo ooVocalizing (Hoo...)
Female
Cheli naenae thu saahinthunaeOh friend, I am enduring this,
Pala vaaninthu varninthunaeDescribing many skies,
Male :Sringaaram chirigaeMale: Romance blooms,
Nayagaaram olikaeElegance resounds,
Rowththirya gunniya andhiya rolaiyaFierce character and evening chatter,
Holaiyakinchiga malipulakinchagaMaking one thrill and rejoice slightly,
Male
Nee moham paramasugamDesire for you is supreme bliss,
Dhaasogam raachcharikamSlavery to royalty.
Female :Soyagama athimaayagamaaFemale: Is it allure, supreme illusion?
Pryaayamanae thoka paayasamaaIs youth like sweet payasam?
Female
Naa sarasam apsarasamMy playfulness is celestial,
Naalathanam rasa barithamGoodness filled with essence.
Male :Anthenuthae chelinodukuMale: Thus spoke the friend's word,
Banthamamae sankethukkuIs the bond a signal?
Female
Mallela thomanu udu pulithaeJasmine garland and tiger skin,
Ninela thoyatha thadapuligaeLike the clouds and water drops.
Male :Virahagapu valapulu varachithiriMale: You painted the yearning of separation,
Virishara munavala visirikilaeThrowing the arrows of desire around,
Male
Baahu bhahaaraaliAbundant arms,
Naavi ila raaliDropping down here.
Female :Saaham sara raajaFemale: Courageous king,
Oh oh thala bhojaOh, king of feast,
Female
Suma sera mula cheraArrow of flowers, joining the corner,
Ithavidi pencharaIncrease this pleasure,
Atharamu vatharamuLips and face,
MathuramuraAre sweet indeed,
Puruvamumu maruvamuEyebrows and fragrance,
Jaganamu thavanamuHips and longing,
Sarigala magasiriMatching masculinity,
PalamuluraAre the fruits,
Male
Vayaari mayuriGraceful peacock,
MayaaliIllusionist,
Nee moham paramasugamDesire for you is supreme bliss,
Dhaasogam raachcharikamSlavery to royalty.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This track presents a powerful dramatic suite from Selvaraghavan's epic film 'Aayirathil Oruvan', set against the historical backdrop of a stranded Chola kingdom reduced to extreme poverty and exile. The lyrics shift from solemn lamentations over the loss of ancient Chola glory—contrasting past grandeur with present agony where people eat rat meat and live in a dry wasteland—to classical erotic/courtly poetry in a blend of archaic Tamil and Telugu.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Monne / Second-letter Rhyming)

Nel aadiya nilam engae / Sol aadiya avai engae

Classical Tamil poetic rhyming on the second letter of consecutive lines (e.g., 'Nel aadiya', 'Sol aadiya', 'Vil aadiya', 'Kal aadiya').

Anaphora (Repetitive structure)

Nel aadiya nilam engae / Sol aadiya avai engae / Vil aadiya kalam engae

Repeated line endings with 'engae' (where) creating a mournful, rhythmic questioning effect.

Contrast / Antithesis

Puli kodi poriththa Chozha maanthargal / Eli kari korippathuvo

Striking contrast between the high historical pride of the Cholas (Puli kodi poriththa Chozha maanthargal) and their pathetic present state (Eli kari korippathuvo).

Did you know?

Trivia

This composition by G. V. Prakash Kumar (or historical excerpts integrated into the soundtrack of 'Aayirathil Oruvan') incorporates classical Tamil literary verse genres like Bharani, Kalambagam, and Ula alongside Telugu court lyrics to reflect the historical and linguistic fusion characteristic of late medieval Southern Indian royal courts.

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