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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thalai Vazhai

From Naan Yen Pirandhen · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Jikki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Naan Yen Pirandhen1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thalai vaazhai ilai pottuLaying a plantain leaf,
Virundhu vaippenI shall host a feast.
En thalaivaa un varugaikkuMy lord, for your arrival,
ThavamiruppenI shall perform penance.
Female
Thalai vaazhai ilai pottuLaying a plantain leaf,
Virundhu vaippenI shall host a feast.
En thalaivaa un varugaikkuMy lord, for your arrival,
ThavamiruppenI shall perform penance.
Female
Nee undaal en pasiyaarumIf you eat, my hunger will be satisfied,
EndriruppenSo I shall remain believing.
Nee undaal en pasiyaarumIf you eat, my hunger will be satisfied,
EndriruppenSo I shall remain believing.
Un vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu nindriruppenI shall stand waiting, fixing my eyes on your path.
Un vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu nindriruppenI shall stand waiting, fixing my eyes on your path.
Female
Thalai vaazhai ilai pottuLaying a plantain leaf,
Virundhu vaippenI shall host a feast.
En thalaivaa un varugaikkuMy lord, for your arrival,
ThavamiruppenI shall perform penance.
Female
Manaiyaram thanai kaakka naanirukkaWhile I remain to safeguard the virtues of household life,
En thunai karam yena endrum neeyirukkaWhile you remain forever as my supporting hand,
Manaiyaram thanai kaakka naanirukkaWhile I remain to safeguard the virtues of household life,
En thunai karam yena endrum neeyirukkaWhile you remain forever as my supporting hand,
Illaram nalamaaga thulangaadhoWon't domestic life shine with prosperity?
Illaram nalamaaga thulangaadhoWon't domestic life shine with prosperity?
Puvi inbamellaam ingu vilangaadhoWon't all world pleasures be illuminated here?
Female
Thalai vaazhai ilai pottuLaying a plantain leaf,
Virundhu vaippenI shall host a feast.
En thalaivaa un varugaikkuMy lord, for your arrival,
ThavamiruppenI shall perform penance.
Female
Kadhiravan mugam paarkkumThe lotus that gazes at the sun's face,
ThaamaraiyumAnd the heart of a woman awaiting her love,
Than kaadhalai edhir paarkkumThe lotus that gazes at the sun's face,
Pen manamumAnd the heart of a woman awaiting her love,
Female
Kadhiravan mugam paarkkumIs it not understood that they belong to the same kind?
ThaamaraiyumIs it not understood that they belong to the same kind?
Than kaadhalai edhir paarkkumDon't you know that my single-minded heart belongs to you?
Pen manamumDon't you know that my single-minded heart belongs to you?
Female
Orinam enbadhu thaan puriyaadhoDon't you know that my heart belongs to you?
Orinam enbadhu thaan puriyaadhoLaying a plantain leaf,
En oru manam unakkendru theriyaadhoI shall host a feast.
En oru manam unakkendru theriyaadhoMy lord, for your arrival,
Oru manam unakkendru theriyaadhoI shall perform penance.
Female
Thalai vaazhai ilai pottuA flower was born upon the creeper,
Virundhu vaippenIts cool eyes blossomed like the moon,
En thalaivaa un varugaikkuIt crawled onto the lap seeing you,
ThavamiruppenCarrying honey in its lips for you.
Female
Kodiyinil pirandhadhu malarondruAa…aaa….aa….aaa….aaa….aaa….haa…
Adhan kulir vizhi malarndhadhu nilavendruThe sacred mangalsutra adorned with turmeric,
Madiyinil thavazhndhadhu unai kanduIs the greatest treasure for women.
Than idhazhgalil unakkena thaen konduThe sacred mangalsutra adorned with turmeric,
Aa…aaa….aa….aaa….aaa….aaa….haa…Is the greatest treasure for women.
Female
Manjal konjidum maangalyamExcept for the husband who fills her eyes,
Adhu mangaiyarkkellaam perum selvamExcept for the husband who fills her eyes,
Manjal konjidum maangalyamWhat other deity exists for a woman?
Adhu mangaiyarkkellaam perum selvamWhat other deity exists for a woman?
Kannukku niraindha kanavanai thavira
Kannukku niraindha kanavanai thavira
Pennukku yaedhu oru dheivam
Pennukku yaedhu oru dheivam

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This beautiful classical composition expresses a traditional Tamil wife's deep love, devotion, and reverence for her husband. She eagerly awaits his arrival, comparing her wait to a sacred penance and her joy to feeling satiated simply by watching him eat. She highlights the sanctity of domestic life (Illaram) and describes her devotion as an eternal bond, equating her husband to her primary deity. The lyrics also metaphorically compare a woman's longing heart to a lotus seeking the sun's warmth. She speaks of domestic bliss, the bliss of offspring, and the sacredness of the mangalsutra, celebrating marital union and traditional cultural values with lyrical elegance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)

Kadhiravan mugam paarkkum Thaamaraiyum Than kaadhalai edhir paarkkum Pen manamum

Compares a woman's heart awaiting her beloved to a lotus flower gazing up at the sun.

Emona / Rhyme (எதுகை - Second letter harmony)

Manaiyaram thanai kaakka... En thunai karam yena...

Use of 'na' sound in 'Manaiyaram' and 'Thunai karam' creates internal rhythmic harmony.

Hyperbole / Devotional Imagery (உயர்வு நவிற்சி)

Nee undaal en pasiyaarum Endriruppen

Expresses extreme devotion where the wife feels her hunger is satisfied merely by watching her husband eat.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Thalai Vaazhai Ilai Pottu' belongs to the 1972 Tamil movie 'Naan Yen Pirandhen', starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), K. R. Vijaya, and Kanchana. The music was composed by Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics written by Vaali, and the song was rendered soulfully by P. Susheela.

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