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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thalaivane Un Mugam

From Porutham · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Porutham1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Manam kavarntha mannavanaeOh king who captured my heart,
Malarezhuthum kaditham idhuThis is a letter written like flowers.
Unnai paarththu oru bedhai magalSeeing you, an innocent young girl,
Parithavikkum saedhi idhuThis is the news of her yearning.
Female
Idhayaththil unnai mattumIn my heart, you alone
Oliththu vaiththaenI had kept hidden.
Indru idhayaththai kaagithaththilToday, my heart onto paper
Irakki vaiththaenI have unburdened.
Female
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaenOh my beloved, I looked at your face,
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaenIn solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaenOh my beloved, I looked at your face,
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaenIn solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
Female
Paarvaiyil kaaman neeIn your gaze, you are Kamadeva,
Aanmaiyil raaman neeIn your chivalry, you are Rama,
Azhaganae…ae….ae…Oh handsome one...
Female
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaenOh my beloved, I looked at your face,
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaenIn solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
Female
Ponnaana dhegamaeThis golden body of mine
Senthooram aagumaeWill turn red as vermilion.
Un tholgal paarkkavaeJust to gaze at your shoulders,
Aandondru vaendumaeA whole year is needed.
Female
Arumbuthaan meesaiyoIs it a budding mustache?
Atharkkuthaan aasaiyoIs my desire meant for that?
Kanni ponnukku maalai varumaaWill a wedding garland come for this maiden?
Enni thaviththaen olai varumaa…I suffered counting the days; will a letter arrive?
Female
Naan unnai paarkkavaeJust to see you,
Naalthorum yaenginaenEvery day I longed.
Nee pogum paadhaiyilOn the path you walk,
Poovaaga thoonginaenI rested softly like a flower.
Female
Thalaivanai ninaiththathaalBecause I kept thinking of my beloved,
Thalaiyanai nanainthathaeMy pillow became drenched in tears.
Bathil varumaa kaaththu kidappaenWill a reply come? I will lie in wait,
Vaasalpadiyil pooththu kidappaenAt the doorstep, I will remain blossoming in wait.
Female
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaenOh my beloved, I looked at your face,
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaenIn solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
Female
Paarvaiyil kaaman neeIn your gaze, you are Kamadeva,
Aanmaiyil raaman neeIn your chivalry, you are Rama,
Azhaganae…ae….ae…Oh handsome one...
Female
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaenOh my beloved, I looked at your face,
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaenIn solitude, why did I look down at the ground?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic song is a love letter written by a young maiden expressing her deep romantic longing and devotion to her beloved. She describes her shyness upon gazing at his face, comparing his charm to Kamadeva (the god of love) and his noble masculinity to Lord Rama. Expressing her vulnerability and restlessness, she recounts how thinking of him fills her eyes with tears that drench her pillow, and how eagerly she awaits a written reply and a promise of marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagadhuthal)

Vaasalpadiyil pooththu kidappaen

Comparing the waiting process to a flower remaining in full bloom at the threshold ('pooththu kidappaen').

Alliteration & Assonance (Second letter rhyme - Ethirukai)

Thalaivanai ninaiththathaal / Thalaiyanai nanainthathae

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'lai' in 'Thalaivanai' and 'Thalaiyanai'.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Paarvaiyil kaaman nee / Aanmaiyil raaman nee

Matching end word patterns ('kaaman nee' and 'raaman nee').

Mythological Allusion

Paarvaiyil kaaman nee / Aanmaiyil raaman nee

Invoking the deity of love (Kamadeva) and the heroic archetype (Rama) to characterize the lover's beauty and virtue.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vairamuthu during the mid-1980s, this song exemplifies classical Tamil love poetry (Aham literature) conventions adapted for modern film music, depicting the maiden's shyness (Naanam) and longing (Viraham).

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