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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Than Manadhai Nalan

From Kadan Vangi Kalyanam · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
A. M. Raja, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Leela
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Kadan Vangi Kalyanam1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haa…aa……haa….aaaHaa…aa……haa….aaa
Haa…aa…aa…haa….haaHaa…aa…aa…haa….haa
Male
Than manadhai nalanukkuShe dedicated her heart to Nala
Thaththam seidhaalPledging her true love to him
Andha thamayandhi vanmaiyudanThat Damayanthi, with firm resolve
Suyamvaram natta munn vandhadhumCame forward to announce her Swayamvaram
VindhaiyandroIs it not a wonder?
Male
Vinnavar naalvarumThe four celestial gods
Mannulagai naadi ammangaiyaalinSought the earthly realm to test that maiden's
Ennamae yaadhena sodhanai seiyavvaeTrue intent and deepest devotion
Viraindhu vaareerCome swiftly!
Haa…aaa….aa..haaHaa…aaa….aa..haa
Male
Vaazhga nalaraajanae vaanavar adhibanyaamLong live King Nala! We are the chief heavenly beings
Varunan agni yeman ivargal androVaruna, Agni, and Yama are among us
Male
Thanyanaanen amarar aagnai edhuvaanaalumI am blessed; whatever command the gods give
Kanyamudan yettru paniyaatruvenaeI shall accept with dignity and carry out
Male
Devargal naalvaril ezhil maevum oruvaraiDamayanthi must praise and garland one
Dhamayandhi maalaiyida pugazha vendumAmong the four handsome celestial gods
Male
Suraraajan mozhi pola thavaraamal sollavaeDeliver the message of the king of gods without fail
Sundhariyin andhapuram elidhallavaeEntering the inner chambers of the beauty is no easy task
Male
Devargal thoodhanaai sellum bodhuWhen going as a messenger for the gods
Thidamindri udal kundrum sandhegamaenYour physical body might face obstacles without doubt
Siram meedhil idhai kondu sendridilIf you place this object upon your head
Uruvamae maraivaagumYour physical form will become invisible
Mayangaadhae viraindhaeguvaaiDo not hesitate, proceed swiftly!
Haa…aaa….aa..haaHaa…aaa….aa..haa
Haa…aaa….aa..haaHaa…aaa….aa..haa
Female
Andhapuram naadi anumadhi illaamalWho is this who reached the inner quarters without permission
Anjaamal vandhadhaaroo ..haa…aaaAnd arrived here fearlessly?
Andhapuram naadi anumadhi illaamalWho is this who reached the inner quarters without permission
Anjaamal vandhadhaarooAnd arrived here fearlessly?
Male
Amaryendhiran agniyumSent by Devendra, Agni
Emaraajan varunarumYama, and Varuna
Anupiya thoodhanaam nalaraajanaeI am King Nala, arriving as their messenger
Avargalil oruavrai anbudan azhagiyaeOh beautiful maiden, with love you must choose one of them
Varanaaga pera vendumaamTo accept as your bridegroom
Pennae varanaaga pera vendumaamOh maiden, accept one as your husband
Female
Annathin thoodhaalaeEver since the swan brought your message
Ummai ninaitha naanI have contemplated only you in my heart
Agilamae pirandaalaam maaruvaenooEven if the entire universe changes, will my heart alter?
Male
Anbudanae ennai manandhaalum magizhndhaalumEven if you wed and delight me with love
Amarargal allalum naernthidaadhooWill it not invite affliction from the celestial gods?
Female :Allalai sugamaaullamae kanivoduFemale: Embracing hardship as joy with a compassionate heart
Anbudanae yettru kondu naaneAccepting with pure love, I myself
Umakkae aavaludan maalai soottuvenae ….Will garland you with eager desire
Maalai soootuvenaeWill place the wedding garland upon you
Female
Ethanai jenmamgal adiyaen eduthaalumNo matter how many births I take
En kanavan nalanumandroIs not Nala my destined husband?
Innum ivvezhaiyin idhayam thhudikkavaeTo cause this poor woman's heart to tremble further
Sodhanai seivadhum aneedhiyandroIs it not unjust to subject me to this trial?
Female
Sathiyam nilaikkavae iththirai madhikkavaeSo that truth prevails and marital purity is honored
Sadhi padhigalaai vaazhavaeSo that we may live together as husband and wife
Tharunamae urumaari kanavarai dharisikkaAt this moment, to behold my real husband amidst transformed forms
Karunaiyae puriya vendumShower your divine mercy!
Haa….aaaa…aaaHaa….aaaa…aaa
Haa…aa…haa…Haa…aa…haa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This musical sequence depicts a pivotal episode from the classic epic tale of Nala and Damayanthi. The song opens with the gods (Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Yama) deciding to test Damayanthi's devotion. They approach King Nala and instruct him to act as their messenger to ask Damayanthi to choose one of the divine beings at her Swayamvaram. To help him infiltrate her secure inner chambers, they grant him a magical cloak of invisibility. Upon entering, Nala reveals his identity and delivers the gods' message. Damayanthi firmly rejects marrying a deity, declaring that ever since she heard of Nala through the sacred swan, her heart belongs solely to him. When the gods disguise themselves as clones of Nala at the ceremony, Damayanthi prays fervently for divine intervention to identify her true love, reaffirming her eternal fidelity across lifetimes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Andhapuram naadi anumadhi illaamal / Anjaamal vandhadhaaroo

Repetition of the second letter consonant 'n' across lines like 'Andhapuram' and 'Anjaamal' enhances rhythmic flow.

Edhugai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Amaryendhiran agniyum / Anupiya thoodhanaam nalaraajanae

Use of matching initial consonants 'A' across consecutive lines (Amaryendhiran / Anupiya / Avargalil).

Rhetorical Question

Sodhanai seivadhum aneedhiyandro

The singer uses rhetorical questions ('Is it not unjust to test me further?') to emphasize Damayanthi's emotional plea and unwavering resolve.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadan Vangi Kalyanam (1958) was directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by Vijaya Vauhini Studios. The film features a rich mythological opera sequence depicting the Nala-Damayanthi story, composed by S. Rajeswara Rao with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.

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