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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaneerilay Mugam

From Manikuyil · 1993

Lyricist
Ponnadiyan
Singers
Mano, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manikuyil1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooooHoo ooo oo hoo oooo
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooooHoo ooo oo hoo oooo
Chorus
Lulululuululu lulululuLulululuululu lulululu
Female
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater
Innaarkku innaar thaan saami sonnadhammaaGod has ordained who belongs to whom, my dear
Kalyaanam vaibogam thannaal aagumaaWill a grand wedding happen all on its own?
Ini unnai vittu naan vaazha aagaadhammaaI cannot live without you anymore, my dear
Male
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater
Male
Unnidathil ithanai naalAll these days, with you
Unmai ondrai maraithadhunduI have hidden a truth
Chinnanjiru vayadhu mudhalEver since a very young age
Enakkoru manaivi unduI have had a wife
Kobam kolla vendaam ammaa hoiDo not get angry, my dear
Thaangi kolla vendum ammaaYou must bear this with patience, my dear
Female
Nallavan endru unnaiyae ninaithaenaeI thought of you as a good man
Unmai arindhu thudithaenae naan thaanaeLearning the truth, I was the one who trembled in pain
Pottadhenna vaesham ini podhum podhum mosamWhat a disguise you put on, enough of this deception now
Male
Naan sonna samsaaram endhan sangeethamThe wife I spoke of is my music!
Idhai kandu kolla mudiyaamal aarpaattamaaWhy all this uproar without understanding this?
Female
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater
Male
Innaarkku innaar thaan saami sonnadhammaaGod has ordained who belongs to whom, my dear
Kalyaanam vaibogam thannaal aagumaaWill a grand wedding happen all on its own?
Ini unnai vittu naan vaazha aagaadhammaaI cannot live without you anymore, my dear
Male
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater
Female
Nenjai allum paadalilaeIn the heart-captivating song
Ennai alli koduthu vittenI have surrendered myself completely
Nalla isai thaedalilaeIn the search for good music
Veredhaiyum marandhu vittenI forgot everything else
Ennudaiya sangeetham nee ho hoiYou are my music
Unnudaiya saareeram naanI am your voice
Male
Ondrai ondru thaan ini mael piriyaadhuOne will never separate from the other anymore
Alla alla thaan amudham kuraiyaadhuThe nectar never diminishes no matter how much you draw
Thellu thamizh pallu un kannil ulla kalluPure Tamil song, and the intoxication in your eyes
Female
Ennaalum un naadham ennai neengaadhuYour melody will never leave me on any day
Ini kaalam thorum oyaadhu aalaapanamFrom now on, the musical elaboration will never end over time
Male
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater
Female
Innaarkku innaar thaan saami sonnadhammaaGod has ordained who belongs to whom, my dear
Kalyaanam vaibogam thannaal aagumaaWill a grand wedding happen all on its own?
Ini unnai vittu naan vaazha aagaadhammaaI cannot live without you anymore, my dear
Male
Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamaeOh sky looking at its reflection in the water
Nalla panneerilae neeraadum poonthottamaeOh flower garden bathing in fine rosewater

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Manikuyil' (1993) portrays a playful, romantic dialogue between two lovers bound deeply by their shared passion for music. The hero humorously teases the heroine by claiming he has been married since childhood, causing her initial shock and distress. He quickly resolves the playful trick by clarifying that his true lifelong wife is 'music' itself, transforming her anguish into deep joy. The lovers then express their eternal bond, comparing their unity to the seamless relationship between music and voice, melody and devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamae

Comparing the beloved to the sky reflecting in water and a flower garden in rosewater ('Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamae').

Play on Words / Double Entendre (Sleidai)

Naan sonna samsaaram endhan sangeetham

Using 'Samsaaram' (wife) metaphorically to represent 'Sangeetham' (music), creating a playful dramatic plot twist.

Etukai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

Thanneerilae mugam paarkkum aagaayamae

Rhyming second letters in adjacent lines: 'Thanneerilae' and 'Panneerilae' ('nneer' sound matching).

Monaai (Initial letter alliteration)

Innaarkku innaar thaan saami sonnadhammaa

Alliteration of the initial letter 'I' in 'Innaarkku' and 'Ini'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manikuyil' (1993) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Ponnadiyan. The song showcases a signature duet structure where playful narrative lyrics build a mini dramatic arc within the composition.

Keep listening

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