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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thean Aruviyil

From Aagaya Gangai · 1982

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aagaya Gangai1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dheem…(Rhythmic syllable) Dheem...
Female :Hmm…Female: Hmm...
Male :Dhiranana…Male: Dhiranana...
Female :Hmm…hmm…hmm…hmm…Female: Hmm...hmm...hmm...hmm...
Female
Dheem dhiranana(Rhythmic vocalization) Dheem dhiranana
Dhirana dheerananaa(Rhythmic vocalization) Dhirana dheerananaa
Male :Thaen aruviyilMale: In the honey waterfall
Nanaindhidum malaroIs it a flower getting drenched?
Female
Dhiranaa… dhiranaa…(Rhythmic vocalization) Dhiranaa... dhiranaa...
Male :Thodarum… kadhaiyo…Male: Is it a continuing story...?
Female :Dhiranaa… dhiranaa…Female: (Rhythmic vocalization) Dhiranaa... dhiranaa...
Male :Edhudhaan… vidaiyo…Male: What is the answer...?
Mana vee…nai… naan isaiththidaAs I play the veena of my heart
Thaen aruviyil nanaindhidum malaroIs it a flower getting drenched in a honey waterfall?
Male
Muga vaasal meedhu dheebamThe lamp upon the threshold of the face,
Iru kangal aanadho oh…Have your two eyes become that?
Female :Mm mm… mm mm… aah…Female: Mm mm... mm mm... aah...
Male
Muga vaasal meedhu dheebamThe lamp upon the threshold of the face,
Iru kangal aanadho oh…Have your two eyes become that?
Mana vaasal kolamaeAs a kolam design at the heart's doorway,
Ddhinam podudhoIs it drawn every single day?
Female :Aaah…aa.. aah…Female: Aaah...aa.. aah...
Male
Thunaiyaagum dheviyaiFor the divine lady who becomes a companion,
Kodi thedudhoDoes a creeper search for her?
Female :Aaah..aa..aah…Female: Aaah..aa..aah...
Male :Punnagaiyo… poo mazhaiyo…Male: Is it a smile... or a rain of flowers...?
Un nadaiyo… thaer padaiyoIs it your stride... or a chariot army?
Varamo varumo naan nalam peraWill a boon arrive so that I may find wellbeing?
Female
Dheem dhiranana(Rhythmic vocalization) Dheem dhiranana
Dhirana dheerananaa(Rhythmic vocalization) Dhirana dheerananaa
Male :Thaen aruviyilMale: In the honey waterfall
Nanaindhidum malaroIs it a flower getting drenched?
Female
Dhiranaa… dhiranaa…(Rhythmic vocalization) Dhiranaa... dhiranaa...
Male :Dhiranaa… dhiranaa…Male: (Rhythmic vocalization) Dhiranaa... dhiranaa...
Female :Dhiranaa naa naa dhirananaFemale: (Rhythmic vocalization) Dhiranaa naa naa dhiranana
Dheem dhiranana dhirana dheem dhiranaa(Rhythmic vocalization) Dheem dhiranana dhirana dheem dhiranaa
Chorus
…………………………..(Instrumental vocalization)
Female :………………………………Female: (Humming)
Female
Aaa.a…aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…Aaa.a...aaa....aaa....aaa....aaa...
Male :Naalum ovvoru naadagamoMale: Is each day a drama?
Edhu maedaiyo.. oooWhich is the stage... ooo?
Female :Aaah… aah… aah… aah…Female: Aaah... aah... aah... aah...
Male :Naalum ovvoru naadagamoMale: Is each day a drama?
Edhu maedaiyo.. oooWhich is the stage... ooo?
Male
Ini maivizhi naattiyamoWill the dance of kohl-lined eyes now,
Ennai vaattumoTorment me?
Yen tholaivo… nee nilavo…Why this distance... are you the moon...?
Female :Aaah… aah… aah… aah…Female: Aaah... aah... aah... aah...
Male :Thanimai kodumaiMale: Cruel solitude,
Enadhuyir azhaiththidaCalls out to my life
Female
Dheem dhiranana(Rhythmic vocalization) Dheem dhiranana
Dhirana dheerananaa(Rhythmic vocalization) Dhirana dheerananaa
Thaen aruviyil nanaindhidum malaroIs it a flower getting drenched in a honey waterfall?
Female
Thodarum… kadhaiyo…Is it a continuing story...?
Edhudhaan… vidaiyo…What is the answer...?
Mana vee…nai… naan isaiththidaAs I play the veena of my heart
Thaen aruviyil nanaindhidum malaroIs it a flower getting drenched in a honey waterfall?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thaen Aruviyil' from the movie Aagaya Gangai (1982) is a deeply evocative romantic duet characterized by classical swara passages and lyrical beauty. The protagonist reflects on the ethereal charm of his beloved, comparing her presence to a delicate flower drenched in a waterfall of sweet honey. He marvels at her radiant eyes, which resemble lamps lighting up the face, and wonders if life itself is a drama played out on an unseen stage. As the melody progresses, feelings of tender affection intermingle with the pain of separation and solitude. The poet uses imagery of veena strings, flowers, chariot processions, and the distant moon to express the overwhelming emotional resonance that love brings to the human heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Mana vee…nai… naan isaiththida

Compares the heart to a musical instrument ('Mana veenai') that plays melody when stirred by emotion.

Uvamai (Simile / Imagery)

Muga vaasal meedhu dheebam

Compares the eyes illuminating the face to lamps placed at the entrance threshold ('Muga vaasal meedhu dheebam').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Punnagaiyo… poo mazhaiyo… / Un nadaiyo… thaer padaiyo

Matching second consonant sounds 'n' in 'Punnagaiyo' and 'Un nadaiyo' for lyrical symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by the celebrated poet Mu. Metha, this song integrates traditional Carnatic thillana solkattu (rhythmic syllables) with film music orchestration, showcasing modern romantic poetry over classic musical structures.

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