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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai

From Kavan · 2017

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
Hiphop Tamizha, Padmalatha, Anthony Daasan, Georgina Mathew
Music director
Hiphop Tamizha
Details
Kavan2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paayum oli nee enakkuYou are the radiant light to me
Paarkum vizhi naan unakkuI am the seeing eye to you
Thoyum madhu nee enakkuYou are the sweet nectar to me
Thumbi adi naan unakkuI am the honeybee to you, my dear
Male
Vayuraikka varuguthillaiMy words fail to express
Vaazhi nindran menmai ellaamAll the greatness that lives in you
Thooya sudar vaan oliyaeO pure flame of celestial light!
Soorai amuthaeO divine, overflowing nectar!
Male
Kannammaa en kaadhalii..eeeKannamma, my beloved...
Kannammaa en kaadhali..ee..ohooo..Kannamma, my beloved...
Male
Kaadhal adi ne enakkuYou are love itself to me
Kaandham adi naan unakkuI am the magnet to you, my dear
Vedham adi nee enakkuYou are the sacred scripture to me
Viththai adi naan unakkuI am the art and wisdom to you
Podhumutra podhinilaeIn times of deep contentment
Pongi varum theenjuvaiyaeYou are the overflowing sweet taste
Naatha vadivaanavalaeO embodiment of divine music!
Nalluyirae…O my precious soul...
Female
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
KannanLord Krishna
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillai..aahaaaAn endlessly mischievous boy...
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
KannanLord Krishna
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiiii….An endlessly mischievous boy...
Female
Theruvilae pengalukkuTo the women in the street
Oyaatha thollaiii….He is a relentless nuisance...
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
Female
Kannammaa en kaadhalii..eeeKannamma, my beloved...
Kannammaa en kaadhali..eeKannamma, my beloved...
Chorus
Nallauyir nee enakuYou are my precious life
Naadiyadi naan unakkuI am the vital pulse to you, my dear
Selvamadi nee enakkuYou are wealth to me, my dear
Semanidhi naan unakkuI am the accumulated treasure to you
Chorus
Ellaiyatra perazhagaeO boundless supreme beauty!
Engum nirai porchudaraeO golden light filling everywhere!
Mullai nigar punnagaiyaiWith a smile like soft jasmine buds
Modhum inbamaeYou strike me with overwhelming joy
Female
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
KannanLord Krishna
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
KannanLord Krishna
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillai..hey..hey..An endlessly mischievous boy...
Female
Theruvilae pengalukkuTo the women in the street
Oyaatha thollaiHe is a relentless nuisance
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillai..ohooo..An endlessly mischievous boy...
Theruvilae pengalukkuTo the women in the street
Oyaatha thollai..yeeiii..ohoooHe is a relentless nuisance...
Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillaiAn endlessly mischievous boy
Chorus
Kannammaa kaadhaliKannamma, my beloved
Kannammaa en kaadhaliKannamma, my beloved
En kaadhali en kaadhaliMy beloved, my beloved
Chorus
Nallauyir nee enakuYou are my precious life
Naadiyadi naan unakkuI am the vital pulse to you, my dear
Male : Selvamadi nee enakkuMale: You are wealth to me, my dear
Semanidhi naan unakkuI am the accumulated treasure to you
Chorus
Ellaiyatra perazhagaeO boundless supreme beauty!
Engum nirai porchudaraeO golden light filling everywhere!
Male : Mullai nigar punnagaiyaiMale: With a smile like soft jasmine buds
Modhum inbamaeYou strike me with overwhelming joy
Male
Hoi..hoi…hoi..hoi..Hoi..hoi...hoi..hoi..
Thanae thanae thanae thanaeRhythmic vocal scatting
Tanae tanae tanae tanaeRhythmic vocal scatting
Thaana naa nae thaana naanaeRhythmic vocal scatting
Thannae naanae naa naeRhythmic vocal scatting
Thaana naa nae thaana naanaeRhythmic vocal scatting
Thannae naanae naa naeRhythmic vocal scatting
Tanaaaaaaa…hoi hoiRhythmic vocal scatting...hoi hoi
Thana nae thana nae thana nae thana naeRhythmic vocal scatting
Thaana nan nae..hoi….Rhythmic vocal scatting...hoi...
Chorus
Kannammaa kaadhaliKannamma, my beloved
Kannammaa en kaadhaliKannamma, my beloved
En kaadhali en kaadhaliMy beloved, my beloved

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a modern musical fusion adapted from Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's iconic Tamil poetry, combining 'Paayum Oli Nee Enakku' and 'Theeraadha Vilaiyaatu Pillai'. The lyrics celebrate an intimate, inseparable bond of devotion and love where the lover views the beloved ('Kannamma') as light to the eye, nectar to the bee, scripture to knowledge, and pulse to life itself. Intertwined with this romantic idealization is the playful narrative of Krishna ('Theeraadha Vilaiyaatu Pillai'), whose irresistible mischief brings joy and chaotic delight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Mullai nigar punnagaiyai

Compares the beloved's smile directly to jasmine flowers using the comparative marker 'nigar'.

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Paayum oli nee enakku / Paarkum vizhi naan unakku

Establishes absolute duality and oneness by equating the beloved to light and oneself to the eye.

Moonaizheduthal (Initial Alliteration / Munaai)

Kaadhal adi ne enakku / Kaandham adi naan unakku

Repetition of starting phonetic sounds in paired lines (e.g., Kaadhal / Kaandham, Vedham / Viththai).

Anaphora / Repetition

Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillai

Repeated use of the refrain 'Theeraadha vilaiyaatu pillai' to emphasize the playful nature of Krishna.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the lyrics are authored by the national poet Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, this modern song arrangement featured in the 2017 Tamil film 'Kavan' was composed by the musical duo Hiphop Tamizha (Aadhi and Jeeva). It cleverly stitches together two distinct poetic works of Bharathiyar into a contemporary track.

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