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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenaruvi Adhil

From Karathe Kamala · 1978

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Karathe Kamala
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
1 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Vaadai kulirinil aadi kalikkuthu
Vaazhaikuruththena maeni silirkkuthu
Vannam konjum annam endru
Kannam rendum minnum endru
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Vaadai kulirinil aadi kalikkuthu
Vaazhaikuruththena maeni silirkkuthu
Vannam konjum annam endru
Kannam rendum minnum endru
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Thanniyo pachcha thanni
Kanniyo chinna kanni
Neruppaai iruppathennadiyo
Ninaippae kodhippathennadiyo
Angangaethaan meen kadichchi
Ammammaa naan thudichchi
Angangaethaan meen kadichchi
Ammammaa naan thudichchi
Angangalil koochcam vanthatho
Chorus :Ennadiyakkaa adhai nee ssolladiyakkaa
Ennadiyakkaa adhai nee ssolladiyakkaa
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Vaadai kulirinil aadi kalikkuthu
Vaazhaikuruththena maeni silirkkuthu
Vannam konjum annam endru
Kannam rendum minnum endru
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Gangaiyil annaalilae
Kanniyar neeraadinaal
Kannanum karaiyil nirpaanaa
Saelaiyai maraiththu vaippaanaa
Gangaiyil annaalilae
Kanniyar neeraadinaal
Kannanum karaiyil nirpaanaa
Saelaiyai maraiththu vaippaanaa
Ennarugil kannan illai
Ennai konja mannan illai
Ennarugil kannan illai
Ennai konja mannan illai
Enna enna yaedho oru mayakkam vanthatho
Chorus :Ennadiyakkaa adhai nee solladiyakkaa
Ennadiyakkaa adhai nee solladiyakkaa
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Vaadai kulirinil aadi kalikkuthu
Vaazhaikuruththena maeni silirkkuthu
Vannam konjum annam endru
Kannam rendum minnum endru
Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi
Chorus :Aaho
Female :Adhil oru poonguruvi
Chorus :Oho
Female :Adhil oru poonguruvi
Chorus :Heehmmm
Hey, a stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
It dances with joy in the chilly winter breeze,
Its body shivers like a tender banana leaf.
Looking like a colorful, graceful swan,
With both its cheeks glowing bright,
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
It dances with joy in the chilly winter breeze,
Its body shivers like a tender banana leaf.
Looking like a colorful, graceful swan,
With both its cheeks glowing bright,
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
The water is plain cold water,
The girl is just a young maiden,
So why does everything feel like fire, my friend?
Why are my very thoughts boiling hot, my friend?
Fishes nibbled here and there,
Oh my, how I squirmed and shivered!
Fishes nibbled here and there,
Oh my, how I squirmed and shivered!
Did a tingling shyness spread all over my body?
Chorus: What is it, dear sister? Won't you tell us what it is?
Chorus: What is it, dear sister? Won't you tell us what it is?
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
It dances with joy in the chilly winter breeze,
Its body shivers like a tender banana leaf.
Looking like a colorful, graceful swan,
With both its cheeks glowing bright,
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
In the holy Ganga back in those days,
When young women bathed in the river,
Did Krishna stand watching on the shore?
Did he hide away their clothes in playful mischief?
In the holy Ganga back in those days,
When young women bathed in the river,
Did Krishna stand watching on the shore?
Did he hide away their clothes in playful mischief?
There is no Krishna beside me,
There is no beloved prince to hold me close,
There is no Krishna beside me,
There is no beloved prince to hold me close,
Then why has this sweet dizziness come over me?
Chorus: What is it, dear sister? Won't you tell us what it is?
Chorus: What is it, dear sister? Won't you tell us what it is?
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
It dances with joy in the chilly winter breeze,
Its body shivers like a tender banana leaf.
Looking like a colorful, graceful swan,
With both its cheeks glowing bright,
A stream of honey... and a lovely little bird in it!
Chorus: Aaho!
Female: And a lovely little bird in it!
Chorus: Oho!
Female: And a lovely little bird in it!
Chorus: Hee hmmm...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thaen Aruvi from Karathe Kamala (1978) is a sensual and playful song expressing the awakening of youthful romance in a young maiden as she bathes in a sweet river stream. She poetically compares herself to a flower-sparrow playfully fluttering in a waterfall of honey, shivering under the chill of the breeze while feeling an inner thermal glow of romantic longing. The lyrics invoke mythological motifs, referencing Lord Krishna stealing the clothes of the bathing gopis in the Ganges, while expressing her poignant yearning for her own beloved to be by her side.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Vaazhaikuruththena maeni silirkkuthu

Compares the delicate goosebumps and shivering of her body to the soft texture of tender banana shoots.

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Thaen aruvi….adhil oru poonguruvi

Metaphorically describes the sweet, pristine waterfall stream as a river flowing with honey.

Ethirai (Oxymoron/Contrast)

Thanniyo pachcha thanni / Neruppaai iruppathennadiyo

Juxtaposes the icy cold fresh water with the fiery heat of internal yearning.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Vannam konjum annam endru / Kannam rendum minnum endru

End-rhymes matching words to create a rhythmic musical cadence (annam / minnum).

Did you know?

Trivia

Karathe Kamala (1978) is a Tamil action drama film starring Asokan and Jayan. The soundtrack composed by Shankar-Ganesh features this iconic track sung by legendary playback singer P. Susheela, written by acclaimed poet Pulamaipithan.

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