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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenpandi Thamizhe

From Paasa Paravaigal · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paasa Paravaigal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Isai paadum oru kaaviyamAn epic that sings music,
Idhu ravi varmavin oviyamThis is a painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Paasam enum aalayamA temple of affection,
Unai paada vendum aayiramA thousand songs must sing of you.
Male
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Female
Vaazhthi unnai paadavaeTo sing praising you,
Vaarthai thondravillaiyaeWords fail to emerge.
Male :Paarthu paarthu kannilaeMale: Looking at you constantly with my eyes,
Paasam maara villaiyaeMy affection never wanes.
Female
Anbu enum koondilaeInside the cage of love,
Aadi paadum poonguyilA flowering cuckoo that dances and sings,
Aasai dheepam yettruthaeIt lights the lamp of desire,
Annan unnai pottruthaeYour elder brother praises you.
Male
Thaavi vandha pillaiyaeO child who came leaping,
Thaayai paarthathu illaiyeYou haven't seen your mother.
Thaavi vandha pillaiyaeO child who came leaping,
Thaayai paarthathu illaiyaeYou haven't seen your mother.
Female
Thaayai pola paarkkirenI look at you like a mother would,
Veru paarvai illaiyaeI have no other gaze.
Male :Manjalodu kungumam konduMale: With turmeric and vermilion,
Vaazha vendumaeMay you live long.
Nee endrum vaazha vendumaeMay you forever live long.
Female
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Isai paadum oru kaaviyamAn epic that sings music,
Idhu ravi varmavin oviyamThis is a painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Paasam enum aalayamA temple of affection,
Unai paada vendum aayiramA thousand songs must sing of you.
Female
Thenpaandi thamizhae en singaara kuyilaeO Southern Pandian Tamil, my beautiful cuckoo bird!
Chorus
Aahhhaaa..aaaahaaa..Aahhhaaa..aaaahaaa..
Male
Dhegam veru aagalaamBodies may be separate,
Jeevan ondru thaan ammaBut the soul is one, my dear.
Anbu kondu paadidumSinging with love,
Annan ennai parammaLook at me, your elder brother.
Female
Kovil thevai illaiyaeA temple is not needed,
Neril vantha kovilaeYou are a temple standing right in front of me.
Paadum enthan paavilaeIn my song that sings,
Naalum vaazhum dhevanaeYou are the deity who lives every day.
Male
Koodu vaazhum kuruvigalSparrows living in a nest,
Paadum paasa paravaigalAffectionate birds that sing.
Female
Koodu vaazhum kuruvigalSparrows living in a nest,
Paadum paasa paravaigalAffectionate birds that sing.
Male
Vaazhthuven unai potruvenI will bless you and praise you,
Vaazhvellaam unai yetruvenI will cherish you all my life.
Female :Kaalam kaalam yaavilumFemale: Across all times,
Sernthu vaazha vendumaeWe must live together.
Naam sernthu vaazha vendumaeWe must live together.
Male
Thenpaandi thamizhae…Female :En singaara kuyilaeThenpaandi Tamil... Female: My beautiful cuckoo bird!
Male :Thenpaandi thamizhae…Female :En singaara kuyilaeMale: Thenpaandi Tamil... Female: My beautiful cuckoo bird!
Female
Isai paadum oru kaaviyamAn epic that sings music,
Idhu ravi varmavin oviyamThis is a painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Male : Paasam enum aalayamMale: A temple of affection,
Unai paada vendum aayiramUnai paada vendum aayiram
Female
Thenpaandi thamizhae…Male :En singaara kuyilaeThenpaandi Tamil... Male: My beautiful cuckoo bird!
Female :Thenpaandi thamizhae…Male :En singaara kuyilaeFemale: Thenpaandi Tamil... Male: My beautiful cuckoo bird!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thenpaandi Thamizhae is an emotional duet celebrating the pure, selfless bond between siblings. The elder brother expresses deep maternal affection towards his sister, who lost her mother at a young age. He vows to protect her and compares her beauty and innocence to a classic masterpiece painting by Raja Ravi Varma and sweet Southern Pandian Tamil poetry. He reassures her that although their physical bodies are distinct, their souls remain bound together as one. The sister responds with equal reverence and devotion, wishing for their familial harmony to persist through time. The song vividly portrays familial devotion, unconditional love, and sacrifice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupaka)

Isai paadum oru kaaviyam / Idhu ravi varmavin oviyam

Compares the beloved sister directly to a painting by Raja Ravi Varma and a musical epic to emphasize her rare beauty and purity.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Paasam enum aalayam

Describes love and affection as a sacred temple.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thaavi vandha pillaiyae / Thaayai paarthathu illaiyae

Repetition of the initial sound 'Tha' across consecutive lines.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Koodu vaazhum kuruvigal / Paadum paasa paravaigal

Matching of the second consonant 'oo' sound in consecutive lines ('Koodu' and 'Paadum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context mentions unknown music and singers, this famous track from Paasa Paravaigal (1988) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K.J. Yesudas and K.S. Chithra. The lyrics were written by Gangai Amaran. The film stars Sivakumar, Radhika, and Mohan.

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