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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Theriyuma Theriyuma

From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
A. M. Raja
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Pasamum Nesamum
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Theriyuma theriyuma
Punnagai seidhaen
Mottu pola vaai thirandhu
Sittu pola vaarthai solli
Vittu pona saedhiyenna theriyuma
Theriyuma theriyuma
Punnagai seidhaen
Poovai pola irukkiraal
Pottu pola nadakkiraal
Poovai pola irukkiraal
Pottu pola nadakkiraal
Kuzhndhai pola sirikkiraal
Kurumbhu paarvai paarkkiraal
Theriyuma theriyuma
Muthu muthu rathinam
Mogha vanna sithiram
Muthu muthu rathinam
Mogha vanna sithiram
Pattu pola maeniyil
Katti veitha kaaviyam
Theriyuma theriyuma
Kalangamattra ooviyam
Kann niraindha oviyam
Kalangamattra ooviyam
Kann niraindha oviyam
Paarthu paarthu ezhudhinaal
Parisu vangum oviyam
Theriyuma theriyuma
Do you know? Do you know?
I smiled!
Opening her lips like a flower bud,
Speaking words like a sweet little bird,
Do you know the message she left behind?
Do you know? Do you know?
I smiled!
She is gentle like a flower,
She walks with dainty, graceful steps,
She is gentle like a flower,
She walks with dainty, graceful steps,
She laughs like an innocent child,
She casts a playful glance,
Do you know? Do you know?
A treasure of pearls and gems,
A colorful portrait of romance,
A treasure of pearls and gems,
A colorful portrait of romance,
In a body soft as silk,
She is an epic poem brought to life,
Do you know? Do you know?
A pure and flawless painting,
A painting that fills the eyes with joy,
A pure and flawless painting,
A painting that fills the eyes with joy,
If painted while gazing closely at her,
It is a masterpiece that wins a prize,
Do you know? Do you know?
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this classic song from the 1964 film Pasamum Nesamum, the protagonist fondly reminisces and praises the innocent charm and radiant beauty of his beloved. He compares her delicate expressions to a flower bud opening, her chirping words to a little bird, her smile to that of an innocent child, and her entire physical being to a prize-winning, flawless masterpiece crafted on silk. Penned by Kannadasan and rendered by A. M. Raja to S. Vedhachalam's composition, the song effectively conveys the joyful euphoria of love through rhythmic praise, captivating imagery, and repeated rhetorical inquiries of 'Theriyuma' (Do you know?).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mottu pola vaai thirandhu / Sittu pola vaarthai solli

Compares her mouth opening to a flower bud ('Mottu pola') and her speech to a bird chirping ('Sittu pola').

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

Theriyuma theriyuma

The rhetorical phrase 'Theriyuma theriyuma' ('Do you know?') is repeated at the start and end of stanzas to build rhythmic engagement.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Etukai & Monai)

Muthu muthu rathinam / Mogha vanna sithiram

Matching opening sound patterns and secondary consonant harmony across lines like 'Muthu muthu' and 'Mogha vanna'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Katti veitha kaaviyam / Parisu vangum oviyam

Directly framing the beloved's frame as a bound epic poem ('kaaviyam') and a award-winning portrait ('parisu vangum oviyam').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Pasamum Nesamum (1964) featured music composed by S. Vedhachalam, with lyrics by the legendary poet Kaviarasu Kannadasan and vocals by the famed playback singer A. M. Raja.

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