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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Therodum Veedhiyile

From Gumasthavin Magal · 1974

Lyricist
Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name
Gumasthavin Magal
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
2 Aug 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen
Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen
Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa
Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa
Amma…..nerupaaga kothithathammaa
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu
Ulagaththai kaatti vittu
Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu
Ulagaththai kaatti vittu
Oomaiyaai po endraal
Ullam enna aagumammaa
Oomaiyaai po endraal
Ullam enna aagumammaa
Ullam enna aagumammaa
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa
Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa
Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
I waited on the street where the chariot rolls, hoping for a sight of God,
even though the chariot arrived,
the deity was not there, mother.
I waited on the street where the chariot rolls, hoping for a sight of God,
even though the chariot arrived,
the deity was not there, mother.
The deity was not there, mother.
I went to bathe in the flowing river,
I went to bathe in the flowing river,
but the moment I bathed, it boiled like fire, mother.
The moment I bathed, it boiled like fire, mother.
Oh mother... it boiled like fire, mother.
I waited on the street where the chariot rolls, hoping for a sight of God,
even though the chariot arrived,
the deity was not there, mother.
The deity was not there, mother.
After making a mute person speak
and showing them the world,
after making a mute person speak
and showing them the world,
if you tell them to go back to being mute,
what will become of that heart, mother?
If you tell them to go back to being mute,
what will become of that heart, mother?
What will become of that heart, mother?
I waited on the street where the chariot rolls, hoping for a sight of God,
even though the chariot arrived,
the deity was not there, mother.
The deity was not there, mother.
A thousand dreams turned into an illusion and faded away, mother.
A thousand dreams turned into an illusion and faded away, mother.
Even a painting that was never meant to fade
has dissolved in my tears, mother.
Even a painting that was never meant to fade
has dissolved in my tears, mother.
Has dissolved in my tears, mother.
I waited on the street where the chariot rolls, hoping for a sight of God,
even though the chariot arrived,
the deity was not there, mother.
The deity was not there, mother.
Female
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Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses deep sorrow, disappointment, and existential angst over shattered expectations and lost hope. The protagonist uses powerful imagery to portray emotional betrayal: arriving for worship only to find the god missing from the chariot, entering a refreshing river only to feel it scalding like fire, and gaining a voice only to be silenced again. The emotional arc culminates in grieving over dreams that crumbled and an indelible image dissolving away in a flood of tears. Written with profound poetic pathos by Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam, the song captures the pain of life turning unexpectedly cruel despite doing everything right. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan's composition and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi's soulful singing elevate the grief to a poignant artistic expression.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Imagery

“Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa”

Comparing cooling river water to scalding fire ('Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa') highlights intense internal trauma where comforting things feel painful.

Metaphor

“Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum Kanneeril karainthathammaa”

Comparing cherished, permanent memories or relationships to an indelible painting that dissolves in tears ('Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum Kanneeril karainthathammaa').

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Thaerodum vedhiyilae / Neerodum nadhiyinilae”

Rhyming of second letters across corresponding lines such as 'Thaerodum' and 'Neerodum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Gumasthavin Magal' (1974) was directed by veteran filmmaker A. P. Nagarajan, based on a novel by K. T. Thirunavukkarasu. Musician Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan composed the soundtrack, giving Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi a rare solo classic outside her famous devotional repertoire.

Keep listening

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Amma Amma Sonthamillai1986
MaaveeranGriefMournful
Chithirai Maadham1970
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Muthumani Ther Irukku1994
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From the same album

More songs from Gumasthavin Magal

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Kaalam Seiyum Vilaiyaattu1974
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Ezhudhi Ezhudhi1974
Gumasthavin MagalDevotional
Ennai Paarthu Sirikiraalae1974
Gumasthavin MagalTender

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