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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillaiyile Sabapathi

From Aayiram Poi · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Aayiram Poi
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
15 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaar
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaar
Paaththiraththai maattri vittaal
Paalin niram maarumaa
Paaththiraththai maattri vittaal
Paalin niram maarumaa
Pakkai maattrinaal
Potta naakkum maarumaa
Pakkai maattrinaal
Potta naakkum maarumaa
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaar
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaar
Velanukkum muruganukkum
Valli ondruthaan
Avan vedanaaga maarumpothum
Ullam ondruthaan
Oorum perum maarumpothu
Uruvam maarumaa
Aadai maarinaal
Potta aalum maarumaa
Aadai maarinaal
Potta aalum maarumaa
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaar
Rendu pakkam koormaiyulla
Kaththiyyum undu
Engum eppozhuthum samaalikkum
Puththiyum undu
Pulik kugaiyil maan pidikkum
Sakthiyum undu
Kadhalan vesham ellaam kadhalin mogam
Kadhalan vesham ellaam kadhalin mogam
Thillaiyilae sabapathi
Chidambaraththil kanagasabai
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaar
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
he danced, and here a man changed his disguise!
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
he danced, and here a man changed his disguise!
If you change the vessel,
will the color of the milk change?
If you change the vessel,
will the color of the milk change?
If you shift the betel quid to the other cheek,
does the tongue holding it change?
If you shift the betel quid to the other cheek,
does the tongue holding it change?
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
you danced, and a man changed his disguise!
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
he danced, and here a man changed his disguise!
Whether called Velan or Murugan,
Valli is his one and only.
Even when he disguises as a hunter,
his heart remains the very same.
When the town and the name change,
does the person inside change?
If the clothes change,
does the person wearing them change?
If the clothes change,
does the person wearing them change?
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
you danced, and a man changed his disguise!
There is a knife
that is sharp on both edges,
and the sharp wit to handle anything,
anywhere, at any time!
There is even the daring power
to catch a deer inside a tiger's den!
All of a lover's disguises are just the passion of love!
All of a lover's disguises are just the passion of love!
In Thillai stands Sabapathi (Lord Shiva),
on the golden stage of Chidambaram—
you danced, and a man changed his disguise!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song playfully uses philosophical and mythological analogies to state that a person's core identity and feelings remain unchanged regardless of external disguises or altered appearances. Drawing parallels to Lord Shiva changing forms during his cosmic dance and Lord Murugan disguising himself as a hunter to woo Valli, the lyricist highlights that changing attire or titles does not change the human soul underneath, just as changing a vessel does not alter the color of milk. In the context of the movie's plot, the heroine teasingly sees through her lover's disguise, acknowledging his sharp wit and capability while expressing that all his antics stem from genuine love and devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Analogy (Uvamai)

Paaththiraththai maattri vittaal paalin niram maarumaa

Compares changing outward clothes/disguises to changing a milk container, emphasizing that the intrinsic nature (milk's color) remains unaltered.

Mythological Allusion (Puraana Uvamai)

Velanukkum muruganukkum Valli ondruthaan / Avan vedanaaga maarumpothum

References Lord Murugan taking on a hunter's disguise (Vedan) to approach Valli, drawing a parallel to disguise in love.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaththiyyum undu / Puththiyum undu / Sakthiyum undu

The lines end with identical rhyming suffixes ('undu'), creating rhythmic symmetry.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Aadai maarinaal potta aalum maarumaa

Uses questions that carry self-evident answers to emphasize that external changes do not affect reality.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aayiram Poi' (1969) was directed by Muktha Srinivasan and starred Jaishankar and Vanisri. The film's title comes from the famous Tamil proverb 'Aayiram Poi Solli Oru Kalyaanam Pannu' (A thousand lies can be told to arrange a marriage). Lyricist Kannadasan cleverly tailored this song to fit the film's comedic narrative revolving around mistaken identities and disguises.

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