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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillaiyile Sabapathi

From Aayiram Poi · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Aayiram Poi1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaarOne person danced and altered his appearance
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaarOne person danced and altered his appearance
Female
Paaththiraththai maattri vittaalIf you change the container
Paalin niram maarumaaWill the color of the milk change?
Paaththiraththai maattri vittaalIf you change the container
Paalin niram maarumaaWill the color of the milk change?
Female
Pakkai maattrinaalIf you flip the page over
Potta naakkum maarumaaWill the imprint made upon it change?
Pakkai maattrinaalIf you flip the page over
Potta naakkum maarumaaWill the imprint made upon it change?
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaarYou danced and one person altered his appearance
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaar oruvar uruvam maarinaarOne person danced and altered his appearance
Female
Velanukkum muruganukkumFor both Velan and Murugan
Valli ondruthaanValli is just the one and same
Avan vedanaaga maarumpothumEven when he transforms into a hunter
Ullam ondruthaanHis heart remains the exact same
Female
Oorum perum maarumpothuWhen the town and name change
Uruvam maarumaaDoes the true form ever change?
Aadai maarinaalIf the attire changes
Potta aalum maarumaaDoes the person wearing it change?
Aadai maarinaalIf the attire changes
Potta aalum maarumaaDoes the person wearing it change?
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaarYou danced and one person altered his appearance
Female
Rendu pakkam koormaiyullaSharp on both sides
Kaththiyyum unduThere is a double-edged sword
Engum eppozhuthum samaalikkumTo handle any situation anywhere and anytime
Puththiyum unduThere is also the intellect
Female
Pulik kugaiyil maan pidikkumTo catch a deer inside a tiger's cave
Sakthiyum unduThere is also the capability
Kadhalan vesham ellaam kadhalin mogamEvery lover's disguise is born out of love's passion
Kadhalan vesham ellaam kadhalin mogamEvery lover's disguise is born out of love's passion
Female
Thillaiyilae sabapathiThe Lord of Dance in Thillai
Chidambaraththil kanagasabaiIn the Golden Hall of Chidambaram
Nadamaadinaai oruvar uruvam maarinaarYou danced and one person altered his appearance

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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