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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirumbivaa

From Nadodi · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nadodi
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
18 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Virumbi vaa
Ennai virumbi vaa
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Virumbi vaa
Ennai virumbi vaa
Itta adi kanindhirukka
Edutha adi sivandhirukka
Patta idam kulirndhirukka
Paruva mazhai pozhindhirukka
Thirumba vaa
Arivae thirumba vaa
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Kanni vizhi thirandhirukka
Kaadhal vazhi purindhirukka
Nalla manam azhaithirukka
Naalu gunam thaduthirukka
Thirumba vaa
Arivae thirumba vaa
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Kan paduvadhil pattu thaerum
Kai thoduvadhai thottu theerum
Kan paduvadhil pattu thaerum
Kai thoduvadhai thottu theerum
Idhai veliyida manam illaamal
Un mai vizhi poi mozhi koorum
Idhai veliyida manam illaamal
Un mai vizhi poi mozhi koorum
Idhu mudhal mudhal
Sandhippaagum
Idhil eppadi vetkkam pogum
Idhu mudhal mudhal
Sandhippaagum
Idhil eppadi vetkkam pogum
Pani thuli vizhum malarendraagum
En kulir mugam kungumam aagum
Pani thuli vizhum malarendraagum
En kulir mugam kungumam aagum
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Thirumba vaa
Arivae thirumba vaa
Oru kiliyena thatthi pogum
Un kani mozhi thiththippaagum
Oru kiliyena thatthi pogum
Un kani mozhi thiththippaagum
Siru kuzhi vizhum azhaghiya kannam
Adhu madhurasam thadhumbidum kinnam
Siru kuzhi vizhum azhaghiya kannam
Adhu madhurasam thadhumbidum kinnam
Pani poigaiyil alli poovum
Adhai konjidum velli nilaavum
Pani poigaiyil alli poovum
Adhai konjidum velli nilaavum
Ila mayakkathil iruvarai saerkkum
Manam idhazhgalil iruppadhai ketkkum
Ila mayakkathil iruvarai saerkkum
Manam idhazhgalil iruppadhai ketkkum
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Thirumba vaa
Arivae thirumba vaa
Itta adi kanindhirukka
Edutha adi sivandhirukka
Patta idam kulirndhirukka
Paruva mazhai pozhindhirukka
Kanni vizhi thirandhirukka
Kaadhal vazhi purindhirukka
Nalla manam azhaithirukka
Naalu gunam thaduthirukka
Thirumba vaa
Arivae thirumba vaa
Thirumbi vaa
Oliyae thirumbi vaa
Come back
O light of my life, come back
Come with longing
Come longing for me
Come back
O light of my life, come back
Come with longing
Come longing for me
As each step placed turns soft and tender
As each step lifted turns rosy red
As every spot touched turns soothingly cool
As the seasonal rain pours down
Come back
O my wise love, come back
Come back
O light of my life, come back
As a young girl's eyes open wide
As the path of love is understood
As a gentle heart calls out
While modesty holds her back
Come back
O my wise love, come back
Come back
O light of my life, come back
The eyes will learn from all they see
The hands will touch all they desire
The eyes will learn from all they see
The hands will touch all they desire
Unwilling to confess this in words
Your kohl-lined eyes tell a lie
Unwilling to confess this in words
Your kohl-lined eyes tell a lie
This is our very first
Time meeting each other
How can shyness simply fade away?
This is our very first
Time meeting each other
How can shyness simply fade away?
Like a flower touched by morning dew
My cool face will blush rosy red
Like a flower touched by morning dew
My cool face will blush rosy red
Come back
O light of my life, come back
Come back
O my wise love, come back
Flitting along like a little parrot
Your sweet words taste so delightful
Flitting along like a little parrot
Your sweet words taste so delightful
That lovely cheek with a little dimple
Is a cup brimming with sweet nectar
That lovely cheek with a little dimple
Is a cup brimming with sweet nectar
The water lily in the cool pond
And the silver moon caressing it
The water lily in the cool pond
And the silver moon caressing it
Will bring the two together in sweet romance
And the heart will ask for what is on the lips
Will bring the two together in sweet romance
And the heart will ask for what is on the lips
Come back
O light of my life, come back
Come back
O my wise love, come back
As each step placed turns soft and tender
As each step lifted turns rosy red
As every spot touched turns soothingly cool
As the seasonal rain pours down
As a young girl's eyes open wide
As the path of love is understood
As a gentle heart calls out
While modesty holds her back
Come back
O my wise love, come back
Come back
O light of my life, come back
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thirumbi Vaa is a romantic duettish song from the 1966 film Nadodi, written by Vaali. The lyrics depict an intimate, poetic conversation between lovers navigating the hesitant joy of first love, shyness, and mutual admiration. The speaker addresses their beloved as the light ('oli') and wisdom ('arivu') of their life, urging them to return to their loving embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Refrain

Thirumbi vaa / Oliyae thirumbi vaa

Repetition of the phrases 'Thirumbi vaa' and 'Arivae thirumba vaa' creates a rhythmic cadence and highlights the emotional longing.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Adhu madhurasam thadhumbidum kinnam

Addressing the beloved directly as 'Oli' (Light) and 'Arivu' (Wisdom/Intellect), comparing their cheeks to a cup filled with nectar.

Simile (Uwamai)

Oru kiliyena thatthi pogum

Comparing the heroine's delicate movements to a hopping parrot ('Oru kiliyena thatthi pogum').

Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Itta adi kanindhirukka / Edutha adi sivandhirukka

Use of matching internal rhyme and initial consonant patterns typical of classical Tamil songwriting (e.g., Itta / Edutha / Patta / Paruva).

Did you know?

Trivia

Nadodi (1966) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi in lead roles. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and this song features iconic romantic imagery characteristic of Lyricist Vaali's 1960s collaborations with MGR.

Keep listening

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