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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Tholin Azhagadiyo Thulli Varum

From Veli Thaandiya Vellaadu · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Veli Thaandiya Vellaadu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Tholin azhagadiyo thulli varum udaladiyooIs it the beauty of the shoulders or the bounding body, my dear?
Paal pola mugamadiyoo paruvamennum sugamadiyooIs it a milk-like face or the pleasure of youth, my dear?
Naalum izhandha pinnae naan irukkum nilaiyadiyooThis is my state after losing everything day by day, my dear,
Nadamaadum thimirgalukku naayaganin kalaiyadiyoooIt is the artwork of the Almighty for walking arrogance, my dear!
Female
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaalBecause it ran away without fear,
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennaeToday it stands exposed in public, O banana girl!
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaalBecause it ran away without fear,
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennaeToday it stands exposed in public, O banana girl!
Female
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Female
Sathiyam vittadhu vaazhkaiyilaeTruth was abandoned in life,
Adhu dharmam maranthathu aasaiyilaeIt forgot righteousness out of desire,
Sathiyam vittadhu vaazhkaiyilaeTruth was abandoned in life,
Adhu dharmam maranthathu aasaiyilaeIt forgot righteousness out of desire,
Athanaiyum indru thathuvamaanathuAll of that has now become philosophical,
Aandavanaar thantha maeniyilaeIn this body given by the Almighty,
Athanaiyum indru thathuvamaanathuAll of that has now become philosophical,
Aandavanaar thantha maeniyilaeIn this body given by the Almighty,
Female
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaalBecause it ran away without fear,
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennaeToday it stands exposed in public, O banana girl!
Female
Aaru kulangalil neendhumadiIt swims in rivers and ponds,
Idhu aanandham endradhai koorumadiAnd claims that this is true bliss,
Aaru kulangalil neendhumadiIt swims in rivers and ponds,
Idhu aanandham endradhai koorumadiAnd claims that this is true bliss,
Nooru kulangalil neendhiyapinAfter swimming in a hundred ponds,
Adhu noiyarum aattril kulikkudhadiIt bathes in a disease-curing river, my dear!
Nooru kulangalil neendhiyapinAfter swimming in a hundred ponds,
Adhu noiyarum aattril kulikkudhadiIt bathes in a disease-curing river, my dear!
Hahahah hahahahaHahahah hahahaha
Female
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaalBecause it ran away without fear,
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennaeToday it stands exposed in public, O banana girl!
Female
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennaeO banana girl in the green field,
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennaeA bird flew away, O banana girl!
Female
Mangalam vittadhu kungumam vittadhuAuspiciousness left, vermilion left,
Manjalum vittadhadiTurmeric left as well, my dear,
Mangalam vittadhu kungumam vittadhuAuspiciousness left, vermilion left,
Manjalum vittadhadiTurmeric left as well, my dear,
Adhu maanamum vittadhu gnyaanamum vittadhuHonor left, wisdom left,
Vaazhvaiyum vittadhadiLife itself left as well, my dear,
Female
Konja vayadhinil konji magizhndhadhuWhat was cherished with endearment in tender youth,
Kolam izhanthadhadiHas lost its beauty and form, my dear,
Konja vayadhinil konji magizhndhadhuWhat was cherished with endearment in tender youth,
Kolam izhanthadhadiHas lost its beauty and form, my dear,
Indru koyilin vaasalil nindradhadiToday it stands at the temple entrance, my dear,
Oru kolgai illadhapadiWithout any firm principles,
Indru koyilin vaasalil nindradhadiToday it stands at the temple entrance, my dear,
Oru kolgai illadhapadiWithout any firm principles,
Female
Thaali irukkindra thaarangalukkuFor wedded wives who wear the sacred thread,
Oru sathiyam undadiyooThere is a vow of truth, my dear!
Kula tharmam maranthaval veedhikku vanthathumWhen a woman who forgets family honor comes to the street,
Thathuvam thaanadiyooOnly philosophy remains, my dear!
Idhu veliyai thaandiya velladuThis is a white goat that crossed the fence,
Ini ver idam yedhadiyooWhere else can it go now, my dear?
Idhu veliyai thaandiya velladuThis is a white goat that crossed the fence,
Ini ver idam yedhadiyooWhere else can it go now, my dear?
Adi vellai manam kondaHey friend with a pure heart,
Thozhi en paadhaiyai ullathil vaiyadiyooKeep my path in your mind, my dear!
Adi vellai manam kondaHey friend with a pure heart,
Thozhi en paadhaiyai ullathil vaiyadiyooKeep my path in your mind, my dear!
Female
Kattazhagu ethanai naal vaazhai pennaeHow many days will striking physical beauty last, O banana girl?
Adhu kadavulukku thaan theriyum vazhai pennaeOnly God knows that, O banana girl!
Kattazhagu ethanai naal vaazhai pennaeHow many days will striking physical beauty last, O banana girl?
Adhu kadavulukku thaan theriyum vazhai pennaeOnly God knows that, O banana girl!
Kattaiyavan oruvanukku vaazhkkai pattaal aaa…aaIf married to a strong, steady man...
Kattaiyavan oruvanukku vaazhkkai pattaalIf married to a strong, steady man,
Andha kadavulaiyum vendridalaam vaazhai pennaeOne can even conquer God Himself, O banana girl!
Female
Ippozhudhu purigiradhu vaazhai pennaeNow I understand, O banana girl,
Kannil yedhyedho therigirathu vaazhai pennaeStrange things appear in my eyes now, O banana girl,
Appozhudhu rathathilae aarpattam irunthathadiBack then, there was a tumult in my blood, my dear,
Appozhudhu rathathilae aarpattam irunthathadiBack then, there was a tumult in my blood, my dear,
Adutha kadhai puriyavillai vaazhai pennaaeI did not understand the next chapter of life, O banana girl!
Female
Ketta pinbu gnyaanam varum vaazhai pennaeWisdom arrives after ruin, O banana girl,
Naanum pattanathaar aagivitten vaazhai pennaeI too have become like Pattinathar, O banana girl!
Ketta pinbu gnyaanam varum vaazhai pennaeWisdom arrives after ruin, O banana girl,
Naanum pattanathaar aagivitten vaazhai pennaeI too have become like Pattinathar, O banana girl!
Vittu vida pogudhu uyir vitta pinnae neeyirundhuLife is about to leave; once life passes away,
Suttu vida vendumadi vaazhai pennaeYou must cremate my body, O banana girl,
Suttu vida vendumadi vaazhai pennaeYou must cremate my body, O banana girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply philosophical reflection written by Kannadasan, depicting a woman who reflects on the transience of youth, beauty, and worldly pleasures after making missteps in life. By transgressing social and moral boundaries ('crossing the fence'), she lost her marital sacredness, honor, and youth, ending up destitute and standing at the temple threshold seeking spiritual solace. The lyrics contrast the temporary thrill of youthful passions with the enduring value of righteous living and traditional morality. Reminiscent of saint Pattinathar's renunciation poetry, the narrator urges her friend to learn from her mistakes, highlighting that true wisdom often arrives only after suffering, and ultimately asks for a peaceful final rite when life departs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Idhu veliyai thaandiya velladu

Comparing a strayed woman to 'Veliyai Thaandiya Velladu' (a goat that jumped over the fence), symbolizing crossing societal and moral boundaries.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Mangalam vittadhu kungumam vittadhu / Manjalum vittadhadi

Repetition of the initial 'M' consonant across words in the line ('Mangalam', 'Marking/Kungumam', 'Manjalum').

Allusion (Ilakkya Kurippu)

Naanum pattanathaar aagivitten vaazhai pennae

Referencing Saint Pattinathar, the famous Tamil ascetic poet known for renouncing wealth and worldly attachments after spiritual awakening.

Refrain / Anaphora

Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae / Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae

Repeated use of the phrase 'vaazhai pennae' at the end of lines as an apostrophe addressing a young woman.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan frequently drew inspiration from Pattinathar's philosophy of impermanence and worldly illusion (Maya) in his later spiritual songs. The metaphor 'Veli Thaandiya Velladu' became a famous idiomatic phrase in Tamil pop culture to denote someone straying beyond societal norms.

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