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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
Movie name
Veli Thaandiya Vellaadu
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
18 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Tholin azhagadiyo thulli varum udaladiyoo
Paal pola mugamadiyoo paruvamennum sugamadiyoo
Naalum izhandha pinnae naan irukkum nilaiyadiyoo
Nadamaadum thimirgalukku naayaganin kalaiyadiyooo
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaal
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennae
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaal
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennae
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Sathiyam vittadhu vaazhkaiyilae
Adhu dharmam maranthathu aasaiyilae
Sathiyam vittadhu vaazhkaiyilae
Adhu dharmam maranthathu aasaiyilae
Athanaiyum indru thathuvamaanathu
Aandavanaar thantha maeniyilae
Athanaiyum indru thathuvamaanathu
Aandavanaar thantha maeniyilae
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaal
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennae
Aaru kulangalil neendhumadi
Idhu aanandham endradhai koorumadi
Aaru kulangalil neendhumadi
Idhu aanandham endradhai koorumadi
Nooru kulangalil neendhiyapin
Adhu noiyarum aattril kulikkudhadi
Nooru kulangalil neendhiyapin
Adhu noiyarum aattril kulikkudhadi
Hahahah hahahaha
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Achamillaamalae odiyadhaal
Indru ambalam yerudhu vaazhai pennae
Pachai vayalinil vaazhai pennae
Oru paravai paranthathu vaazhai pennae
Mangalam vittadhu kungumam vittadhu
Manjalum vittadhadi
Mangalam vittadhu kungumam vittadhu
Manjalum vittadhadi
Adhu maanamum vittadhu gnyaanamum vittadhu
Vaazhvaiyum vittadhadi
Konja vayadhinil konji magizhndhadhu
Kolam izhanthadhadi
Konja vayadhinil konji magizhndhadhu
Kolam izhanthadhadi
Indru koyilin vaasalil nindradhadi
Oru kolgai illadhapadi
Indru koyilin vaasalil nindradhadi
Oru kolgai illadhapadi
Thaali irukkindra thaarangalukku
Oru sathiyam undadiyoo
Kula tharmam maranthaval veedhikku vanthathum
Thathuvam thaanadiyoo
Idhu veliyai thaandiya velladu
Ini ver idam yedhadiyoo
Idhu veliyai thaandiya velladu
Ini ver idam yedhadiyoo
Adi vellai manam konda
Thozhi en paadhaiyai ullathil vaiyadiyoo
Adi vellai manam konda
Thozhi en paadhaiyai ullathil vaiyadiyoo
Kattazhagu ethanai naal vaazhai pennae
Adhu kadavulukku thaan theriyum vazhai pennae
Kattazhagu ethanai naal vaazhai pennae
Adhu kadavulukku thaan theriyum vazhai pennae
Kattaiyavan oruvanukku vaazhkkai pattaal aaa…aa
Kattaiyavan oruvanukku vaazhkkai pattaal
Andha kadavulaiyum vendridalaam vaazhai pennae
Ippozhudhu purigiradhu vaazhai pennae
Kannil yedhyedho therigirathu vaazhai pennae
Appozhudhu rathathilae aarpattam irunthathadi
Appozhudhu rathathilae aarpattam irunthathadi
Adutha kadhai puriyavillai vaazhai pennaae
Ketta pinbu gnyaanam varum vaazhai pennae
Naanum pattanathaar aagivitten vaazhai pennae
Ketta pinbu gnyaanam varum vaazhai pennae
Naanum pattanathaar aagivitten vaazhai pennae
Vittu vida pogudhu uyir vitta pinnae neeyirundhu
Suttu vida vendumadi vaazhai pennae
Suttu vida vendumadi vaazhai pennae
Look at the beauty of the shoulders, the bouncing body!
A face fair as milk, and the sweet pleasure of youth!
Look at the state I am in, after losing everything day by day!
This is the Lord's craft to humble walking arrogance, oh!
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
Because it ran away without any fear,
Today it stands exposed in public shame, oh tender girl.
Because it ran away without any fear,
Today it stands exposed in public shame, oh tender girl.
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
It abandoned truth in life,
It forgot moral duty in the grip of desire.
It abandoned truth in life,
It forgot moral duty in the grip of desire.
All of that has turned into a life lesson today,
In this body given by the Lord.
All of that has turned into a life lesson today,
In this body given by the Lord.
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
Because it ran away without any fear,
Today it stands exposed in public shame, oh tender girl.
It swims around in rivers and ponds,
And calls it sheer delight!
It swims around in rivers and ponds,
And calls it sheer delight!
After swimming in a hundred ponds,
It now bathes in a holy river to wash away its sickness!
After swimming in a hundred ponds,
It now bathes in a holy river to wash away its sickness!
Hahaha hahahaha
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
Because it ran away without any fear,
Today it stands exposed in public shame, oh tender girl.
In the lush green field, oh tender girl,
A bird flew away, oh tender girl.
Auspiciousness is gone, the red dot is gone,
Even the sacred yellow turmeric is gone!
Auspiciousness is gone, the red dot is gone,
Even the sacred yellow turmeric is gone!
It lost its self-respect and its wisdom,
And gave up life itself!
What playfully rejoiced in tender youth,
Has lost all its beauty and grace!
What playfully rejoiced in tender youth,
Has lost all its beauty and grace!
Today it stands at the temple doorway,
Without any purpose or aim!
Today it stands at the temple doorway,
Without any purpose or aim!
For lawful wives who wear the sacred thali,
There is a sacred vow, you know!
A woman who forgets family honor and ends up on the streets,
Becomes a bitter truth of life, you see!
This is a goat that jumped over the fence,
Where else can it find a place now?
This is a goat that jumped over the fence,
Where else can it find a place now?
Oh, my pure-hearted
Friend, keep my path in mind as a warning!
Oh, my pure-hearted
Friend, keep my path in mind as a warning!
How long does youthful beauty last, oh tender girl?
Only God knows that, oh tender girl!
How long does youthful beauty last, oh tender girl?
Only God knows that, oh tender girl!
If you are married to one lawful husband, ah...
If you are married to one lawful husband,
You can even win over God, oh tender girl!
Now I understand it, oh tender girl,
Strange visions appear before my eyes, oh tender girl!
Back then, there was a restless rush in my blood,
Back then, there was a restless rush in my blood,
I did not foresee what would happen next, oh tender girl.
Wisdom comes only after ruin, oh tender girl,
Even I have become a renunciant like Pattinathar (Tamil ascetic poet), oh tender girl!
Wisdom comes only after ruin, oh tender girl,
Even I have become a renunciant like Pattinathar (Tamil ascetic poet), oh tender girl!
My breath is about to leave; once life departs and you remain,
You must cremate my body, oh tender girl!
You must cremate my body, oh tender girl!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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