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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thumbaipoo Mugathil Thulasi

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
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Female
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Kuvalai poo oliyil kunguma similgalIn the light of the water lily, kumkum caskets,
Kungumasimilil kurunagai kodiIn the kumkum casket, a creeping subtle smile,
Kurunagai kodi oru nagai koodiA creeping smile that multiplies joy,
Oru nagai koodi unnidhazh thaedumMultiplying joy, it seeks your lips.
Aaa….aaaa….aaa…aa…aa…aa…Aaa....aaaa....aaa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Female
Thaazhampoo kaiyil sengaandhal viralgalIn hands delicate like screwpine flowers, fingers like red flame lilies,
Sengaandhal viralalil siru mullai nagangalOn those flame lily fingers, nails like small jasmine buds,
Siru mullai nagathil sevvandhi pookkalIn those small jasmine nails, chrysanthemum flowers bloom,
Sevvandhi poovil senthaen suvai thaanIn the chrysanthemum flower, there is the taste of pure honey,
Senthaenin suvai thaan seeraana suvai thaanThe taste of pure honey is indeed a fine, balanced taste,
Senthaenin suvai thaan seeraana suvai thaanThe taste of pure honey is indeed a fine, balanced taste,
Maaradha inbathai tharugindra suvai thaanIt is a taste that bestows unchanging bliss.
Female
Thumbai pooThumbai flower...
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Kuvalai poo oliyil kunguma similgalIn the light of the water lily, kumkum caskets,
Kungumasimilil kurunagai kodiIn the kumkum casket, a creeping subtle smile,
Kurunagai kodi oru nagai koodiA creeping smile that multiplies joy,
Oru nagai koodi unnidhazh thaedumMultiplying joy, it seeks your lips.
Aaa….aaaa….aaa…aa…aa…aa…Aaa....aaaa....aaa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Female
Eerullam kalandha illathil pugunthomWe entered a home where two loving hearts united,
Illathil pugunthu inbathil midhanthomEntering the home, we floated in bliss,
Inbathil midhanthu un varavai kandomFloating in bliss, we saw your arrival,
Un varavai kandu ullaasam kondomSeeing your arrival, we rejoiced in delight,
Ullasam kondu uruvathai kandomRejoicing in delight, we beheld your form,
Ullasam kondu uruvathai kandomRejoicing in delight, we beheld your form,
Uruvathai kandu ulagathai maranthomBeholding your form, we forgot the entire world.
Female
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers,
Kuvalai poo oliyil kunguma similgalIn the light of the water lily, kumkum caskets,
Kungumasimilil kurunagai kodiIn the kumkum casket, a creeping subtle smile,
Kurunagai kodi oru nagai koodiA creeping smile that multiplies joy,
Oru nagai koodi unnidhazh thaedumMultiplying joy, it seeks your lips.
Aaa….aaaa….aaa…aa…aa…aa…Aaa....aaaa....aaa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Thumbai poo mugathilIn the face pure like a Thumbai flower,
Thulasi poo vizhigalEyes like sacred Tulsi blossoms,
Thulasi poo vizhiyil kuvalai poo oligalIn those Tulsi-like eyes, the radiance of blue water lily flowers.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic song penned by Kannadasan uses intricate floral imagery to describe the beauty of a beloved woman and the profound joy brought by love and family life. The lyrics compare every feature—the face, eyes, hands, fingers, and nails—to various sacred and fragrant flowers such as Thumbai, Thulasi, Kuvalai, Thaazhampoo, Sengaandhal, Mullai, and Sevvandhi, culminating in a taste sweeter than pure honey. In the final stanza, the theme expands to domestic bliss and the arrival of new life or a beloved guest. Two loving hearts unite to create a joyful home where the presence of the beloved leads to an enchanting state of happiness so deep that the outside world is completely forgotten.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Andhadhi (Chain Linking / Anadiplosis)

Kungumasimilil kurunagai kodi / Kurunagai kodi oru nagai koodi

The poet ends each line with a word or phrase and begins the subsequent line with the exact same phrase, creating a cascading, interlocking musical rhythm.

Uvamai (Metaphor and Floral Simile)

Thaazhampoo kaiyil sengaandhal viralgal

Extensive use of flower metaphors comparing physical attributes to specific native blooms (Thumbai for purity, Thulasi for sacredness, Kuvalai for radiance, Sengaandhal for delicate fingers).

Emona / Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Illathil pugunthu inbathil midhanthom

Consonance in the second letter across consecutive lines (e.g., 'Eerullam', 'Illathil', 'Inbathil').

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Trivia

The lyricist Kannadasan employs classical Sangam literary conventions (Thinnai / Pookkal symbolism) where specific flowers symbolize different aspects of beauty, purity, and emotion. The 'Andhadhi' structure used throughout the song is an ancient Tamil poetic technique most famous in devotional literature like Abhirami Andhadhi.

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