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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Udai Oodu Pirakkavillai

From Nammavar · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha
Music director
Mahesh Mahadevan
Details
Nammavar1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Udaiyodu pirakkavillaiWe were not born with clothes,
Unarvodu pirandhu vittomWe were born with raw feelings.
Vaazhvin thaevaiyaiFor the necessities of life,
Vaazhndhu poga vandhomWe came to live and pass through.
Female
Udaiyodu pirakkavillaiWe were not born with clothes,
Unarvodu pirandhu vittomWe were born with raw feelings.
Male
Vaadi poongodiCome, soft flowering creeper,
Bramman padaippilIn Brahma's creation,
Endhan pangu neeyadiYou are my allotted share, my girl.
Un pangu adhu naan thaanaeAm I not your share as well?
Vaa thozhiCome, my female companion.
Female
Aahaa manmadhaaAha, Lord of Love (Manmatha)!
Ratham sadhaiyilIn flesh and blood,
Ithanai sorgam ulladhaaIs there so much paradise?
Aan pennin indha thaedal thaanThis search between man and woman,
TheeraadhaaWill it never end?
Female
Udaiyodu pirakkavillaiWe were not born with clothes,
Unarvodu pirandhu vittomWe were born with raw feelings.
Female
Kanden kaadhalaaI found you, my lover,
Ingae mattum thunbam kooda inbamaeHere alone, even sorrow becomes bliss.
Indrodu uyir ponaalumEven if life departs today,
VaazhvomaeWe shall live forever!
Male
Vaa vaa mullaiyaeCome, come, my jasmine blossom,
Saavai vellum sangathiA thing that conquers death,
Idhu pol illaiyaeThere is nothing quite like this.
Nooraandu ennai nee vaazhaYou made me live for
VaithaaiyaeA hundred years!
Male
Idaiyodu thoduvadharkkuTo touch around the waist,
Female :Aaahaaa….Female: Ah...
Male :Idaikkaala thadai edharkkuMale: Why this temporary barrier?
Idhu paadhi velai thaanThis is only half the work done,
Female :Aaa….haaa…aa…Female: Ah...
Male :Ini meedhi naalai thaanMale: The rest is for tomorrow!
Female :Aaa….haaa..hmm mmm mmFemale: Ah... hmm...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sensual duet from Nammavar (1994) explores intimacy through a philosophical lens. The opening lines emphasize that human beings are born unclothed and defined purely by raw emotions and natural instincts rather than societal constructs. The lovers describe their physical and emotional union as a divine gift created by Brahma, where intimacy acts as a powerful transcendent force capable of conquering pain and even death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monnai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Udaiyodu pirakkavillai / Unarvodu pirandhu vittom

Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('U') in adjacent lines 'Udaiyodu' and 'Unarvodu'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaadi poongodi

Addressing the female partner as 'poongodi' (flowering creeper) and 'mullaiyae' (jasmine flower), comparing her elegance to nature.

Rhetorical Question

Ratham sadhaiyil / Ithanai sorgam ulladhaa

Expressing intense delight by questioning whether such heavenly pleasure can exist within mortal flesh and blood.

Wordplay / Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Idaiyodu thoduvadharkku / Idaikkaala thadai edharkku

Clever phonetic coupling between 'Idaiyodu' (waist) and 'Idaikkaala' (interim/temporary).

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack of 'Nammavar' was composed by Mahesh, a close friend and collaborator of Kamal Haasan. Despite Mahesh suffering from severe health challenges, his work on Nammavar was critically lauded and earned a National Film Award for Special Mention.

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