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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Udal Uruga Ulam Uruga

From Meera (1945) Film · 1945

Lyricist
Parthi Bhaskar
Singer
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Meera (1945) Film1945

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Udal uruga ulam urugaAs my body melts and my heart melts
Oonellaam nekkuruga… aaa….aaa….aaa…..As my entire flesh softens and melts... ah... ah... ah...
Kuzhaloodhi isai paadiPlaying music on your flute
Enaithaedi vandhu…Searching for me, you came...
Kadal vanna thirumaeniShowing your sacred body coloured like the ocean
Ezhirkolam kaattiDisplaying your beautiful form
Kanavinilae enai manandha kannaa…Oh Krishna, who married me in my dream...
Aa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
En giridharanaeOh my Giridhara
Kanavinilae enai manandha kannaaOh Krishna, who married me in my dream
Kanavinilae enai manandha kannaaOh Krishna, who married me in my dream
GiridharanaeOh Giridhara
Female
Padamudiyaa thuyaram indhaThis unbearable sorrow
Paedhai padavilaiyoDid this innocent maiden not endure it?
Padamudiyaa thuyaram indhaThis unbearable sorrow
Paedhai padavilaiyoDid this innocent maiden not endure it?
Paavi uyir un pirivaalBecause of separation from you, my miserable soul
Thaeivadharindhilaiyo…ooo…hooo…Do you not know that it is fading away?... oh... ho...
Female
Idar kadalil meeraavaiLeaving Meera in an ocean of distress
Thavikkavittae…ae…hae…hae…Left to suffer... ah... ha... ha...
Idar kadalil meeraavaiLeaving Meera in an ocean of distress
Thavikkavittae…ae…ae…hae…Left to suffer... ah... ah... ha...
Meeraavai thavikkavittae…Leaving Meera struggling endlessly...
Ae…ae…hae…hae…Ah... ah... ha... ha...
Indru engu sendraai ennarasaeWhere did you go today, my king?
Engu sendraai ennarasaeWhere did you go, my king?
Ennarasae ennarasaeMy king, my king
Engu maraindhanaiyo…hoo ooo hooWhere did you hide yourself?... ho... ooo... ho...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional composition from the 1945 film 'Meera' expresses Saint Meera's agonizing longing and ecstatic devotion for Lord Krishna (Giridhara). She reminisces about the divine vision where Krishna arrived playing his flute, displayed his captivating ocean-complexioned form, and united with her in a dream. Transitioning from blissful recollection to painful reality, Meera laments the deep distress of her current separation from him. She describes herself as drowned in an ocean of sorrow and questions where her divine king has vanished, desperately pleading for his presence to rescue her fading spirit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Urvagam)

Idar kadalil meeraavai

'Idar kadal' (ocean of distress) compares the immense, boundless nature of her grief and suffering to a vast sea.

Imagery (Visual and Auditory)

Kuzhaloodhi isai paadi / Kadal vanna thirumaeni

Creates vivid visual sensory details ('Kadal vanna thirumaeni' - ocean-hued sacred body) alongside auditory imagery ('Kuzhaloodhi isai paadi' - playing music on the flute).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Udal uruga ulam uruga

The repetition of initial sounds/vowels across words in a line ('Udal', 'ulam') creating rhythmic internal harmony.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Ennarasae ennarasae

Repetition of emotional epithets and questions ('Ennarasae ennarasae', 'Kanavinilae enai manandha kannaa') to emphasize intensity of emotion and devotional grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song was performed by the legendary Carnatic music exponent M. S. Subbulakshmi, who also portrayed the title role of Saint Meera in the 1945 Tamil movie 'Meera' (directed by Ellis R. Dungan with music scored by S. V. Venkatraman). The movie's immense success led to a 1947 Hindi remake, which launched M. S. Subbulakshmi to national prominence.

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