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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ullam Oru Kovil

From Thaali Bhagyam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thaali Bhagyam
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
7 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ullam oru kovil
Un uruvam adhil dheivam
Kangal adhan vaasal
Pennin naanam angu kaaval
Ullam oru kovil
Un uruvam adhil dheivam
Kangal adhan vaasal
Pennin naanam angu kaaval
Ullam oru kovil
Naan kulikkum nalla manjalukku
Thiru naayaganaai nee vandhaayae
Naan kulikkum nalla manjalukku
Thiru naayaganaai nee vandhaayae
Poovidhazhoram thaen eduthu
Ilam punnagaiyil nee thandhaayae
Poovidhazhoram thaen eduthu
Ilam punnagaiyil nee thandhaayae
Aanandha kadalin alai enbaen
Unnai aani ponnudal silai enbaen
Ullam oru kovil
Un uruvam adhil dheivam
Kangal adhan vaasal
Pennin naanam angu kaaval
Ullam oru kovil
Pazhagum thamizh vandha vazhiyaaven
Vanna pani idhazhaal thaen mozhiyuraippen
Pazhagum thamizh vandha vazhiyaaven
Vanna pani idhazhaal thaen mozhiyuraippen
Munnazhagodu pinnazhagai en
Manachimizhil naan adaithu vaippen
Munnazhagodu pinnazhagai en
Manachimizhil naan adaithu vaippen
Tholgalil kodi pol padarndhiruppen
Unnai sumandhu kondae
Naan nadandhiruppen
Ullam oru kovil
Un uruvam adhil dheivam
Kangal adhan vaasal
Pennin naanam angu kaaval
Ullam oru kovil
The heart is a temple,
your form inside is the deity.
The eyes are its doorway,
and a woman's shyness stands guard.
The heart is a temple,
your form inside is the deity.
The eyes are its doorway,
and a woman's shyness stands guard.
The heart is a temple.
For the holy turmeric I bathe with,
you arrived as my beloved lord.
For the holy turmeric I bathe with,
you arrived as my beloved lord.
Gathering honey from flower petals,
you gave it to me in your gentle smile.
Gathering honey from flower petals,
you gave it to me in your gentle smile.
I will call you a wave on the ocean of joy,
I will call you a statue sculpted from pure gold.
The heart is a temple,
your form inside is the deity.
The eyes are its doorway,
and a woman's shyness stands guard.
The heart is a temple.
I will be the pathway for sweet Tamil to arrive,
and speak words of honey with colorful, dewy lips.
I will be the pathway for sweet Tamil to arrive,
and speak words of honey with colorful, dewy lips.
All of your beauty, from front to back,
I will lock away in the small casket of my heart.
All of your beauty, from front to back,
I will lock away in the small casket of my heart.
I will cling to your shoulders like a flowering vine,
and carrying you in my heart,
I will walk by your side.
The heart is a temple,
your form inside is the deity.
The eyes are its doorway,
and a woman's shyness stands guard.
The heart is a temple.
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this expressive romantic song from 'Thaali Bhagyam', the heroine tenderly compares her heart to a sacred temple in which her beloved sits as the ruling deity. Her eyes serve as the grand doorway to this sanctuary, protected carefully by her feminine modesty. She speaks of her devotion and joy, describing her lover as a wave upon an ocean of bliss and a pure golden statue. Through rich poetic imagery, she promises to sweeten her speech like honey and Tamil literature, wrap around him like a protective creeper vine, and carry his memory eternally in her heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Ullam oru kovil / Un uruvam adhil dheivam”

Directly equates the heart to a temple ('Ullam oru kovil'), the lover's image to a deity ('uruvam adhil dheivam'), and eyes to the entrance ('kangal adhan vaasal').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Tholgalil kodi pol padarndhiruppen”

Uses 'pol' (like/as) to compare her embrace around his shoulders to a creeper vine clinging to a tree.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Munnazhagodu pinnazhagai en”

Rhyming of the second letter 'nn' in 'Munnazhagodu' and 'pinnazhagai' to create rhythmic symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1966 film 'Thaali Bhagyam' starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), B. Saroja Devi, and K. R. Vijaya. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics authored by Vaali. This song highlights Vaali's classic style of blending classical Tamil devotional metaphor with romantic sentiment.

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