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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ullam Theriyum

From Nyayam Ketkirom · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Nyayam Ketkirom1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyumI know your heart, I know your form
Unga paarvai konjam puriyumI understand a little of your glance
Ulagam theriyaathuI do not know the world
Intha vellai manathil ungal uruvamIn this pure white heart, your image
Vilaga mudiyaathuCannot be removed
Female
Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyumI know your heart, I know your form
Unga paarvai konjam puriyumI understand a little of your glance
Ulagam theriyaathuI do not know the world
Intha vellai manathil ungal uruvamIn this pure white heart, your image
Vilaga mudiyaathuCannot be removed
Female
Arakku manjal poosi kulikkum maeniyumThe body bathed with red turmeric paste
Konjam azhagu mullai soodi kalikkum koondhalumAnd the joyful hair adorned with lovely jasmine flowers
Arakku manjal poosi kulikkum maeniyumThe body bathed with red turmeric paste
Konjam azhagu mullai soodi kalikkum koondhalumAnd the joyful hair adorned with lovely jasmine flowers
Enakku thanthu iraivan sonnaGiving these to me, the calculation made by God
Kannakku konjam puriyuthuNow makes a little sense to me
Female
Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyumI know your heart, I know your form
Unga paarvai konjam puriyumI understand a little of your glance
Ulagam theriyaathuI do not know the world
Intha vellai manathil ungal uruvamIn this pure white heart, your image
Vilaga mudiyaathuCannot be removed
Female
Kudumbam endraal koyil enbaal annaiyaeMother says that a family is a sacred temple
Antha koyilukkulInside that temple
Eduththu vaithaen unnaiyaeI have enshrined you
Kudumpam endraal koyil enbaal annaiyaeMother says that a family is a sacred temple
Antha koyilukkulInside that temple
Eduththu vaiththaen unnaiyeI have enshrined you
Female
Aarukaala poojaikaagaFor the six-time daily rituals
Arpaniththaen ennaiyaeI have dedicated myself completely
Female
Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyumI know your heart, I know your form
Unga paarvai konjam puriyumI understand a little of your glance
Ulagam theriyaathuI do not know the world
Intha vellai manathil ungal uruvamIn this pure white heart, your image
Vilaga mudiyaathuCannot be removed
Female
Aduththa veettu pennai kettaen oru muraiI asked the girl next door once
Aval aasai ennum kadhaial sonnaal palamuraiShe told me many stories about love and desire
Aduththa veettu pennai kettaen oru muraiI asked the girl next door once
Aval aasai ennum kadhaial sonnaal palamuraiShe told me many stories about love and desire
Nainaiththu parthaen puriyavillaiI thought about them but could not understand
Ketkal vanthaen ungalaiSo I came to ask you directly
Female
Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyumI know your heart, I know your form
Unga paarvai konjam puriyumI understand a little of your glance
Ulagam theriyaathuI do not know the world
Intha vellai manathil ungal uruvamIn this pure white heart, your image
Vilaga mudiyaathuCannot be removed

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses the innocent and deep devotion of a heroine toward her beloved. She speaks of her pure, untouched heart where her lover's image is permanently etched. Though naive about the ways of the world, she understands the divine arrangement of marital love and sacred duties.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Ullam theriyum uruvam theriyum

Repetition of the vowel sound 'U' at the start of consecutive lines (Ullam, Unga, Ulagam).

Metaphor

Kudumbam endraal koyil enbaal annaiyae

Comparing the home/family to a sacred temple ('Kudumbam endraal koyil') and comparing an innocent heart to pure white color ('Vellai manam').

Iyaibu (Rhyming end words)

Aarukaala poojaikaaga Arpaniththaen ennaiyae

Rhyming structure using '-ai' and '-ae' endings across stanzas ('annaiyae', 'unnaiyae', 'ennaiyae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song highlights P. Susheela's soothing vocal expression of innocent devotion, which was a hallmark of 1970s Tamil cinema romance.

Keep listening

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