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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulle Irukkum

From Kavitha · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kavitha
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
12 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulle irukkum pon amma
Veliye vandhu sollamma
Female :Ulle irukkum pon amma
Veliye vandhu sollamma
Unmaiyai nalla therinjavanga
Unnaiyalladhu yaaramma
Female :Unmaiyai nalla therinjavanga
Unnaiyalladhu yaaramma
Saalaiyilae orunaal nee thaniyae vandhaayae
Solaiyilae rendu
Yaanai nuzhaiya kandaaiyae
Saalaiyilae orunaal nee thaniyae vandhaayae
Solaiyilae rendu
Yaanai nuzhaiya kandaaiyae
Yaanaiyil ondru unnaiyum kandu
Virattudhendru sonnaayae
Yaanaiyil ondru unnaiyum kandu
Virattudhendru sonnaayae
Yaanaigal puguntha solaigal azhindha
Kadhaiyum unakku theriyuma
Yaanaigal puguntha solaigal azhindha
Kadhaiyum unakku theriyuma
Solaigal azhindhadhu yaaniagalaala
Female :Soorai kaatraalaa
Male :Uyir velai mudinthathu vanjagaraalaa
Female :Iyarkaiyinaalaa
Vaazhkai paalam idinthathu paadhagaralaa
Female :Paavathinaalaa
Male :Indha paarilae kavidhavai polae
Paavai kedaippaala oru paavai kedaippaalaa
Female :Ponnamma
Male :Sollamma
Female :Ponnamma
Male :Sollamma
Dear golden lady inside,
Come outside and tell us!
Female: Dear golden lady inside,
Come outside and tell us!
The one who truly knows the truth,
Who else is there besides you?
Female: The one who truly knows the truth,
Who else is there besides you?
One day, you were walking alone along the road,
Into the grove, two...
Elephants, you saw them enter!
One day, you were walking alone along the road,
Into the grove, two...
Elephants, you saw them enter!
Seeing you, one of those elephants
Chased after you, or so you said!
Seeing you, one of those elephants
Chased after you, or so you said!
The story of how the grove was ruined when elephants entered,
Do you know that story too?
The story of how the grove was ruined when elephants entered,
Do you know that story too?
Was the grove destroyed by elephants,
Female: Or by a stormy wind?
Male: Did that life come to an end because of traitors,
Female: Or was it by nature's hand?
Did the bridge of life collapse because of cruel villains,
Female: Or was it because of sins?
Male: In this whole world, like Kavitha,
Could such a lovely woman ever be found, could a girl like her be found?
Female: Ponnamma,
Male: Tell us!
Female: Ponnamma,
Male: Tell us!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the 1962 Tamil film 'Kavitha' is a structured philosophical dialogue set to music, featuring a back-and-forth exchange between the singers. The male and female voices debate the tragic events that led to ruin, using rich allegories of wild elephants invading a peaceful grove and violent storms uprooting nature. The male character points to human malice, treachery, and evil motives as the causes of destruction, whereas the female character questions whether natural fate, cosmic design, or past sins were at play. Ultimately, the song pays homage to the character named Kavitha, playing on her name as a metaphor for an ideal, poetic woman whose presence and tragedy leave an indelible mark on the world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Yaanaigal puguntha solaigal azhindha”

The entering of wild elephants into a peaceful grove symbolizes treacherous outsiders invading and ruining a peaceful family or life.

Pun / Double Entendre (Slaidhai)

“Indha paarilae kavidhavai polae paavai kedaippaala”

Plays on the name of the protagonist 'Kavitha' and the Tamil word for poem ('kavidhai'), comparing a maiden's beauty and virtue to a fine poem.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Saalaiyilae orunaal nee thaniyae vandhaayae / Solaiyilae rendu”

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'la' in consecutive rhyming lines (Saalaiyilae / Solaiyilae).

Assonance / Anaphora (Monai)

“Uyir velai mudinthathu vanjagaraalaa / Iyarkaiyinaalaa”

Matching end-rhyme suffixes across alternating dialogue lines (-aalaa suffix in vanjagaraalaa, iyarkaiyinaalaa, paadhagaralaa, paavathinaalaa).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi for the 1962 film 'Kavitha'. Maruthakasi was known for his mastery over dramatic allegory and dialogue-driven songwriting, which allowed the film's narrative conflict to be seamlessly woven into musical numbers.

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