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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uyire Uyire Inimel

From Ival Oru Pournami · 1987

Lyricist
Manimudi
Singers
Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Details
Ival Oru Pournami1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….....
Female
{Uyire….{Oh life...
Chorus :Aaaaaaaa…..} (2)Chorus: Aaaaaaaa...} (2)
Female
Uyire uyire inimel sugamoOh life, my life, will there be happiness hereafter?
Oru naal idhupol thirunaal varumoWill a festive day like this ever come again?
Ninaivinil mayangiya kanavugal kalainthorThose whose dreams, lost in thoughts, were shattered,
Amaithiyai naadugiraaiYou seek peace for them.
Mannil uyirgalai padaiththavanIf the creator who created life on earth
Uyirudan irunthaal orumurai thedugiraaiIs still alive with soul, you search for Him once.
Female
Uyire uyire inimel sugamoOh life, my life, will there be happiness hereafter?
Oru naal idhupol thirunaal varumoWill a festive day like this ever come again?
Male
Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aa....aaa....
Oliyae silaiyaai uruvaagiyathoDid light shape itself into a statue?
Silaiyae uyiraai ezhunthaadiyathoDid a statue come alive and dance?
Malaimudithanil oli tharugindra sudaraaiLike a flame giving light atop a mountain peak,
Piraviyil uyarnthu vittaaiYou have risen above in this birth.
Male
Enthan manamenum aranginilIn the stage that is my heart,
Dhinam dhinam nadamidumDancing day after day,
Ninaivudan kalanthuvittaalShe merged with my memories.
Male
Oliyae silaiyaai uruvaagiyathoDid light shape itself into a statue?
Silaiyae uyiraai ezhunthaadiyathoDid a statue come alive and dance?
Female
Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aa....aaa....
Female
Kaattrinilae orr uruvam amaiththuForming an image in the air,
Kaikalinaalae thedinaalShe searched with her hands.
Chorus :Thedinaal thedinaalChorus: She searched, she searched.
Female :Neeralai podum medaiyin melaeFemale: Upon the stage made of water ripples,
Nilavum oli pol aadinaalShe danced like moonlight.
Chorus :Aadinaal aadinaalChorus: She danced, she danced.
Female
Irulil nizhalai thedinaalShe searched for a shadow in the dark,
Indru ivalae nizhalaai maarinaalToday, she herself turned into a shadow.
Irulil nizhalai thedinaalShe searched for a shadow in the dark,
Indru ivalae nizhalaai maarinaalToday, she herself turned into a shadow.
Female
Uyire uyire inimel sugamoOh life, my life, will there be happiness hereafter?
Oru naal idhupol thirunaal varumoWill a festive day like this ever come again?
Chorus
………………...
Male
Yaettinil ezhuthaa kaaviyamaeOh unwritten epic in books,
En idhayaththil aadidum mullaiyaeOh jasmine blooming and dancing in my heart,
Chorus :Mullaiyae mullaiyaeChorus: Jasmine, jasmine.
Male :Paattinilae un perumaiyai kooraMale: To express your glory in a song,
Thamizhinil vaarththaigal illaiyaeThere are no words in Tamil.
Chorus :Illaiyae illaiyaeChorus: No words, no words.
Male
Thiyaagaththil neeyoru dheepamaeYou are a lamp of sacrifice,
Kalai devathaigal malar thoovumaeGoddesses of art shall shower flowers upon you.
Thiyaagaththil neeyoru dheepamaeYou are a lamp of sacrifice,
Kalai devathaigal malar thoovumaeGoddesses of art shall shower flowers upon you.
Male
Oliyae silaiyaai uruvaagiyathoDid light shape itself into a statue?
Silaiyae uyiraai ezhunthaadiyathoDid a statue come alive and dance?
Chorus
………………...
Female
Devargal sabaiyil naattiyam aadumTo dance in the court of celestial beings,
Aasaiyil angae pogiraalShe goes there with desire.
Chorus :Aasaiyil angae pogiraalChorus: She goes there with desire.
Female :Vaanaththil vanthu therondru nindruFemale: A chariot stands in the sky,
Vaavendrazhaippathai ketkiraalShe hears it calling her to come.
Chorus :Vaavendrazhaippathai ketkiraalChorus: She hears it calling her to come.
Female
Aadum salangaigal oyumaaWill the dancing anklets fall silent?
Idhil aduththoru piraviyum thondrumoWill another birth spring forth from this?
Aadum salangaigal oyumaaWill the dancing anklets fall silent?
Idhil aduththoru piraviyum thondrumoWill another birth spring forth from this?
Female
Uyire uyire inimel sugamoOh life, my life, will there be happiness hereafter?
Oru naal idhupol thirunaal varumoWill a festive day like this ever come again?
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aa....aaa....
Female
Idhuvarai vaazhntha naan mudivilae thavarinenI, who lived until now, stumbled at the end.
Chorus :Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa….Chorus: Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aa....aaa....
Female :Karai thodum velaiyil kadalilae moozhginaenFemale: Just as I touched the shore, I sank into the sea.
Chorus :Aaa…..aaa…..aaa….aa….aaa….Chorus: Aaa.....aaa.....aaa....aa....aaa....
Female
Ulagamae maayaiyaaiThe whole world is an illusion,
Chorus :Maayaiyaai maayaiyaaiChorus: An illusion, an illusion.
Female :Uravugal maayaiyaaiFemale: Relationships are an illusion,
Chorus :Maayaiyaai maayaiyaaiChorus: An illusion, an illusion.
Female
Malarum kalaiyae piriyaa vidai koduOh blossoming art, grant me an everlasting farewell,
Marupadi ingae piravaa varam koduGrant me the boon of never being reborn here again.
Piriyaa vidai kodu piravaa varam koduGrant an everlasting farewell, grant the boon of no rebirth.
Piriyaa vidai kodu piravaa varam koduGrant an everlasting farewell, grant the boon of no rebirth.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant composition from 'Ival Oru Pournami' explores the themes of art, sacrifice, and spiritual liberation through classical dance imagery. The song depicts an artist whose dedication to her craft transcends mortal existence. As her life unfolds, she realizes the illusionary nature (Maayai) of the worldly realm and human relationships, comparing her struggles to sinking in the ocean right as she reaches the shore. Ultimately, the dancer sees art as a divine path to mukti (liberation). Rather than yearning for earthly happiness, she bids an eternal farewell to life and art, praying for liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Oliyae silaiyaai uruvaagiyatho

Compares light taking physical shape as a statue, symbolizing pure divine form.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Uyire uyire inimel sugamo / Oru naal idhupol thirunaal varumo

Expresses existential doubt and longing for peace through poetic questioning.

Visual Imagery

Neeralai podum medaiyin melae / Nilavum oli pol aadinaal

Creates a vivid visual metaphor of dancing moonlight atop rippling water.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

Piriyaa vidai kodu / Marupadi ingae piravaa varam kodu

Rhythmic repetition of sounds in 'Piriyaa' and 'Piravaa' to emphasize eternal separation and no rebirth.

Did you know?

Trivia

This classical song was composed by legendary veteran T. K. Ramamoorthy (of the famed Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo) for the movie 'Ival Oru Pournami' (1987). Featuring vocal performances by Vani Jairam and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics by Manimudi, it stands out for its rich Bharatanatyam orchestration and deeply philosophical lyrics on liberation.

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