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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uyirillamal Ulakinile Udalum

From Thozhan · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Jikki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Thozhan1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Uyirillaamal ulaginilaeCan a body live in this world without a soul?
Udalum vaazhumaWill a body even survive?
Payir illamal vayalinilaeWithout crops in a field,
Pasumai thonumaWill greenery ever appear?
Female
Uyirillaamal ulaginilaeCan a body live in this world without a soul?
Udalum vaazhumaWill a body even survive?
Payir illamal vayalinilaeWithout crops in a field,
Pasumai thonumaWill greenery ever appear?
Male
Mazhai illamal ulaginilaeWithout rain in this world,
Payirum vaazhumaCan crops even survive?
Mazhai illamal ulaginilaeWithout rain in this world,
Payirum vaazhumaCan crops even survive?
Nilavillamal neelavaanamWithout the moon, can the blue sky
Oliyai kaanuma oliyai kaanumaBehold any light, behold any light?
Nilavillamal neelavaanamWithout the moon, can the blue sky
Oliyai kaanuma oliyai kaanumaBehold any light, behold any light?
Female
Iyalum isaiyum inaindhidamalWithout literature and music uniting,
Geetham pirakkuma..aa…Will a song ever be born?
Iyalum isaiyum inaindhidamalWithout literature and music uniting,
Geetham pirakkumaWill a song ever be born?
Mugilai kandu aadidaamalWithout dancing upon seeing the rain clouds,
Mayilum irukkumaWill a peacock ever remain?
Mugilai kandu aadidaamalWithout dancing upon seeing the rain clouds,
Mayilum irukkumaWill a peacock ever remain?
Male
Paruvakaalam thanimaiyilaeIn youth, when spent in solitude,
Inimai kaanumae…aaaCan sweetness ever be experienced?
Paruvakaalam thanimaiyilaeIn youth, when spent in solitude,
Inimai kaanumae…aaaCan sweetness ever be experienced?
Paasavalaiyil vilunthidamaalWithout falling into the web of affection,
Amaidhi kaanumaCan peace ever be found?
Paasavalaiyil vilunthidamaalWithout falling into the web of affection,
Amaidhi kaanumaCan peace ever be found?
Female
Uravu konda ulam irandumWill two hearts that have formed a bond
Pirivai virumbhumaEver desire separation?
Uravu konda ulam irandumWill two hearts that have formed a bond
Pirivai virumbhumaEver desire separation?
Ummaiyindri enadhu vaazhvilWithout you in my life,
Inbam arumbhumaWill happiness ever blossom?
Ummaiyindri enadhu vaazhvilWithout you in my life,
Inbam arumbhumaWill happiness ever blossom?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil duet uses a series of natural and philosophical analogies to emphasize the necessity of union and companionship. Just as a body cannot live without life, a field cannot be green without crops, and a song cannot exist without the blending of poetry and music, human life is incomplete without love and togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Iyalum isaiyum inaindhidamal / Mugilai kandu aadidaamal

Matching second consonant 'ya' sound in adjacent poetic lines ('Payir' and 'Uyir', 'Iyalum' and 'Mugilai').

Rhetorical Question (Vinah-alankaram)

Uravu konda ulam irandum pirivai virumbhuma

The lyricist frames every pair of lines as a rhetorical question where the answer is an emphatic 'no', reinforcing the essential interdependence of lovers.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagim)

Paasavalaiyil vilunthidamaal amaidhi kaanuma

Comparing affection to a net ('Paasavalai') and happiness to a blossoming flower ('Inbam arumbhuma').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by veteran music director G. Ramanathan with lyrics by legendary poet A. Maruthakasi, this song exemplifies the classic era of Tamil cinema music where nature imagery was extensively used to depict romantic devotion.

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