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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaan Nila

From Kadhal Virus · 2002

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Srinivas, Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhal Virus2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaan nilaa tharum oliThe light given by the moon in the sky
Ival vizhiIs in her eyes
Thaen pala tharum suvaiThe taste given by sweet honey
Ival mozhiIs in her speech
TamizhdhaanooIs it Tamil itself?
Male
Paarpugazh nile nadhiThe world-famous river Nile
Ival nadaiIs her graceful walk
Thaamarai malarkodiA lotus flower vine
Ival idaiIs her waist
Tamizh pennooIs she a Tamil woman?
Male
Un azhaginai paadaTo sing about your beauty
En tamizh mozhi podhaadhuMy Tamil language is not enough
Naan uvamaigal sonnaalEven if I offer similes
Adhu muzhumaiyendraagadhuIt will never be complete
Male
Nee orae orudharamYou were born
PirandhavalOnly once
Avan padaippinilIn God's creation
Miga chirandhavalThe absolute finest
Ohoho ho oooo ooooOhoho ho oooo oooo
Male
Silu siluvena vizhumFalling coolly and gently
Pudhu pani thuliyooIs it a fresh dewdrop?
Mazhai ezhudhumOr the very first poem
Mudhal kaviyooWritten by the rain?
Dum dum dum san sangeedhamDum dum dum, pleasant music
Kolusodu jalJingles with her anklets
Neelam thoyiththaDipped in deep blue
Andha aagayamThat sky above
Undhan melaadum noolaadaiyooIs it the fine garment draped over you?
Male
Oru saram sirikkaiyilWhen a string of smiles bursts forth
TherikkaiyilAnd splashes around
Pudhu pudhu kavidhaigalBrand new poems
Purapadum pulapadumWill originate and be revealed
Male
Radhiyae rathampolLike the chariot of Rathi
NadandhenI walked
Nee varum vazhi engumEverywhere along the path you come
Kurunji malarpol kulungumShaking like Kurinji flowers
Koor nerunji mul endrumEven sharp puncture-vine thorns turn soft
Male
Nadhikkul kudhikkum meengalThe fish leaping in the river
Un neel vizhi kandu …Seeing your deep blue eyes...
Nilaththil vaazhum meenooWonder if you are fish
Yena viyarpadhu unduLiving on dry land
Male
Vaan nilaa tharum oliThe light given by the moon in the sky
Ival vizhiIs in her eyes
Thaen pala tharum suvaiThe taste given by sweet honey
Ival mozhiIs in her speech
TamizhdhaanooIs it Tamil itself?
Male
Paarpugazh nile nadhiThe world-famous river Nile
Ival nadaiIs her graceful walk
Thaamarai malarkodiA lotus flower vine
Ival idaiIs her waist
Tamizh pennooIs she a Tamil woman?
Male
Dhinam dhinam manadhinilDay after day in my heart
Mudhal mugamezhudhiDrawing your face first
Rasiththiruppen uyir thazhuviI cherish it, embracing life
Male
Kaa dhal de vi en nenjamGoddess of Love, my heart
Un koyil dhaanIs indeed your temple
Kaadhal yennum andhaThat single lamp
Orr dheebamCalled love
Endhan yennangal yetradhooHas it lit up my thoughts?
Male
Idi minnal mazhaiyilumEven in thunder, lightning, and rain
Adikkindra puyalilumAnd in howling storms
Uyir ulla varaiyilumAs long as there is life
Oli vidum vilakidhuThis lamp will keep shining
Male
Ennai dhaanJust for me
Ganam nee pirindhaalIf you part for even a moment
Neer vizhigalum vaarkkumTears will stream from the eyes
Unnaidhaan varuththumIt will torment you
Aval yaar yena iyarkkaiyum ketkumNature itself will ask, 'Who is she?'
Male
Pennai azhagaai padaiththalCreating a woman in beauty
Andha iyarkkaiyin velaiIs Nature's work
Arindhum yennaiyae kettaaiKnowing this, you ask me
Ada idhu enna leelaiOh, what playfulness is this!
Male
Vaan nilaa tharum oliThe light given by the moon in the sky
Ival vizhiIs in her eyes
Thaen pala tharum suvaiThe taste given by sweet honey
Ival mozhiIs in her speech
TamizhdhaanooIs it Tamil itself?
Male
Paarpugazh nile nadhiThe world-famous river Nile
Ival nadaiIs her graceful walk
Thaamarai malarkodiA lotus flower vine
Ival idaiIs her waist
Tamizh pennooIs she a Tamil woman?
Male
Un azhaginai paadaTo sing about your beauty
En tamizh mozhi podhaadhuMy Tamil language is not enough
Naan uvamaigal sonnaalEven if I offer similes
Adhu muzhumaiyendraagadhuIt will never be complete
Male
Nee orae orudharamYou were born
PirandhavalOnly once
Avan padaippinilIn God's creation
Miga chirandhavalThe absolute finest
Ohoho ho oooo ooooOhoho ho oooo oooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is an enchanting romantic ballad where the protagonist praises the incomparable beauty, grace, and virtues of his beloved. He compares her gaze to moonlight, her speech to the sweetness of Tamil and honey, her walk to the flowing Nile river, and her slender waist to a delicate lotus vine. He expresses that even the rich Tamil language falls short when trying to capture her perfection through similes, as she is God's finest and unique creation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Thaen pala tharum suvai / Ival mozhi

Compares the beloved's speech to the sweetness of honey and the richness of the Tamil language.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ival vizhi / Ival mozhi

Rhyming second letters in consecutive lines ('Ival vizhi' and 'Ival mozhi').

Hyperbole (Atisayokthi)

Nadhikkul kudhikkum meengal / Un neel vizhi kandu ... Nilaththil vaazhum meenoo

Exaggerates that even the river fish wonder if her blue eyes are fish living on land.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kadhal Virus' (2002) was directed by Kathir and featured music composed by A.R. Rahman. The lyrics were penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali, who creatively intertwined classic Tamil poetic imagery with modern romantic expressions.

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