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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Valarpirai Kanavugal

From Kalloori Kanavugal · 1988

Lyricist
Durai Sanjeevi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Mani Raja
Movie name
Kalloori Kanavugal
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
11 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Valarpirai kanavugal
Iniyaval varavugal kannae poochoodu
Vizhigalil ezhudhiya kavidhaigal aayiram
Pennae saaindhaadu
Kaadhal nenjodu kanavil kann moodu
Oru naal ponmaalai varuven unnodu
Male :Thirumaarbil kalanthaadavoo…oo oo oo
Valarpirai kanavugal
Iniyaval varavugal kannae poochoodu
Paarvai kolathil kaadhal pulligal
Saayangalathil aasai vannangal
Male :Aa aa aa… thaer varum veedhilyilae
Oru maadhavi arangaerum
Female :Kovalan thiru maarbil
Poomalaigal varaverkkum
Dhevathai siragugal aavalil viripathu
Vaanil thaavathaan
Female :Thirumagal siripathum thaen malar viripathum
Paadal paadathaan
Poomaaran villyendhi varam maalaiyae
Female :Rathidevi koluverkkum raajangamae
Male :Poonthendral thaalattudhoo ..oo..oo..oo
Valarpirai kanavugal
Iniyaval varavugal kannae poochoodu
Vizhigalil ezhudhiya kavidhaigal aayiram
Pennae saaindhaadu
Vaazhvin sogangal kaneer sondhangal
Maarum nokkathil koyil deepangal
Male :Thediya sippigalil nee valamburi sangaanaai
Kaladi pattadhanaal uppu kadal neer inikkuthadi
Sandhana maeni kalasam thaan
Adhai thaangi kollavoo
Male :Thaavani suttriya noolidai thuvazhudhu
Yendhi kollavaa
Female :Poo methai madi meedhu nadhiyorandhaan
Male :Samandhi suga vaasam shana nerandhaan
Thaenootru surakkindrathoo..oo..oo..oo
Valarpirai kanavugal
Iniyaval varavugal kannae poochoodu
Female :Vizhigalil ezhudhiya kavidhaigal aayiram
Pennae saaindhaadu
Dreams growing like the waxing moon,
My sweet girl arrives—wear flowers in your hair, darling!
A thousand poems are written in your eyes,
Lean on me and sway, my girl!
Close your eyes in dreams with a heart full of love,
One golden evening, I will come with you.
Male: To hold you close and dance against your chest... ooh ooh ooh
Dreams growing like the waxing moon,
My sweet girl arrives—wear flowers in your hair, darling!
Dots of love in the design drawn by our glances,
Colors of longing in the evening light.
Male: Ah ah ah... In the street where the chariot rolls,
A dancer like Madhavi makes her debut.
Female: Upon Kovalan's noble chest,
Garlands of flowers will welcome him.
An angel eagerly spreading her wings
Is only doing so to leap into the sky!
Female: Goddess Lakshmi's smile and honeyed blooms opening
Are only meant to sing a song!
When the god of love draws his bow and blesses us with a garland,
Female: It becomes a kingdom where Goddess Rathi holds court!
Male: Does the gentle breeze sing a lullaby? Ooh... ooh... ooh...
Dreams growing like the waxing moon,
My sweet girl arrives—wear flowers in your hair, darling!
A thousand poems are written in your eyes,
Lean on me and sway, my girl!
Life's sorrows and tears that belong to us,
Temple lamps burn with the wish that they will change.
Male: Among all the shells I searched, you became a rare conch!
Because your feet touched it, even the salty seawater turns sweet, my girl!
Your sandalwood body is like a sacred vase,
May I hold and embrace it?
Male: Your slender waist wrapped in a half-sari bends softly,
Shall I gather you into my arms?
Female: Resting on the flower bed of your lap by the riverbank,
Male: The sweet scent of chrysanthemums lasts for a moment,
Does a spring of honey well up? Ooh... ooh... ooh...
Dreams growing like the waxing moon,
My sweet girl arrives—wear flowers in your hair, darling!
Female: A thousand poems are written in your eyes,
Lean on me and sway, my girl!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Valarpirai Kanavugal is a poetic romantic duet from the 1988 film Kalloori Kanavugal. The song depicts the blooming passion and dreamlike devotion between two lovers, drawing parallels between their growing affection and the waxing moon. Rich in classical Tamil imagery and poetic elegance, the lyrics invoke classical epics, artistic metaphors, and nature to depict intimacy. Throughout the track, the lovers describe how their tender affection illuminates life's sorrows like temple lamps and transforms salty ocean waters into sweet nectar. The song celebrates beauty, romance, and spiritual connection with delicate musicality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

“Valarpirai kanavugal”

Compares growing dreams and evolving love to the waxing moon ('Valarpirai').

Imagery (Kaatchi Bimbam)

“Paarvai kolathil kaadhal pulligal”

Uses the visual art form of Kolam to describe the silent, intricate expression of love through glances.

Literary Allusion

“Oru maadhavi arangaerum / Kovalan thiru maarbil”

Refers to the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram through characters Kovalan and Madhavi.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Kaladi pattadhanaal uppu kadal neer inikkuthadi”

Exaggerates the beloved's purity by stating that ocean water turns sweet at the touch of her feet.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Mani Raja for the 1988 Tamil film Kalloori Kanavugal and features vocals by the iconic brother-sister duo S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Shailaja. Durai Sanjeevi's lyrics draw heavily from classical Tamil imagery such as the Valamburi Sangam (right-whorled conch) and epic references to Silappatikaram.

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