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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vallimalai Pothigaimalai

From Kandhan Karunai · 1967

Lyricist
Sankaradas Swamigal
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kandhan Karunai1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Velli malai podhigai malaiVelli mountain, Podhigai mountain,
Vaedar malai kaadar malaiHunters' mountain, forest mountain,
Enghal malai ammae…Are all our mountains, O Mother...
Velan vilaiyaadum pazhani malaiThe Palani mountain where Murugan plays,
Engal malai ammae…Is our mountain, O Mother...
Female
Velli malai podhigai malaiVelli mountain, Podhigai mountain,
Vaedar malai kaadar malaiHunters' mountain, forest mountain,
Enghal malai ammae…Are all our mountains, O Mother...
Velan vilaiyaadum pazhani malaiThe Palani mountain where Murugan plays,
Engal malai ammae…Is our mountain, O Mother...
Velan vilaiyaadum pazhani malaiThe Palani mountain where Murugan plays,
Engal malai ammae…Is our mountain, O Mother...
Ulla padi kuri uraikkumThe fortune-teller who tells truth as it is,
Malai kurathi ammaeI am the mountain Kurathi gypsy woman, O Mother,
Malai kurathi ammaeThe mountain Kurathi gypsy woman, O Mother.
Indru ulladhaiyae naaneduthuToday, taking the truth as it stands,
Unakkuraippen ammaeI shall foretell to you, O Lady.
Indru ulladhaiyae naaneduthuToday, taking the truth as it stands,
Unakkuraippen ammaeI shall foretell to you, O Lady.
Female
Vana kuravan thinai puna kiliyaeO parrot of the wild hunter's millet field,
Oru maanin vayitrilae pirandhaaiYou were born from the womb of a deer,
Nambi mannan magal yena valarndhaaiYou grew up as the daughter of King Nambi.
Vana kuravan thinai puna kiliyaeO parrot of the wild hunter's millet field,
Oru maanin vayitrilae pirandhaaiYou were born from the womb of a deer,
Nambi mannan magal yena valarndhaaiYou grew up as the daughter of King Nambi.
Vanji manathinilum manjal mugathinilumIn your slender heart and on your turmeric-bright face,
Nalla maiyal thavazhndhida malarndhaaiYou blossomed with sweet love crawling over you,
Oru maaya nilaavena ezhundhaaiYou arose like a magical moon.
Female
Arasan urai padiAs per the King's command,
Thinai punam kaathidaTo guard the millet fields,
Azhaghu chilaiyena nindraaiYou stood like a beautiful statue.
Arasan urai padiAs per the King's command,
Thinai punam kaathidaTo guard the millet fields,
Azhaghu chilaiyena nindraaiYou stood like a beautiful statue.
Angu aalolam paadida vandhaaiThere you came to sing the Aalolam bird-scaring song,
Angu aalolam paadida vandhaai…There you came to sing the Aalolam song...
Female
Aalolam paadidum velaiyilae…While singing the Aalolam song...
Ae… ae… ae…Hey... hey... hey...
Nalla aagaaya maargathu veedhiyilaeAlong the path in the heavenly skies,
Andha naaradha maamuni thaan varuvaar…The great sage Narada himself will arrive...
Valli naayagi nee avan thaazh panivaai…O Goddess Valli, you will bow at his feet...
Female
Aandi oru sanniyaasiAbout an ascetic mendicant,
Avanukku thirumanam pesa varuvaarHe will come to propose marriage for him.
Vendrum endrae nee kobam konduIntentionally, you will get angry,
Viruppamillai endru nadithiduvaaiAnd pretend that you have no interest.
Naaradhanum kalyaanam nadakkumendruSage Narada will vow to you
Unnidathil sabadham seivaanThat this divine marriage will surely take place!
Naaradhanum kalyaanam nadakkumendruSage Narada will vow to you
Unnidathil sabadham seivaanThat this divine marriage will surely take place!
Adhu nadakkaadhu naaradharae"That will not happen, Sage Narada!
Naan dhinam kanniyendru maruthuraippaaiI am a maiden forever," you will reply in refusal.
Adhu nadakkaadhu naaradharae"That will not happen, Sage Narada!
Naan dhinam kanniyendru maruthuraippaaiI am a maiden forever," you will reply in refusal.
Female
Vanna mugam konduWith a colorful face,
Villondru kai konduHolding a bow in hand,
Maanai thurathidum vaedanA hunter chasing a deer,
Kangal maanunnaiyae vandhu naadumHis eyes will come seeking you, my deer!
Vanna mugam konduWith a colorful face,
Villondru kai konduHolding a bow in hand,
Maanai thurathidum vaedanA hunter chasing a deer,
Kangal maanunnaiyae vandhu naadumHis eyes will come seeking you, my deer!
Adi im maan oru pen maan magal"Hey, this deer is the daughter of a doe,
Am maan magan yem maan yenaThat mother deer's child, my deer!"
Valli endrunnai azhaippaanSaying so, he will address you as Valli,
Pala vambugal pesiyae maraivaanSpeak many playful teasings, and disappear.
Female
Thallaada udal thallaadaWith a body trembling and tottering,
Oru pazhutha kizhavan varuvaanA ripe old man will arrive.
Avan thalarndhu ponaSeeing his frail,
Mudhumai kandu thanga idam tharuvaaiAged condition, you will grant him a place to rest.
Thallaada udal thallaadaWith a body trembling and tottering,
Oru pazhutha kizhavan varuvaanA ripe old man will arrive.
Avan thalarndhu ponaSeeing his frail,
Mudhumai kandu thanga idam tharuvaaiAged condition, you will grant him a place to rest.
Pasiyedukkudhu thaenum thinaiyum"I am hungry; honey and millet flour
Paruga vendum enbaanI need to consume," he will say.
Female
Pasiyedukkudhu thaenum thinaiyum"I am hungry; honey and millet flour
Paruga vendum enbaanI need to consume," he will say.
Nee paruga thandhaal…When you offer it to him to consume...
Nee paruga thandhaal dhaagham theerndhuWhen you offer it, with thirst quenched,
Mogam vandhadhu enbaan"Passion has overcome me!" he will say.
Nee paruga thandhaal dhaagham theerndhuWhen you offer it, with thirst quenched,
Mogam vandhadhu enbaan"Passion has overcome me!" he will say.
Female
Karathai pidikkum pazhutha pazhatthaiThe ripe old man who grasps your wrist,
Thurathi viratta ninaippaaiYou will intend to drive away.
Avan azhaitha yaanai arugil vandhadhumWhen the elephant summoned by him approaches,
Thannai marandhu anaippaaiForgetting yourself in fear, you will embrace him!
Karathai pidikkum pazhutha pazhatthaiThe ripe old man who grasps your wrist,
Thurathi viratta ninaippaaiYou will intend to drive away.
Avan azhaitha yaanai arugil vandhadhumWhen the elephant summoned by him approaches,
Thannai marandhu anaippaaiForgetting yourself in fear, you will embrace him!
Female
Anaitha udan mudhumai maariThe moment you embrace him, aging disappears,
Azhaghu velan varuvaan…And the handsome Lord Murugan will appear...
Nee ninaithavannam maalai soodiJust as you wished, he will garland you,
Manaiviyaaga peruvaai…And you will attain him as his wedded divine wife...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a pivotal narrative performance from the classic Tamil mythological film 'Kandhan Karunai' (1967). In this sequence, a Kurathi (gypsy fortune-teller) sings to Goddess Valli, foretelling her destiny and recounting the cosmic drama of how Lord Murugan will win her hand. The lyrics detail Valli's unique origins, her duty guarding the millet fields (thinai punam), the arrival of Sage Narada proposing the alliance, Valli's playful rejection, and Lord Murugan's disguises—first as a hunter seeking a deer and later as an old man asking for food and shelter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uragham)

Vana kuravan thinai puna kiliyae

Comparing Valli to a parrot guarding the millet field ('thinai puna kiliyae') and a statue ('azhaghu chilaiyena nindraai').

Simile (Uvamai)

Oru maaya nilaavena ezhundhaai

Comparing Valli's graceful rising appearance to a magical moon ('Oru maaya nilaavena ezhundhaai').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

Velli malai podhigai malai

Use of matching initial consonants across lines (e.g., Velli / Vaedar / Velan).

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Trivia

This track adapts traditional folk lyrics and verses associated with Sankaradas Swamigal's famous Tamil musical play 'Valli Thirumanam'. Sankaradas Swamigal (1867–1922) is widely revered as the Father of Modern Tamil Theatre, and his legendary stage plays laid the foundations for early Tamil cinema.

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