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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanna Karunkuzhal

From Pen Jenmam · 1977

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pen Jenmam1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vanna karunguzhalBeautiful dark-haired
Valli kuramagalValli, the Kurava daughter,
Velanai maalaiyittaalGarlanded Lord Velan.
Female
Vanna karunguzhalBeautiful dark-haired
Valli kuramagalValli, the Kurava daughter,
Velanai maalaiyittaalGarlanded Lord Velan.
{Andha punniya kaaviyam{To sing and celebrate this holy epic poem,
Enni isaithidaThinking of it musically,
Ennaiyum aanaiyittaal} (2)She commanded me as well}
Ennaiyum aanaiyittaalShe commanded me as well.
Female
Nambi raajan thirumagalaanaThe great jewel of King Nambi,
Valliyin perunagaiValli's radiant smile,
Naaratha maamuni kanduThe sage Narada saw,
Muruganidam sendru (Dialogue)And went to Murugan
Female
Kanden kani ondru kandenI saw a fruit, I saw a fruit!
Kanden kani ondru kandenI saw a fruit, I saw a fruit!
Vadivelanae sivabalanaeO spear-bearing Lord Muruga, son of Shiva,
Un pannirandu karamYour twelve hands,
Unnukindra vidhamThe way they consume and savor,
Kanden kani ondru kandenI saw a fruit, I saw a fruit!
Female
Azhagiya vizhi vannamThe beauty of her lovely eyes,
Mmm…mmm…mmm…mmm..Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Azhagiya vizhi vannamThe beauty of her lovely eyes,
Mazhai nigar kuzhal vannamThe color of her rain-cloud hair,
Azhagiya vizhi vannamThe beauty of her lovely eyes,
Mazhai nigar kuzhal vannamThe color of her rain-cloud hair,
Unakkenavae piranthaalBorn especially for you,
Andha mada annamThat gentle swan-like maiden,
Unakkenavae piranthaalBorn especially for you,
Andha mada annamThat gentle swan-like maiden.
Kanden kani ondru kandenI saw a fruit, I saw a fruit!
Female
Valliyin vadivazhagaiHearing of Valli's exquisite beauty,
Naarathan solla kettuNarada's words having been heard,
Velavan vedanaaga kolam poondaanThe Lord with the spear disguised himself as a hunter.
Maanai thedum baavanaiyilUnder the pretext of searching for a deer,
Mangal ival irukkum thikkuTowards the direction where this auspicious lady was,
Vanthu serndhaanHe arrived.
Female
Endha maan thedi vandha maanWhich deer, searching for which deer?
Endru valli ketkkaThus asked Valli.
Meyaadha maan pulli mevaadha maanA deer that does not graze, a spotted deer that does not graze,
Meyaadha maanA deer that does not graze!
Paayum nadai azhagumThe beauty of its leaping stride,
Pinnal jadai azhagumThe beauty of its braided hair,
Paayum nadai azhagumThe beauty of its leaping stride,
Pinnal jadai azhagumThe beauty of its braided hair,
Kann kavarum mugamum idhazhumIts eye-captivating face and lips,
Pon sengakamalam enavae thigalumShines like a golden red lotus,
Thanil andham migundhidaAbounding in utmost beauty within,
Vandhu piranthathu mei yaadha maanA true non-grazing deer was born!
Mei yaadha ..meiyaadha maanA non-grazing... a true deer!
Female
Avan sonna maanThe deer he spoke of,
Indha kanni maanIs this maiden deer!
Endru kandu konda valliRealizing this, Valli,
Sinanthaal seerinaalBecame angry and hissed:
Female
Maanai thedi vantha vedaaO hunter who came searching for a deer!
Adadaa mooda sari thaan podaAh, you fool, alright, get lost!
Un kallathanam enna vendruWhat your trickery is,
Kann irandum kaattugaiyilWhen your two eyes reveal it,
Ellathanai kallathanam ennidam sellumodaaWill even a tiny bit of your trickery work with me?
Oh maanai thediOh, searching for the deer,
Ada maanai thedi vantha vedaaHey hunter who came searching for a deer!
Female
Udanae vedanaai iruntha velanImmediately, Lord Murugan who was a hunter,
Vengaiyaai maari manavalliyai thodarnthuTransformed into a tiger and pursued bride Valli.
Female
Aaviyae en aaruyir sanjeeviyaeO my life, my precious healing herb!
Manmadhan ennum paaviyaeThat sinner named Cupid,
Malar kanaigal thooviyaeShowering floral arrows,
Vaaturaan kannaeIs tormenting me, my dear!
Aayal oottum pennae pennae pennaeO woman who feeds desire, maiden, maiden, maiden!
Female
Valli enna indha kaalathuIs Valli a modern girl of these times,
Modern girl ahA modern girl?
Seri endru odanae sollaInstead of saying yes immediately,
Sorry endru maruthu vittaalShe refused saying 'Sorry'!
Vaaliba murugan odanaeYouthful Murugan immediately,
Vayothigan aanaaanTransformed into an old man.
Valli kudutha thinai maavaiThe millet flour that Valli gave,
Thindra andha thaathavirkkuTo that old man who ate it,
Female
Vikkalum vanthathadiHiccups came, oh girl!
Pennae vikkalum vanthathadiOh girl, hiccups came!
Vikkalum vanthathadiHiccups came, oh girl!
Pennae vikkalum vanthathadiOh girl, hiccups came!
Sikkalil nirkkindra sundharan aanathaalBecause he became a handsome lord trapped in trouble,
Kaadhal sikkalil nirkkindraTrapped in love trouble,
Sundharan aanathaalBecause he became a handsome lord,
Vikkalum vanthathadiHiccups came, oh girl!
Pennae vikkalum vanthathadiOh girl, hiccups came!
Female
Valli paarthaalValli looked,
Adi aaththaa ivar pollatha thaathaaOh my, this old man is wicked!
Endru valli verukkaAs Valli felt aversion,
Aarumugan annanSix-faced Murugan's elder brother,
Aanaimuganai azhaithaanCalled the elephant-faced Ganesha.
Valli bayanthu thirumanathirkkuValli got scared and to marriage,
Oppu kondaalShe agreed!
Yaanai velagi poittruThe elephant moved away!
Female
Yechchi puttaenae thaathaI made it defiled, old man!
Yechchi puttaenaeI made it defiled!
Valli yechchi puttaenaeValli made it defiled!
Thaatha yechchi puttaenaeOld man, I made it defiled!
Female
Marubadiyum yaanaiyaiAgain, the elephant,
murugan azhaikkaMurugan called,
Adhu thunbikkaiyaalAnd with its trunk,
Valliyai thooki podaIt tossed Valli up!
Aval murugaa murugaa murugaaShe screamed 'Muruga, Muruga, Muruga!'
Endru alaraScreaming out in terror,
Valliyai murugan vaangi kondaanMurugan caught Valli,
Kaiyil thaangi kondaanHeld her in his arms.
Manam pol muruganaiAs desired in her heart,
Valli mananthu kondaalValli married Murugan.
Female
Valliammai naadhannukkumTo the lord of Valliammai,
Pulli mayil velanukkumTo the spear-bearer on the spotted peacock,
kannanukkumTo Kannan,
Palani malai mannanukkumTo the king of Palani hill,
Mangalam subha mangalamAuspiciousness, supreme auspiciousness!
Mangalam subha mangalamAuspiciousness, supreme auspiciousness!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a traditional Tamil dance-drama narrative of 'Valli Thirumanam' (The Divine Marriage of Lord Murugan and Valli). It begins with Sage Narada informing Lord Murugan of the divine beauty of Valli, describing her as an exquisite fruit. Enticed by her beauty, Murugan disguises himself as a hunter searching for a 'non-grazing deer', engaging in a witty battle of words with Valli.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kanden kani ondru kanden

Comparing Valli to a sweet fruit ('kani') and a non-grazing maiden deer ('meiyaadha maan').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Ethukai & Monai)

Paayum nadai azhagum / Pinnal jadai azhagum

Rhythmic repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds creating melodic harmony.

Anachronistic Humor (Modernism)

Modern girl ah ... Sorry endru maruthu vittaal

Playful insertion of contemporary English words ('Modern girl', 'Sorry') into an ancient mythological dance-drama narrative.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is formatted as a traditional Tamil 'Kuravanji' / stage dance-drama performance embedded within the soundtrack of Pen Jenmam (1977), written by veteran lyricist Vaali who playfully mixes mythological folklore with contemporary modern humor.

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