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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanna Nilavey Male

From Paadatha Thenikkal · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paadatha Thenikkal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hmm mm mm mm mmHumming vocals
Mmmmmm mm mm mm mmHumming vocals
Hmm mm mm mm hmm mm mm mmHumming vocals
Male
Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyaeColorful moon, River Vaigai,
Solli vidavaa endhan kadhaiyaeShall I tell you my story?
Yaettil illaadhadhu en kadhai thaanMy story is one that isn't written in any book,
Yaarum sollaadhadhu en nilai thaanMy plight is one that no one has spoken of.
Male
Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyaeColorful moon, River Vaigai,
Solli vidavaa endhan kadhaiyaeShall I tell you my story?
Male
Maan ondru thulli thaan vaazhndha veeduA home where a deer bounced and lived happily,
Aan singam ondru arasaanda kaaduA forest ruled over by a male lion.
Ammaadi adhu thaan pollaadhadhuOh my, that lion was indeed fierce,
Aanaalum maan mel anbaanadhuYet it showered deep affection upon the deer.
Kalyaana maalai thaan maan podaAs the deer placed the wedding garland,
Sandhosha oonjalil serndhaadaTo swing together on the swing of happiness,
Paayum singam kooda pazhaiya vaazhkkai maaraEven the pouncing lion changed its old wild ways.
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
Male
Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyaeColorful moon, River Vaigai,
Solli vidavaa endhan kadhaiyaeShall I tell you my story?
Male
Thaan pona pokkil pogaadhu singamThe lion no longer went along its old careless path,
Maan potta kottai thaandaadhu endrumIt never crossed the boundary set by the deer.
Pen maanin nenjam nambaadhadhuBut the heart of the female deer did not trust it,
Sandhaegam indru undaanadhuAnd suspicion arose today.
Mul meedhu naan thoongum kolam thaanMy state now is like sleeping on a bed of thorns,
Munnaalil naan seidha paavam thaanIt is surely a sin I committed in the past.
Maanukkaaga vaadum manadhum yaengi paadumFor the sake of the deer, my wilting heart sings yearningly.
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
Male
Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyaeColorful moon, River Vaigai,
Solli vidavaa endhan kadhaiyaeShall I tell you my story?
Yaettil illaadhadhu en kadhai thaanMy story is one that isn't written in any book,
Yaarum sollaadhadhu en nilai thaanMy plight is one that no one has spoken of.
Male
Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyaeColorful moon, River Vaigai,
Solli vidavaa endhan mm mmmShall I tell you my... (humming)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song expresses the deep anguish of a man sharing his sorrow with nature—specifically the colorful moon and the Vaigai river. He uses the allegory of a fierce lion and a gentle deer to represent himself and his wife. Despite his past aggressive nature, he reformed completely out of love for her, strictly respecting her boundaries and devotion after marriage. However, unwarranted suspicion and lack of trust from her side have shattered his heart, leaving him in constant agony comparable to sleeping on a bed of thorns.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maan ondru thulli thaan vaazhndha veedu / Aan singam ondru arasaanda kaadu

The husband is metaphorically depicted as a fierce lion ('singam') and the wife as a gentle deer ('maan'), symbolizing contrasting temperaments united by love.

Idiomatic Metaphor

Mul meedhu naan thoongum kolam thaan

'Mul meedhu thoongum kolam' (sleeping on thorns) is a vivid metaphor representing extreme distress and suffering.

Alliteration (Monai)

Vanna nilavae vaigai nadhiyae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Va' in Vanna and Vaigai) creating melodic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Paadatha Thenikkal' (1988) was directed by actor-director V. M. C. Haneefa and features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali.

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