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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanna Vizhiyazhagi

From Aadi Velli · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Aadi Velli1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………...
Female
Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagiBeautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.
Female
Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagiBeautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.
Chorus
Dhinam neeraadu azhagiya raasaathiBathe daily, my beautiful princess,
Oli veesaatho unthan maragatha mookkuththiWon't your emerald nose-ring radiate brilliant light?
Female
Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagiBeautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.
Female
Sangam vechcha paandiyaninShe is the darling daughter of the Pandyan king who established the Tamil Sangam,
Chella ponnuA precious darling daughter,
Sokkanukku kaaththirukkumWaiting for Lord Sundareswarar (Sokkan),
Sokka ponnuA pure and exquisite golden girl.
Theppam pol ammaadiyoLike a temple float, Oh dear girl,
Thanneeril thallaaduthuShe sways gracefully in the water.
Chorus
Adiyae pavazha kodiyaeHey coral vine,
Paruththi sediyae maeni sugamaa…Cotton plant, is your body doing well?
Female
Kulikkum thiruppaavai naanumthaanI am like the sacred maiden Thiruppaavai who bathes,
Kalikkum naalallavaaIs this not a day of celebration?
Enakkum thunaiyaaga meenumthaanEven the fish serves as company for me,
Irukkum nadhiyallavaaIs this not the river that exists for us?
Chorus
: Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagi: Beautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.
Female
Dhinam neeraadu azhagiya raasaathiBathe daily, my beautiful princess,
Oli veesaatho unthan maragatha mookkuththiWon't your emerald nose-ring radiate brilliant light?
Chorus
Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagiBeautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.
Chorus
…………………...
Female
Kallazhagar thangachchithaan mella mellaShe is indeed the sister of Lord Kallazhagar, slowly and softly,
Koochchamindri neechchalittu thulla thullaSwimming without hesitation, leaping with joy.
Ennamthaan ennennavoVarious kinds of thoughts,
Vannangal kondaaduthuAre celebrating in vibrant colors.
Chorus
Mayilae maalai veyilaeOh peacock, oh evening sunshine,
Cholai kuyilae mogam varuthaa….Oh grove cuckoo, is infatuation rising within?
Female
Vilakka mudiyaamal yaedhethoInexplicably, something unexplainable,
Mayakkam uruvaaguthuA sweet intoxication is taking shape.
Manakkum pasu manjal theiththaalumEven when applying fragrant fresh turmeric,
Manaththil kodhipperuthuThe excitement inside the heart boils over.
Female
Vanna vizhiyazhagi vaasa kuzhal azhagiBeautiful eyes, beautiful fragrant hair,
Madurai meenaatchithaanIs truly Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai herself.
Maalai karukkalilae manja kulikkaiyilaeIn the evening dusk, when she bathes with turmeric,
Kaaval pillaiyaaruthaanGanesha himself stands as a protective guard.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song from the 1990 movie 'Aadi Velli' is a vibrant, romantic track that draws deep connections between the heroine's grace and the divine attributes of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. Set during the auspicious month of Aadi, the song evokes traditional imagery of twilight ritual bathing with aromatic turmeric, guarded symbolically by Lord Ganesha.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Theppam pol ammaadiyo / Thanneeril thallaaduthu

Compares the heroine floating gracefully in water to a temple float (Theppam).

Alliteration (Monaai)

Sangam vechcha paandiyanin / Sokkanukku kaaththirukkum / Sokka ponnu

Repetition of the initial 'S' sound creating a melodic rhythmic flow.

Rhyme (Edukkayi)

Kulikkum thiruppaavai naanumthaan / Kalikkum naalallavaa

The second consonant 'li' rhymes across lines, enhancing musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Aadi Velli' (1990) was directed by Rama Narayanan and featured soundtrack music composed by Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Vaali cleverly embedded rich Madurai mythic references—such as Kallazhagar, Pandyan Sangam, and Sokkanathan—into popular cinema poetry.

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