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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vasantha Kaala Nadhigalile

From Moondru Mudichu · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Moondru Mudichu1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Vasantha kaala nathigalilaeIn the springtime rivers,
Vairamani neeralaigal} (2)There are diamond-gem water ripples.
{Neeralaigal meethinilaeUpon those water ripples,
Nenjirendin ninaivalaigal} (2)Float the thought-waves of two hearts.
Female
{Ninaivalaigal thodarndhu vanthaalIf these thought-waves continue to follow,
Neramellaam kanavalaigal} (2)All time turns into dream-waves.
{Kanavalaigal valarvatharkuFor these dream-waves to grow,
Kaamanavan malarkanaigal} (2)Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower-arrows.
Female
Ninaivalaigal thodarndhu vanthaalIf these thought-waves continue to follow,
Neramellaam kanavalaigalAll time turns into dream-waves.
Kanavalaigal valarvatharkuFor these dream-waves to grow,
Kaamanavan malarkanaigalLord Kamadeva shoots his flower-arrows.
Male
{Malarkanaigal paainthu vittaalOnce those flower-arrows strike,
Madi irandum panjanaigal} (2)Both laps turn into soft bedding.
Panjanaiyil palli kondaalWhen resting upon that bedding,
Manamirandum thalaiyanaigalBoth minds act as comfortable pillows.
Male
Vasantha kaala nathigalilaeIn the springtime rivers,
Vairamani neeralaigalThere are diamond-gem water ripples.
Neeralaigal meethinilaeUpon those water ripples,
Nenjirendin ninaivalaigalFloat the thought-waves of two hearts.
Female
Ahaa….aaa….aaa…..Ahaa....aaa....aaa.....
Ahaa…aaa….aaa….Ahaa...aaa....aaa....
Female
{Thalaiyanaiyil mugam puthaithuHiding the face inside the pillow,
Sarasamidum pudhu kalaigal} (2)New arts of romantic play begin.
Pudhukalaigal peruvatharkuTo attain those new arts,
Poomalai manavinaigalGarland-exchanging wedding rituals occur.
Oh poomaalai manavinaigalOh, flower garland wedding rituals!
Male
Manavinaigal yaarudanoWith whom will these wedding rituals happen?
Maayavanin vithi vagaigalIt is subject to the playful fate of the Lord.
Manavinaigal yaarudanoWith whom will these wedding rituals happen?
Maayavanin vithi vagaigalIt is subject to the playful fate of the Lord.
Vithi vagaiyai mudivu seiyumThe force that decides the workings of fate,
Vasantha kaala neralaigalIs the springtime water ripples.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Moondru Mudichu poetically traces the journey of love and human destiny through the metaphor of a flowing spring river. Written by Kannadasan, the lyrics illustrate how natural water ripples inspire thought-waves in young hearts, which evolve into dreams, romance, physical intimacy, and ultimately marriage. The song concludes with a philosophical reflection that while love follows a natural progression, who one eventually marries is determined by divine fate, symbolized by the eternal flow of the river.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anthathi (Chain Rhyme)

Neeralaigal meethinilae / Nenjirendin ninaivalaigal

A traditional Tamil poetic device where the ending word or phrase of a line becomes the starting word of the subsequent line (e.g., Neeralaigal -> Neeralaigal meethinilae; Ninaivalaigal -> Ninaivalaigal thodarndhu; Kanavalaigal -> Kanavalaigal valarvatharku).

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Vairamani neeralaigal

Water ripples are compared to sparkling diamonds ('Vairamani neeralaigal'), and human laps and minds are metaphorically elevated to soft beds and pillows ('Madi irandum panjanaigal', 'Manamirandum thalaiyanaigal').

Ethiruka / Monai (Alliteration & Assonance)

Vasantha kaala nathigalilae / Vairamani neeralaigal

Consonant and vowel harmony across line beginnings, such as 'Vasantha' and 'Vairamani', or 'Neeralaigal' and 'Nenjirendin'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Moondru Mudichu (1976), directed by K. Balachander, featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. This song features the prominent use of the classical 'Anthathi' meter adapted for film music and was sung by P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam, and P. Susheela. The film starred Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Sridevi in pivotal early roles of their careers.

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