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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Veerapandi Kottayile

From Thiruda Thiruda · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mano, Unni Menon, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thiruda Thiruda1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa…Aaa….aaa….aaaa…
Chorus :{Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…Chorus: Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa…} (3)Aaa….aaa….aaaa… (3 times)
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Minnal adikkum velayilaeAt the time when lightning strikes,
Oorum aarum thoongum pothuWhen the village and the river are asleep,
Poovum nilavum saayum pothuWhen the flower and the moon set down,
Kolusu satham manasai thirudiyathaeThe sound of anklets stole my heart.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Mai iruttu velayilaeIn the pitch darkness of night,
Kolusu satham manasai thirudiyathaeThe sound of anklets stole my heart.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Minnal adikkum velayilaeAt the time when lightning strikes,
Valavi satham ithayam thirudiyathaeThe sound of bangles stole my heart.
Female
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Velli mullaikkum velayilaeAt the time when Venus rises in the dawn,
Paruvapponna thirudi thazhuvaTo steal and embrace the young girl,
Thittamitta kalvargalaeOh thieves who planned it all,
Minji kolusu nenjai thirudiyathoDid her toe ring and anklets steal your heart?
Male
Vairangal thaarenI shall give you diamonds,
Valamana tholukkuFor your rich, soft shoulders.
Male :Thanga seruppu thaarenMale: I shall give golden sandals,
Kani vazhai kaalukkuFor your plantain-stem-like tender feet.
Male :Pavalangal thaarenMale: I shall give corals,
Paal pondra pallukkuFor your milk-white teeth.
Male :Muthu sarangal thaarenMale: I shall give strings of pearls,
Mun kovachollukkuFor your quick-tempered words.
Female
Un aasai ellaamAll your desires,
Verum kaanal neeruAre merely a mirage.
Nee yelam poda veraalappaaruFind someone else to auction your words to!
Male
Nee sollum sollukkkullaWithin the words you speak,
En pozhappu vaazhum pullaMy life resides, my darling girl.
Nee potta vethalaikkuFor the betel leaf prepared by you,
En naakku oorum pullaMy tongue waters, my darling girl.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Mai iruttu velayilaeIn the pitch darkness of night,
Kolusu satham manasai thirudiyathaeThe sound of anklets stole my heart.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Minnal adikkum velayilaeAt the time when lightning strikes,
Valavi satham ithayam thirudiyathaeThe sound of bangles stole my heart.
Female
Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa…Aaa….aaa….aaaa…
Chorus :Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…Chorus: Ahaaa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa…Aaa….aaa….aaaa…
Female
Rettai sooriyan varuguthammaTwo suns are approaching, dear girl,
Ottrai thaamarai karuguthammaAnd a single lotus is scorching away.
Vaal munaiyil oru suyamvaramaIs this a groom-selection contest at the tip of a sword?
Mangaikkul oru bayam varumaWill fear creep into the maiden's heart?
Female
Oru dhamayanthi naanammaI am like Damayanthi,
En nala raajan yaarammaWho is my King Nala?
Male
Manavaalan ingae naanammaI am the bridegroom right here, my dear.
Male :Maharajan ingae naanammaMale: I am the emperor right here, my dear.
Female
Idhu maalai mayakkamThis is an evening enchantment,
En manathil nadukkamThere is a tremble in my heart,
Nenjil vaarthai thudikkumWords quiver within my chest.
Nee rendil onnu solla sonnaIf you ask me to choose one out of two,
Oomai kili enna sollumWhat can a mute parrot say?
Male
Neesollum sollukkkullaWithin the words you speak,
En pozhappu vaazhum pullaMy life resides, my darling girl.
Nee potta vethalaikkuFor the betel leaf prepared by you,
En naakku oorum pullaMy tongue waters, my darling girl.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Mai iruttu velayilaeIn the pitch darkness of night,
Kolusu satham manasai thirudiyathaeThe sound of anklets stole my heart.
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Minnal adikkum velayilaeAt the time when lightning strikes,
Valavi satham ithayam thirudiyathaeThe sound of bangles stole my heart.
Chorus
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Ho ho ho hohohoHo ho ho hohoho
Male
Neesollum sollukkkullaWithin the words you speak,
En pozhappu vaazhum pullaMy life resides, my darling girl.
Nee potta vethalaikkuFor the betel leaf prepared by you,
En naakku oorum pullaMy tongue waters, my darling girl.
Female
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Velli mullaikkum velayilaeAt the time when Venus rises in the dawn,
Paruvapponna thirudi thazhuvaTo steal and embrace the young girl,
Thittamitta kalvargalaeOh thieves who planned it all,
Minji kolusu nenjai thirudiyathoDid her toe ring and anklets steal your heart?
Male
Veera paandi kottayilaeIn the Veerapandi fort,
Minnal adikkum velayilaeAt the time when lightning strikes,
Kaadum malaiyum thoongumpothuWhen the forest and mountains are asleep,
Kolusu satham manasai thirudiyathoDid the sound of anklets steal your heart?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Veerapandi Kottayile from Mani Ratnam's 1993 film Thiruda Thiruda is a high-energy, polyphonic folk-fusion track featuring lyrics by Vairamuthu and music composed by A. R. Rahman. Sung by Unni Menon, Mano, and K. S. Chithra, the song highlights the playful conflict and romantic rivalry between two charming thieves pursuing the same woman. Set against a backdrop of nocturnal adventure near an ancient fort, the lyrics blend sharp humor with lush romantic imagery. The central irony revolves around thieves who set out to pull off a robbery or win a girl, only to realize that her delicate anklets and bangles have stolen their own hearts. Vairamuthu cleverly uses classical references like Nala and Damayanthi alongside rustic folk metaphors to portray the heroine's hesitation and the suitors' competitive affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Rettai sooriyan varuguthamma

Compares the two male suitors approaching the heroine to two suns overpowering a single lotus.

Personification

Oorum aarum thoongum pothu

Attributes human sleep to natural elements like the village, river, forest, and mountains in the dead of night.

Allusion (Illakkiya Kurippu)

Oru dhamayanthi naanamma

Refers to the epic story of Damayanthi and Nala from the Mahabharata to illustrate a maiden torn during a svayamvara.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhukai / Monai)

Poovum nilavum saayum pothu

Demonstrates internal phonetic harmony with recurring sounds across adjacent words.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's action-comedy Thiruda Thiruda (1993), this song stands out for its complex vocal counterpoint and western choir elements fused with traditional Tamil folk percussion. It was sung by Unni Menon, Mano, and K. S. Chithra.

Keep listening

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