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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Salangaigal

From Kadhal Oviyam · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kadhal Oviyam1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Velli salangaigalSilver anklets
Konda kalaimagalWorn by the Goddess of Arts
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhuThis is the time she comes to dance
Male
Velli salangaigalSilver anklets
Konda kalaimagalWorn by the Goddess of Arts
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhuThis is the time she comes to dance
Male
Velli salangaigalSilver anklets
Konda kalaimagalWorn by the Goddess of Arts
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhuThis is the time she comes to dance
Male
Ivan natham tharumThe sweet musical notes
Suga surangalBestowed by him
Enthan devi unthanAre dedicated to you,
SamarpanangalMy Goddess, as an offering
Male
Velli salangaigalSilver anklets
Konda kalaimagalWorn by the Goddess of Arts
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhuThis is the time she comes to dance
Male
Unthan sangeethaThe sound of your musical
Salangai oli…ee..Dancing anklets...
Intha ezhaiku geethanjaliIs a musical offering to this poor soul
Thanga paathangalThe sound of your golden feet
Asaiyum oli..ee..Moving gracefully...
Enthan poojaiku koil maniIs like the temple bell for my worship
Male
Sevi rendum kannagaBoth my ears will now
Aagum iniFunction as my eyes
Uyirodu serum suruthiAs the pitch merges with my soul
Velli salangaigal konda kalaimagalGoddess of arts wearing silver anklets
Vanthu aadum kaalam idhuThis is the time she comes to dance
Ivan nnatham tharumThe musical notes given by him
Suga surangalMelodious tunes
Enthan devi unthan samarpanangalMy Goddess, these are offerings to you
Velli salangaigal konda kalaimagalGoddess of arts wearing silver anklets
Male
Thaga thajanu thajanu[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thathumi thathumi[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thaga dhitham thaga tham[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thagatham thagatham[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thatharitha janu[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thagatharitha janu[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thathathim thagathathim[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Thajam thajam[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Male
Thathi thakadatha thakathimi[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Male
Thakathimi thakidatham[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Tham tham tharigidathay[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Tharikitatham tharikitathay[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Tharikitatham tharikitathay[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Tharikitatham tharikitathay[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Tharikitathay[Rhythmic dance syllables]
Chorus
{Thannan thanimayilIn utter loneliness
Iru kili inaindhathuTwo parrots came together
Siragugal nanainthathuTheir wings got drenched
Paniyilae} (2)In the dew
Nanaithathanaal sudugirathaeBecause it got drenched, it burns with warmth
Nanaithathanaal sudugirathaeBecause it got drenched, it burns with warmth
Ini oru nizhal kodu malarvanamaeOh flower garden, grant us shade now
Pagalil oli kodu ragasiya nilavilOh secret moon, give light during the day
Viralil kaditham uyirai urasumA letter written by fingers grazes the soul
Viralil kaditham uyirai urasumA letter written by fingers grazes the soul
Chorus
Iru paruva raagangalRagas of two youthful ages
Suruthi serungalHarmonize together in pitch
Puthiya ganangal pozhiyavaeSo that new songs may shower down
Amutha megangalOh clouds of nectar
Pozhiya vaarungalCome shower down
Ilaya dhegangal nanaiyavaeSo that young bodies may get drenched
Chorus
Anbil oru kaathal kolluthuLove blooms from affection
Pen nenjil oru mogam killuthuPassion pinches the heart of the woman
Iruthayam kulipathuAs the heart bathes in joy
Vizhyil theriyaBecoming visible in the eyes
Ilagi inayum iru manangalTwo hearts melt and unite together

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Velli Salangaigal from Kadhal Oviyam (1982) is a deeply devotional and romantic classical piece composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song depicts a blind musician who perceives the dancer as Kalaimagal (Goddess Saraswati). He offers his musical notes as a sacred gift (Samarpanam), expressing that his ears have now become his eyes as he experiences her dance through the sound of her silver anklets. As the melody progresses into rhythmic jathis and soulful verses, the lyrics evoke evocative imagery of intimate love—two parrots huddling in the cold dew, young hearts yearning for togetherness, and emotions expressing themselves visually through the eyes. The song stands as a classic fusion of Carnatic classical dance rhythms and cinematic romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Enthan poojaiku koil mani

Comparing the sound of the dancer's golden feet to the temple bell rung during worship.

Hyperbole / Sensory Substitution

Sevi rendum kannaga aagum ini

The blind singer poetically declares that his ears will fulfill the role of eyes to visualize her dance through sound.

Visual and Tactile Imagery

Thannan thanimayil iru kili inaindhathu siragugal nanainthathu paniyilae

Poetic portrayal of two parrots drenched in dew seeking warmth, symbolizing intimate lovers.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thannan thanimayil... Siragugal nanainthathu

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'n' across lines (Thannan / Inaindhathu / Nanainthathu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadhal Oviyam (1982) was directed by P. Bharathiraja and features a iconic soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja centered around classical Indian music and dance. The song features complex classical dance syllables (solkattu/jathis) sung alongside vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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