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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vennayai Thirudi

From Kalaivanan · 1959

Lyricist
Ra. Pazhanisami
Singers
S. Janaki, S. C. Krishnan
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Kalaivanan1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vennaiyai thirudi thindruAfter stealing butter and eating it,
Verum sattiyaana pinaalWhen only an empty pot was left,
Male
Appa mulunghu mulunghuHey, swallow it, swallow it!
Nalla mulungittu paaduSwallow it well and then sing!
Male
Mannaiyum urutti thindruRolling mud and eating it too,
Mathaalae adiyum pattaGetting beaten by the churning rod,
Male
AamaYes!
Male
Kannanae unakku paarijaatha pooOh Krishna, for you, a Parijata flower
Kondu vandhenI have brought!
Yaarukku koduppaayoo poovaiTo whom will you give this flower?
Krishnaa yaarukku koduppaayoo poovaiKrishna, to whom will you give this flower?
Krishnaa yaarukku koduppaayoo poovaiKrishna, to whom will you give this flower?
Male
Sathiyabaamaiyum rukuvumSatyabhama and Rukmini
Rendu saaraiyum keeriyum polaAre like a snake and a mongoose...
Chorus :Rendu saaraiyum keeriyum polaChorus: Like a snake and a mongoose...
Male :Manamoththu oruthikku poovai koduthaaMale: If I willingly give this flower to one of them,
Mathava thittuva pinnaaleThe other one will scold me afterwards!
Chorus :Aama mathava thittuva pinnaaleChorus: Yes, the other will scold afterwards!
Aama mathava thittuva pinnaaleYes, the other will scold afterwards!
Male
Ivalukka avalukkaTo this one? Or to that one?
Ivalukka avalukkaTo this one? Or to that one?
Evalukku poovai koduppenTo whom shall I give this flower?
Chorus :Idhai yaar thalaiyilae naan mudippenChorus: On whose head shall I adorn this?
Idhai yaar thalaiyiale naan mudippenOn whose head shall I adorn this?
Male :Ahaa…oohooMale: Ahaa... oohoo
Male
Thikku thinara vaikkum rukkumaniyaeOh Rukmini, who leaves me overwhelmed and breathless!
Kannaal vakkanaigal pesum pathiniyaeOh chaste wife, who speaks witty words with her eyes!
Chorus :Aama vakkanaigal pesum pathiniyaeChorus: Yes, a chaste wife who speaks witty words!
Male
Ohoo thikku thinara vaikkum rukkumaniyaeOhoo, Rukmini who leaves me breathless!
Kannaal vakkanaigal pesum pathiniyaeOh chaste wife, who speaks witty words with her eyes!
Chorus :Aama vakkanaigal pesum pathiniyaeChorus: Yes, a chaste wife who speaks witty words!
Male
Seevimuditha undhan …yeOn your well-combed... yeah
Aa seevimuditha undhan sikku illadha thalaiyilAh, on your well-combed tangle-free hair,
Seevimuditha undhan sikku illadha thalaiyilOn your well-combed tangle-free hair,
Poovai mudithu undhan pinnazhagai kaana vandhenI came to place this flower and admire your beauty from behind!
Poovai mudithu undhan pinnazhagai kaana vandhenI came to place this flower and admire your beauty from behind!
Female
Konjam kili ennai vittuLeaving me, the sweet parrot,
Kottaanai konjiputtuAnd fondling the owl instead,
Konjam kili ennai vittuLeaving me, the sweet parrot,
Kottaanai konjiputtuAnd fondling the owl instead,
Vanjanaiyai nenjil sumandhuCarrying deceit in your heart,
Vandhaayoo….poo pooDid you come... go, go!
Poo poo ..poo ..pooGo, go.. go.. go!
Poo pooGo, go!
Male
Baama kobam yenmmaBhama, why this anger, dear?
Sathyabaama kobam yenmmaSatyabhama, why this anger, dear?
Andha vaasamulla malar pootha marathaiyaeThat fragrant flower-bearing tree itself,
Kattayamagavae vettiye thaarenI will surely chop down and give to you!
Baama kobam yenmmaBhama, why this anger, dear?
Sathyabaama kobam yenmmaSathyabhama, why this anger, dear?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song depicts a comical reenactment of the divine rivalry between Lord Krishna's wives, Satyabhama and Rukmini, centered around the celestial Parijata flower. The dialogue brings out Krishna's dilemma of choosing which wife to give the single flower to, as favoring one inevitably angers the other—comparing their relationship to that of a snake and a mongoose. When Krishna tries to soothe Rukmini by admiring her tangle-free hair, Satyabhama reacts with jealous rage, accusing him of ignoring her (the parrot) for an owl. To resolve the conflict and pacify Satyabhama's fierce anger, Krishna heroically promises to uproot and bring her the entire Parijata tree itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Rendu saaraiyum keeriyum pola

Compares the bitter rivalry between Rukmini and Satyabhama to that of a snake and a mongoose.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Konjam kili ennai vittu kottaanai konjiputtu

Metaphorically compares herself to a sweet parrot (kili) and the rival to an owl (kottaan).

Alliteration (Ethukai)

Thikku thinara vaikkum rukkumaniyae

Rhythmic sound patterning with the repetition of 'k' and 'th' sounds.

Did you know?

Trivia

The myth of the Parijata tree is one of the most celebrated comedic-dramatic themes in Indian folklore, where Lord Krishna uproots the tree from Indra's heaven to appease Satyabhama's famous jealousy.

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