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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vilai Pesum

From Orey Saatchi · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Orey Saatchi1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Enna sugam vendumWhat pleasure do you desire?
Ennodaththil kooruTell me, onboard my boat.
Ennai vida nee virumbumWho is the beautiful woman...
Pennazhagu yaaru...that you love more than me?
Aa….aa….aah….aa…Aa....aa....aah....aa...
Female
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Kannaa vilaiyaada vaa vaa endruSaying, 'Oh Krishna, come play, come'...
Innum sollavo…oo….Should I say more?
Female
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Kannaa vilaiyaada vaa vaa endruSaying, 'Oh Krishna, come play, come'...
Innum sollavo…oo….Should I say more?
Female
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Female
Antha mangaiyaa intha mangaiyaaThat maiden or this maiden?
Iruvaril yaar vendumWhich of the two do you want?
Ingae iruvaril yaar vendumHere, which of the two do you want?
Pakkam vanthathum sorkkam enbathuHeaven itself, once you come close...
Ennidamthaan thondrum...appears only with me.
Sugam ennidamthaan thondrumPleasure appears only with me.
Female
Ponnu thevaiyaa jinnu thevaiyaaDo you need a girl or do you need gin?
Irandilum sari paathiBoth have an equal share.
Bodhai irandilum sari paathiIntoxication is equal in both.
Female
Silai maeni thottu thottu seeraattavaaShall I touch and fondle your statue-like body?
Silai maeni thottu thottu seeraattavaaShall I touch and fondle your statue-like body?
Sevvaayil muththamittu thaenunnavaaShall I kiss your red lips and taste the honey?
Sevvaayil muththamittu thaenunnavaaShall I kiss your red lips and taste the honey?
Suvaikkaatha thaenthaan naanthaan kannaaI am untasted honey, my Krishna.
Suvaikkaatha thaenthaan naanthaan kannaaI am untasted honey, my Krishna.
Uravaadum neram inbam pongum mannavaaDuring the time of intimacy, joy overflows, my king.
Uravaadum neram inbam pongum mannavaaDuring the time of intimacy, joy overflows, my king.
Female
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Kannaa vilaiyaada vaa vaa endruSaying, 'Oh Krishna, come play, come'...
Innum sollavo…oo….Should I say more?
Female
Vilai pesumAre these not the eyes...
Kangal allavo...that bargain a price?
Female
Thaen kani thaangidum poongodiA flowering vine bearing sweet honeyed fruits,
Paal mozhi pesidum paingkiliA young parrot speaking milk-like sweet words,
Thaen kani thaangidum poongodiA flowering vine bearing sweet honeyed fruits,
Paal mozhi pesidum paingkiliA young parrot speaking milk-like sweet words,
Female
Panjanai manthiram thanthidum chithiramA picture that offers the spell of a soft bed,
En azhagil arugil vilaiyumGrows near my beauty,
Iniya sugam peravaaWill you receive sweet pleasure?
En azhagil arugil vilaiyumGrows near my beauty,
Iniya sugam peravaa….aa….Will you receive sweet pleasure?
Female
Ponnu thevaiyaa jinnu thevaiyaaDo you need a girl or do you need gin?
Irandilum sari paathiBoth have an equal share.
Bodhai irandilum sari paathiIntoxication is equal in both.
Kannam thevaiyaa kinnam thevaiyaaDo you need a cheek or do you need a cup?
Irandumae oru jaathiBoth belong to the same kind.
Ingae irandumae oru jaathiHere both belong to the same kind.
Kaiyilae yaenthalaam kadhalil neendhalaamYou can hold it in hand and swim in love.
Kaiyilae yaenthalaam kadhalil neendhalaamYou can hold it in hand and swim in love.
Kaiyilae yaenthalaam kadhalil neendhalaamYou can hold it in hand and swim in love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a classic sensual cabaret-style duelling dance track sung from the perspective of two alluring maidens competing for the attention and affection of a lover (addressed metaphorically as Krishna). They pitch their respective charms, comparing feminine beauty and intimacy to intoxication, wine, and heavenly pleasure, inviting him to choose between them or indulge in both.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ponnu thevaiyaa jinnu thevaiyaa

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Ponnu' and 'Bodhai' / 'Kannam' and 'Kinnam'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Thaen kani thaangidum poongodi / Paal mozhi pesidum paingkili

Comparing sweet words to milk ('Paal mozhi') and a maiden to a flowering vine ('Poongodi') and a parrot ('Paingkili').

Simile / Analogy

Bodhai irandilum sari paathi

Equating intoxication from women ('Ponnu') to intoxication from liquor ('Jinnu') as equal halves.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track brings together two legendary playback singers of Tamil cinema, P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari, in a rare competitive dance duet format composed by the Shankar-Ganesh duo with witty lyrics by Kannadasan.

Keep listening

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