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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vilakke Nee Konda

From Niraikudam · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Niraikudam
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
28 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Mugame neeyitta thirai naane
Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Poovum kaayum veru veru
Poovae kaayaagum
Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru
Ponnae nagaiyaagum
Poovum kaayum veru veru
Poovae kaayaagum
Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru
Ponnae nagaiyaagum
Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam
Kaaiyai rasipparo
Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam
Kaaiyai rasipparo
Ponnai othukkum maadhargal ellaam
Nagaiyai anivaaro
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Thottil pillai paadal kettu
Annai vara vendum
Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu
Thunaiyae varavendum
Thottil pillai paadal kettu
Annai vara vendum
Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu
Thunaiyae varavendum
Kanavan mugathai kangal
Kaanum kaalam varavendum
Kanavan mugathai kangal
Kaanum kaalam varavendum
Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku
Kaaval thara vendum
Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku
Kaaval thara vendum
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Mugame neeyitta thirai naane
Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi
O lamp, I am the light within you
O eye, I am the shadow you saw
O face, I am the veil you wore
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoy!
O lamp, I am the light within you
O eye, I am the shadow you saw
A flower and a fruit are different
Yet the flower becomes the fruit
Gold and jewellery are different
Yet gold becomes the jewellery
A flower and a fruit are different
Yet the flower becomes the fruit
Gold and jewellery are different
Yet gold becomes the jewellery
Would women who dislike flowers
Ever enjoy the fruit?
Would women who dislike flowers
Ever enjoy the fruit?
Would women who reject gold
Ever wear the jewellery?
O lamp, I am the light within you
O eye, I am the shadow you saw
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle,
The mother must come
Hearing the words of this yearning heart,
My companion must come
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle,
The mother must come
Hearing the words of this yearning heart,
My companion must come
For these eyes to look upon my husband's face,
That time must come
For these eyes to look upon my husband's face,
That time must come
When I see him, my kumkum (auspicious red mark)
Must protect me
When I see him, my kumkum (auspicious red mark)
Must protect me
O lamp, I am the light within you
O eye, I am the shadow you saw
O face, I am the veil you wore
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoy!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from 'Niraikudam' is a profound expression of devotion, unity, and emotional longing. Through Kannadasan's evocative poetry, the protagonist identifies intimately with various elements of nature and daily life, establishing that true bond and essence cannot be separated—just as a lamp cannot be separated from light, or raw gold from the fine jewelry it becomes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane

The singer identifies themselves directly with the light of the lamp, the shadow seen by eyes, and both the thorn and the flower.

Polysemy / Wordplay (Sledai)

Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam

Kannadasan cleverly plays with the word 'Poovai', using it once to mean 'flower' and again in 'Poovaiyar' to mean 'women'.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Poovum kaayum veru veru / Poovae kaayaagum

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound creates rhythmic musicality.

Anaphora / Parallelism

Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru / Ponnae nagaiyaagum

Structured repetition of sentence patterns comparing developmental stages (flower to fruit, gold to ornament).

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1969 film 'Niraikudam' starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, this song was composed by V. Kumar with deeply philosophical lyrics written by Kannadasan and sung with rich emotion by T. M. Soundararajan.

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