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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vinn Poley

From Amarakavi · 1952

Lyricist
Suratha
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Amarakavi1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vinn polae neela nira kattumDisplaying a blue hue like the vast sky,
Uyarndha mani vaithirukkumAnd holding high-value precious gems within,
Thanneer irundhum thaagam theerkkaadhuDespite having plenty of water, it cannot quench thirst,
Theerkkaadhu….ye….eeeCannot quench... oh...
Male
Pagal iravaal vayadhaagiAging through the endless cycle of day and night,
Kondu varum ivvulagamThis world that carries on,
Pagal iravaal vayadhaagiAging through the endless cycle of day and night,
Kondu varum ivvulagam…aaa…aaaThis world that carries on... ah... ah...
Peridhaaga paesum idhaiyae…ye …ye…Yet people speak so grandly of this very thing... oh... oh...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This enigmatic verse written by poet Suratha for the movie Amarakavi (1952) uses the ocean as a philosophical metaphor for worldly existence. Although the ocean boasts a stunning sky-blue color and hides rich treasures in its depths, its vast body of salty water remains useless for quenching human thirst. Similarly, although people praise the grand material world that relentlessly ages through the cycles of day and night, it ultimately fails to satisfy inner spiritual longing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Vinn polae neela nira kattum

Compares the ocean's vast blue color to the color of the sky using the comparative marker 'polae'.

Muran (Paradox / Antithesis)

Thanneer irundhum thaagam theerkkaadhu

Presents the paradox of having an entire ocean of water that is fundamentally unable to quench a person's thirst.

Sol Pinvaru Nilaiyani (Repetition of lines for poetic emphasis)

Pagal iravaal vayadhaagi

The line emphasizing the continuous passage of time and aging of the world is repeated to emphasize the transient nature of life.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amarakavi (1952) was one of the notable comeback films for M. K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), Tamil cinema's first superstar, following his acquittal in the Lakshmikanthan murder case. The lyricist Suratha gained the celebrated title 'Uvamai Kavagnar' (Poet of Similes) for his unique mastery in embedding rich poetic metaphors and riddles like this into song lyrics.

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