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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaethi Vacha Nerupinile

From Aalappirandhavan · 1987

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aalappirandhavan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaeththi vachcha neruppinilaeIn the fire that was lit
Eriyuthintha mezhuguvarththiThis candle is burning
Anaiththuvida yaarumillaThere is no one to extinguish it
Anaippatharkku kaaththumillaNor is there any wind to blow it out
Female
Manam mezhuguthaanae ingaeHere, the mind itself is like wax
Urugi urugi odaathoWon't it melt and melt and flow away?
Udalum nerupputhaan ingaeHere, even the body is fire
Urasa urasa koodaathoShouldn't it intensify as they rub together?
Male
Yaeththi vachcha neruppinilaeIn the fire that was lit
Eriyuthintha mezhuguvarththiThis candle is burning
Male
Erivathingu neruppumillae neruppumillaeWhat burns here is not real fire, not real fire
Ilaginathu mezhugumillae mezhugumillaeWhat melted here is not real wax, not real wax
Erivathingu neruppumillae neruppumillaeWhat burns here is not real fire, not real fire
Ilaginathu mezhugumillae mezhugumillaeWhat melted here is not real wax, not real wax
Female
Oru ganamthaan erivathathuIt burns for just a moment
Dhinam dhinamum thodarvathathuYet it continues every single day
Thodarnthidathaan virumbuvathuWhat it desires is to continue
Virumbidaththaan thodargirathuIt continues only because it desires
Male
Sudachsudach saernthaalumEven if they merge while burning hot
Pirinthida thaangaathuSeparation would be unbearable
Female :Kulirnthida nernthaalumEven if it happens to cool down
PIrinthida koodaathuThey must never separate
Male :Kattil edharkku meththai edharkkuWhy the need for a bed, why the need for a mattress?
Paththi kollumaeIt will catch fire anyway!
Male
Yaeththi vachcha neruppinilaeIn the fire that was lit
Eriyuthintha mezhuguvarththiThis candle is burning
Anaiththuvida yaarumillaThere is no one to extinguish it
Anaippatharkku kaaththumillaNor is there any wind to blow it out
Female
Manam mezhuguthaanae ingaeHere, the mind itself is like wax
Urugi urugi odaathoWon't it melt and melt and flow away?
Udalum nerupputhaan ingaeHere, even the body is fire
Urasa urasa koodaathoShouldn't it intensify as they rub together?
Male
Kaattrukkoru maadiyillae kudisaiyillaeThe wind has no multi-story mansion nor a humble hut
Kadhalukku rajan illae rowdy illaeLove knows no king nor a thug
Kaattrukkoru maadiyillae kudisaiyillaeThe wind has no multi-story mansion nor a humble hut
Kadhalukku rajan illae rowdy illaeLove knows no king nor a thug
Female
Manitha inam muzhuvatharkkumFor the entire human race
Iyarkkai thantha podhuvudamaiIt is a common right granted by nature
Manappasiyaa udarpasiyaaIs it hunger of the mind or hunger of the body?
Inappasiyaa thunaippasiyaaIs it hunger of the species or hunger for companionship?
Male
Kelviyillai padhilumillaiThere are no questions, nor are there answers
Ketpatharkku yaarumillaiThere is no one around to ask
Female :Irandum illai ondrumillaiIt is neither two nor one
Inaivatharkku thadaiyumillaThere is no obstacle to unite
Male :Inbam muzhuthum kotti kidakkuBliss lies scattered all around
Alli kollavaaShall I scoop it up and embrace it?
Male
Yaeththi vachcha neruppinilaeIn the fire that was lit
Eriyuthintha mezhuguvarththiThis candle is burning
Anaiththuvida yaarumillaThere is no one to extinguish it
Anaippatharkku kaaththumillaNor is there any wind to blow it out
Female
Manam mezhuguthaanae ingaeHere, the mind itself is like wax
Urugi urugi odaathoWon't it melt and melt and flow away?
Udalum nerupputhaan ingaeHere, even the body is fire
Urasa urasa koodaathoShouldn't it intensify as they rub together?
Male
Yaeththi vachcha neruppinilae……In the fire that was lit...
Eriyuthintha…….mezhuguvarththi……This candle is burning...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Yaeththi Vachcha Neruppinilae' is a deeply sensual and poetic duet from the movie 'Aalappirandhavan' (1987), composed and written by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja. The song uses vivid metaphors of burning candles, melting wax, and warmth to explore physical intimacy and emotional fusion between lovers. The burning flame symbolizes passion, while the melting wax depicts total surrender to desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Manam mezhuguthaanae ingae

Compares the human mind to melting wax, symbolizing emotional vulnerability and passion.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Udalum nerupputhaan ingae

Compares the human body to fire, highlighting physical passion and heat.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Urugi urugi odaatho

Repetition of 'urugi' (melting) emphasizes the continuous process of melting in passion.

Muran (Antithesis)

Erivathingu neruppumillae / Ilaginathu mezhugumillae

Contrasts physical fire and wax with metaphorical emotional fire and wax.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Manappasiyaa udarpasiyaa / Inappasiyaa thunaippasiyaa

Rhythmic repetition of 'pasiyaa' (hunger) at the end of consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

In addition to composing the iconic soundtrack for 'Aalappirandhavan' (1987), Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja penned the lyrics for this song himself, demonstrating his philosophical depth on topics of nature, human desire, and equality.

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