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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yen Mayakkama

From Pattathu Rani · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Details
Pattathu Rani1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haa aaa aa haa aaa aaaHaa aaa aa haa aaa aaa
Female
Yen mayakkamaaWhy this intoxication?
Indru than pazhakkamaaIs this familiarity starting only today?
Mella vaa nerukkamaaCome slowly into closeness,
Solla vaa surukkamaaaShall I tell you briefly?
Female
Madhu tharuvadhu paadhi mayakkamWine gives half of the intoxication,
Maadhu tharuvadhu meedhi mayakkamA woman gives the rest of the intoxication.
Poludhellaam pazharasamFruit juice all through the day,
Parugalaam kinnathilWe can sip from the cup.
Iravellaam kavidhaigalPoems all through the night,
Ezhudhalaam kinnathilWe can write upon the cup.
Female
Yen mayakkamaaWhy this intoxication?
Indru than pazhakkamaaIs this familiarity starting only today?
Mella vaa nerukkamaaCome slowly into closeness,
Solla vaa surukkamaaaShall I tell you briefly?
Male
Ennaiyae marakkirenI am completely forgetting myself,
Ennai nee mannippaaiPlease forgive me.
Female
Orae kodiyilae iru kani kidaikkumTwo fruits are found on a single creeper,
Orae suvaiyil palavidha mayakkamMany forms of intoxication from a single taste.
Oru murai arimugam adhuvarai pudhumugamIntroduced just once, a new face until then,
Palamurai pazhagiyum pudhu murai anubhavamEven with long acquaintance, it feels like a brand new experience.
Female
Yen mayakkamaaWhy this intoxication?
Indru than pazhakkamaaIs this familiarity starting only today?
Mella vaa nerukkamaaCome slowly into closeness,
Solla vaa surukkamaaaShall I tell you briefly?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet expresses the intoxicating feeling of love and romance, comparing passion to fine wine. The song captures a couple's deep mutual attraction, where every moment spent together feels fresh and novel despite their growing intimacy. Kannadasan poetically balances daytime simplicity with nighttime romance, illustrating how love envelops the mind completely.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Yen mayakkamaa / Indru than pazhakkamaa / Mella vaa nerukkamaa / Solla vaa surukkamaaa

The end of lines 2 through 5 feature the repeating sound '-amaa' ('mayakkamaa', 'pazhakkamaa', 'nerukkamaa', 'surukkamaaa'), creating a rhythmic and musical cadence.

Ethukai (Second Letter Assonance)

Madhu tharuvadhu paadhi mayakkam / Maadhu tharuvadhu meedhi mayakkam

The second letters of 'Madhu' and 'Maadhu' match ('dhu'), creating a clever phonetic contrast between wine and woman.

Metaphor

Orae kodiyilae iru kani kidaikkum

Comparing lovers or their shared connection to two fruits growing together on a single vine.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. K. Ramamoorthy for the 1967 film 'Pattathu Rani', this song features a famous lyrical wordplay by Kannadasan contrasting 'Madhu' (wine) and 'Maadhu' (woman). It remains a notable solo-composition era piece by Ramamoorthy after his separation from M. S. Viswanathan.

Keep listening

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