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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yenintha Jalamada

From Mathar Kula Manickam · 1956

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Mathar Kula Manickam1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Enakkor varamae arulvaai kannaGrant me just one boon, O Kanna!
Enakkor varamae arulvaai kannaGrant me just one boon, O Kanna!
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Yen indha jaalamada …..Why this illusion...
Female
Inbamae koridum rukmani polLike Rukmani who seeks pure bliss,
Unadhu anbinil poridum sathiyabaamai polLike Satyabhama who playfully fights in your love,
Inbamae koridum rukmani polLike Rukmani who seeks pure bliss,
Unadhu anbinil poridum sathiyabaamai polLike Satyabhama who playfully fights in your love,
Ezhil migum manimudiyaai vilangidaTo shine as a magnificent jeweled crown on your head,
Ezhil migum manimudiyaai vilangidaTo shine as a magnificent jeweled crown on your head,
Isai muraliyaai aagavum aasai illaiyaeOr even to become your melodic flute, I have no desire!
Isai muraliyaai aagavum aasai illaiyaeOr even to become your melodic flute, I have no desire!
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Yen indha jaalamada …..Why this illusion...
Female
Saaswadhamaai un kaalinil jallenaEternally at your feet, making a gentle jingle,
Saaswadhamaai un kaalinil jallenaEternally at your feet, making a gentle jingle,
Sadhangai ondraai thonikka vendumaeI wish to echo as a single dancing anklet!
Saaswadhamaai un kaalinil jallenaEternally at your feet, making a gentle jingle,
Sadhangai ondraai thonikka vendumaeI wish to echo as a single dancing anklet!
Thamarai malar padham mel thavazhndhidaTo crawl gently over your lotus-like feet,
Thamarai malar padham mel thavazhndhidaTo crawl gently over your lotus-like feet,
Haa…aaa..aaaa…haa…aa..aa…Haa…aaa..aaaa…haa…aa..aa…
Than nilaithanai maranthidum bakkiyam vendumaeI seek the blessed fortune of losing all my self-awareness!
Female
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Enakkor varamae arulvaai kannaGrant me just one boon, O Kanna!
Yen indha jaalamada krishnaWhy this illusion and trickery, O Krishna?
Yen indha jaalamada …..Why this illusion...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses a devotee's profound, selfless love and surrender (Bhakti) towards Lord Krishna. The singer questions Krishna's evasive playfulness (Jaalam) and pleads for a single boon. Rather than desiring prominent honors—such as being Rukmani who experiences heavenly bliss, Satyabhama who enjoys loving squabbles, a grand crown on his head, or even the flute pressed to his lips—she seeks absolute humility at his feet. Her ultimate desire is to be a simple anklet adorning Krishna's lotus feet, constantly chiming with his movements. By resting at his divine feet, she hopes to attain the ultimate spiritual blessing: completely transcending her ego and forgetting her self-identity in pure divine consciousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Inbamae koridum rukmani pol / Unadhu anbinil poridum sathiyabaamai pol

Compares the protagonist's love to Krishna's famous consorts Rukmani and Satyabhama using the Tamil comparative marker 'pol' (like).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thamarai malar padham mel thavazhndhida

Krishna's feet are directly metaphorized as divine 'lotus flowers' (Thamarai malar padham).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Saaswadhamaai un kaalinil jallena / Sadhangai ondraai thonikka vendumae

Repetition of the 'Sa' consonant sound at the beginning of consecutive lines ('Saaswadhamaai', 'Sadhangai').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Inbamae koridum rukmani pol / Unadhu anbinil poridum sathiyabaamai pol

Matching second consonant letter sound ('n' in Inbamae and Unadhu) across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

1. 'Mathar Kula Manickam' (1956) was directed by T. Prakash Rao and featured A. Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi, and Savitri in lead roles. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu as 'Charana Dasi'. 2. The music composer S. Rajeswara Rao was famous for infusing carnatic classical ragas seamlessly into film melodies, and P. Leela's soulful rendition made this song a evergreen devotional classic in Tamil cinema history. 3. The lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass beautifully blend mythological references (Rukmani, Satyabhama, Krishna's flute and crown) with Vaishnavite devotional poetry themes of absolute surrender (Saranagathi).

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