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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yerikarai Thottathile Yezhai

From Oli Piranthathu · 1980

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Oli Piranthathu
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
28 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaerikkarai thottaththilae
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu
Yaerikkarai thottaththilae
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae
Yaerikkarai thottaththilae
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae
Maalai onnu thanthaanga
Manaiviyinnu sonnaanga
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi
Maalai onnu thanthaanga
Manaiviyinnu sonnaanga
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi
Kolamida vaasalilae
Kondu vanthaar koodaiyilae
Kolamida vaasalilae
Kondu vanthaar koodaiyilae
Vaazhum vagai puriyavillaiyae rasaththi
Vedhanaigal theeravillaiyae adi rasaththi
Vedhanaigal theeravillaiyae….
Aandavana thedikittu
Koyilukku poyirunthaen
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi
Aandavana thedikittu
Koyilukku poyirunthaen
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi
Aalayaththil dheivamillai
Abalai ennai kaakkavillai
Aalayaththil dheivamillai
Abalai ennai kaakkavillai
Dheivaththukkum irakkammillaiyae rasaththi
Theroda veedhiyillaiyae rasaththi
Theroda veedhiyillaiyae…..
Yaerikkarai thottaththilae
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththi
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae….
In the garden by the lake shore,
The banana sapling planted by this poor girl
In the garden by the lake shore,
The banana sapling planted by this poor girl
Never grew into a grove, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me.
In the garden by the lake shore,
The banana sapling planted by this poor girl
Never grew into a grove, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me.
They gave me a garland,
And called me a wife,
Rasathi, oh Rasathi!
They gave me a garland,
And called me a wife,
Rasathi, oh Rasathi!
To draw patterns at the doorway,
They brought me carrying a basket,
To draw patterns at the doorway,
They brought me carrying a basket,
I do not know how to live, Rasathi,
My suffering never ends, oh Rasathi,
My suffering never ends...
Searching for God,
I went to the temple,
Rasathi, oh Rasathi!
Searching for God,
I went to the temple,
Rasathi, oh Rasathi!
There was no God in the shrine,
He did not protect a helpless woman like me,
There was no God in the shrine,
He did not protect a helpless woman like me,
Even God had no pity on me, Rasathi,
There is no open street for my chariot to run, Rasathi,
There is no open street for my chariot to run...
In the garden by the lake shore,
The banana sapling planted by this poor girl
Never grew into a grove, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me, oh Rasathi,
There is no one to protect me...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sorrowful folk-style song from 'Oli Piranthathu' (1980) expresses the deep emotional plight of a woman who feels abandoned and unfulfilled in life. Through the extended metaphor of a poor person's solitary plantain sapling that fails to grow into a lush grove due to lack of protection, the singer laments her delicate, vulnerable existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu / Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae”

The plantain sapling planted by a poor person that fails to become a grove is a metaphor for her frail life that fails to blossom into happiness.

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

“Aalayaththil dheivamillai / Abalai ennai kaakkavillai”

Alliteration of the initial letter 'Aa' in 'Aalayaththil' and 'Abalai'.

Refrain / Anaphora

“Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi”

Repeated address to 'Rasaththi' serves as an emotional anchor expressing grief to a confidante throughout the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oli Piranthathu' (1980) features music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics written by Aalangudi Somu, known for writing deeply evocative folk-oriented Tamil songs.

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