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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yerikkarai Orathilae

From Thazhampoo · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thazhampoo1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hoo hooo hooo ooo ooo oooHoo hooo hooo ooo ooo ooo
Yaerikkarai orathilaeOn the edge of the lake bank
Ettu vaeli nilamirukkuThere are eight 'vaeli' of land
Ettu vaeli nilathilaeyumIn all those eight 'vaeli' of land
Enna vaithaal thoppaagumWhat plant will yield a grove?
Male
Yaerikkarai orathilaeOn the edge of the lake bank
Ettu vaeli nilamirukkuThere are eight 'vaeli' of land
Ettu vaeli nilathilaeyumIn all those eight 'vaeli' of land
Enna vaithaal thoppaagumWhat plant will yield a grove?
Female
Vaazhai vaithaal thoppaagumPlanting banana trees will create a grove
Manjal vaithaal pinju vidumPlanting turmeric will yield tender crops
Aazhamaaga uzhudhu vaithaalIf you plow deeply and cultivate
Athanaiyum ponnaagumAll of it will turn into gold
Female
Vaazhai vaithaal thoppaagumPlanting banana trees will create a grove
Manjal vaithaal pinju vidumPlanting turmeric will yield tender crops
Aazhamaaga uzhudhu vaithaalIf you plow deeply and cultivate
Athanaiyum ponnaagumAll of it will turn into gold
Male
Thenpurathu cheemaiyilaeIn the southern region
Then kumari kadal irukkuThere is the southern sea of Kanyakumari
Thenpurathu cheemaiyilaeIn the southern region
Then kumari kadal irukkuThere is the southern sea of Kanyakumari
Kumari kadal moozhgi vandhaalIf one dives into the Kumari sea
Kodaiyilae enna varumWhat will come forth in abundance?
Kumari kadal moozhgi vandhaalIf one dives into the Kumari sea
Kodaiyilae enna varumWhat will come forth in abundance?
Female
Saram saramaai muthu varumStrings of pearls will come
Thani pavalam saerndhu varumPrecious corals will come along
Saram saramaai muthu varumStrings of pearls will come
Thani pavalam saerndhu varumPrecious corals will come along
Female
Kumariyudan kalandhu vittaalIf one unites with a maiden
Kudumbathilum aasai varumA desire for family life will emerge
Kumariyudan kalandhu vittaalIf one unites with a maiden
Kudumbathilum aasai varumA desire for family life will emerge
Male
Yaerikkarai orathilaeOn the edge of the lake bank
Ettu vaeli nilamirukkuThere are eight 'vaeli' of land
Female
Aazhamaaga uzhudhu vaithaalIf you plow deeply and cultivate
Athanaiyum ponnaagumAll of it will turn into gold
Male
Kaalam indru kaniyum endruHoping that time will ripen today
Kanavu kandu vandhu vittenI came dreaming of it
Kaalam indru kaniyum endruHoping that time will ripen today
Kanavu kandu vandhu vittenI came dreaming of it
Male
Kanda kanaa palikkaadhoWill the dream I dreamt not come true?
Kadhavu indru thirakkaadhoWill the door not open today?
Kanda kanaa palikkaadhoWill the dream I dreamt not come true?
Kadhavu indru thirakkaadhoWill the door not open today?
Female
Ninaithu vittaal nadakkaadhoIf intended, will it not happen?
Nerungi vittaal pirakkaadhoIf drawn close, will new life not be born?
Ninaithu vittaal nadakkaadhoIf intended, will it not happen?
Nerungi vittaal pirakkaadhoIf drawn close, will new life not be born?
Manathinilae mudithu vittaalIf determined in the heart
Vazhikkadhavum thirakkaadhoWill the doorway to the path not open?
Male
Yaerikkarai orathilaeOn the edge of the lake bank
Ettu vaeli nilamirukkuThere are eight 'vaeli' of land
Female
Aazhamaaga uzhudhu vaithaalIf you plow deeply and cultivate
Athanaiyum ponnaagumAll of it will turn into gold

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yaerikkarai Orathilae from the movie Thazhampoo (1965) uses rich rural and agricultural metaphors to convey themes of hard work, hope, and romantic fulfillment. Lyricist Kannadasan compares working the fertile land and diving for pearls in the southern ocean to cultivating relationships and working toward one's dreams. The song stresses that deep effort in farming yields golden harvests, just as diving deep into life's opportunities brings love, family, and prosperity. In the final verses, the narrative turns inward, reflecting on optimism, perseverance, and the belief that single-minded determination can unlock any closed door and fulfill long-cherished dreams.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kaalam indru kaniyum endru / Kanavu kandu vandhu vitten

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines creating melodic cadence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kanda kanaa palikkaadho / Kadhavu indru thirakkaadho

Matching second consonants ('d' sound in Kanda and Kadhavu) establishing traditional Tamil rhyming structure.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Athanaiyum ponnaagum

Comparing the rich, deep-plowed yield of agricultural harvest directly to 'gold'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ninaithu vittaal nadakkaadho / Nerungi vittaal pirakkaadho

Matching end suffixes '-adho' creating rhythmic symmetry at the ends of lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thazhampoo (1965) stars S. S. Rajendran, K. R. Vijaya, and M. R. Radha. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, featuring lyrics by Kannadasan that brilliantly blend Tamil folk idiom with philosophical wisdom.

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