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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadu Nanaiyuthenu

From Anbukku Naan Adimai · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, Saradha, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Anbukku Naan Adimai1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vandhaai kandhan enaYou came like Lord Murugan
Vaazhvaliththaai engalukkuAnd gave us a life
Indhaa eduthu kolHere, take this
Ennudaiya kaanikkaAs my offering
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Onaayi azhudha kadhaThe wolf cried fake tears—a story like that
Adhu pola irundhadhaiyaaThat is how it was, sir
Naagappan senja vadhaThe torment inflicted by Nagappan
Female
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnuA wolf cried fake tears, my dear girl
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnuChorus: One wolf, one wolf
Onaai onnuOne wolf
Female
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnuA wolf cried fake tears, my dear girl
Yaaru therinjukkadiKnow who he truly is, girl
Sonnaa purinjukkadiUnderstand when explained, girl
Oorarinja aaluHe is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character
Chorus
Oorarinja aaluHe is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character
Female
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnuA wolf cried fake tears, my dear girl
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnuChorus: One wolf, one wolf
Onaai onnuOne wolf
Female
Eththanai kuththangal panniyavanHe is one who committed so many crimes
Eppavum thappikka enniyavanAlways planning a way to escape
Uththaman alladi ulla padiHe is no righteous man in reality
Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nariA cunning jackal roaming amidst the herd
Chorus
Eththanai kuththangal panniyavanHe is one who committed so many crimes
Eppavum thappikka enniyavanAlways planning a way to escape
Uththaman alladi ulla padiHe is no righteous man in reality
Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nariA cunning jackal roaming amidst the herd
Female
Saayam velukkumadiFalse pretenses will fade away
Nyaayam nilaikkumadiyo ho oo hoiJustice will ultimately prevail, oh ho!
Female
{Paalaattam{Like milk on the outside,
Chorus :KallirukkumChorus: There is poison inside
Female :Adi onnaattamFemale: And just like you,
Chorus :Onnirukkum} (2)Chorus: There are people like him} (2)
Female
Ammaadi em pecha keluMy dear, listen to my words
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi hoi
Female
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnuA wolf cried fake tears, my dear girl
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnuChorus: One wolf, one wolf
Onaai onnuOne wolf
Female
Yaaru therinjukkadiKnow who he truly is, girl
Sonnaa purinjukkadiUnderstand when explained, girl
Oorarinja aaluHe is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character
Chorus :Oorarinja aaluChorus: He is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character
Chorus
Thannanna naadhinaa hoiThannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thana thannanna naadhinaa hoiThana thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thannanna naadhinaa hoiThannanna naadhinaa hoi
Thana thannanna naadhinaa hoiThana thannanna naadhinaa hoi
Chorus
Thaandaanae thana thaandaanaeThaandaanae thana thaandaanae
Thaandaanae thana thaandaanaeThaandaanae thana thaandaanae
Thaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanaeThaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanae
Female :Thandhana thandhana thandhana naa….Female: Thandhana thandhana thandhana naa….
Chorus :Thaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanaeChorus: Thaandaanae thaandaanae thaandaanae
Female :Thandhana thandhana thandhanaFemale: Thandhana thandhana thandhana
Thandhana……………….Thandhana……………….
Female
Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadiPlay the Thappu and Pambai drums, girls
Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadiClap your hands without missing the beat
Female
Oorellaam maenjadhu kaattu puliThe wild tiger that preyed on the whole village
Adhu peiyaattam onjadhu paattu padiIts wild frenzy has been tamed, so sing a song
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiiiChorus: Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiii
Chorus
Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadiPlay the Thappu and Pambai drums, girls
Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadiClap your hands without missing the beat
Oorellaam maenjadhu kaattu puliThe wild tiger that preyed on the whole village
Adhu peiyaattam onjadhu paattu padiIts wild frenzy has been tamed, so sing a song
Female
Koondil pudicha puliA tiger trapped in a cage
Thaandi kuthikkumadiyoo hoiWill try to leap and break out, oh hoi
Female
{Kattaattaa{If tied up firmly,
Chorus :Buththi varumChorus: Sense will return to it
Female :Adha vittaakkaaFemale: But if released,
Chorus :Suththi varum} (2)Chorus: It will roam around causing havoc again} (2)
Female
Ammaadi sandhosham paaruMy dear, look at the joy around us!
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi hoi
Female
Aadu nananjadhunnuSaying the goat got drenched in rain,
Azhudhadhadi onaai onnuA wolf cried fake tears, my dear girl
Chorus :Onaai onnu onaai onnuChorus: One wolf, one wolf
Onaai onnuOne wolf
Female
Yaaru therinjukkadiKnow who he truly is, girl
Sonnaa purinjukkadiUnderstand when explained, girl
Oorarinja aaluHe is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character
Chorus :Oorarinja aaluChorus: He is a well-known man in town
Avan yogyadhaiya keluListen to the truth about his character

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively folk song uses traditional Tamil proverbs and metaphors to expose the hypocrisy and deceit of an antagonist named Nagappan. The singer warns the villagers about a wolf in sheep's clothing—someone who sheds crocodile tears ("a wolf crying that the goat got wet") while secretly committing crimes. The lyrics celebrate the victory of truth and justice over tyranny, comparing the villain to a wild tiger that has finally been caged. Set to energetic folk rhythms involving traditional drums like Thappu and Pambai, the song urges the community to celebrate the end of oppression. It serves both as a moral narrative about how wicked deeds eventually come to light and as a festive call for unity and joyous folk dancing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

Aadu nananjadhunnu / Azhudhadhadi onaai onnu

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Aadu nananjadhunnu onaai azhudhadhu' (The wolf crying tears because the goat got drenched) to denote crocodile tears and fake sympathy.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Mandhai maththiyil suthura kulla nari

Compares a deceitful criminal operating secretly among innocent people to a cunning jackal lurking inside a herd of sheep.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thappaattam pambaiya thattungadi / Thaalam thappaama kaigala kottungadi

Rhyming of the second consonant 'ppa' between 'Thappaattam' and 'thappaama'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anbukku Naan Adimai' (1980) stars Rajinikanth and Rathi Devi in lead roles, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by Vaali. The song relies heavily on Tamil folk dance forms like Thappaattam.

Keep listening

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