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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Paambirukkudhu

From Illam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Jayachandran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Illam1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaadhalilae tholviyutraan kaalai oruvanA young man has failed in love
Chorus
Aamaa kaalai oruvan aiyo kaalai oruvanYes, a young man, oh dear, a young man
Male
Vaazhkkaiyilae thotthu vittaan annan oruvanAn elder brother has lost in life
Chorus
Aamaa annan oruvan enga annan oruvanYes, an elder brother, our elder brother
Chorus
Aamaa periya thaerdhalu…Oh sure, as if it is a major election...
Idhula thotthupputtaennu varutha padu…To feel sad thinking you lost in this...
Male
Yaaraavadhu pombala yaemaathiruppaaSome woman must have cheated him
Adhu thaan polamburaanThat is why he is lamenting
Daei yaemaathunavala summaa vida koodaadhu paaHey, the woman who cheated shouldn't be left off easily, man
Male
Adhanaala thaan naangalum yaethikkittirukkomThat is why we are also getting drunk/hyped up
Neeyum yaethikkoYou drink/hype up too
Male
Aadum paambirukkudhuThere is a dancing snake inside
Adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhuIt is lying down without moving
Veeram ullirukkudhuValor resides deep within
Adhu neram paathirukkudhuIt is just waiting for the right time
Vittaennaa ooru rendaagum paaruIf I let loose, see the town split into two
Kuduthaennaa kuthaalam kodaikkaanal onnaagumIf I strike, Courtallam and Kodaikanal will become one
Male
Aadum paambirukkudhuThere is a dancing snake inside
Adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhuIt is lying down without moving
Male
Mel iruppavan kekka marandhaaIf the one above forgets to ask justice
Ul iruppavan vittiduvaanaaWill the one inside let it pass?
Mel iruppavan kekka marandhaaIf the one above forgets to ask justice
Ul iruppavan vittiduvaanaaWill the one inside let it pass?
Thembu ingirukku ingirukku ingirukkuCourage is right here, right here, right here
Vambu angirukku angirukku angirukkuTrouble is over there, over there, over there
Chorus
Thembu ingirukku ingirukku ingirukkuCourage is right here, right here, right here
Vambu angirukku angirukku angirukkuTrouble is over there, over there, over there
Male
Adutha veettu neiyae en pondaatti kaiyaeGhee from the neighbor's house, hand of my wife
Aasa pattaa nikkaadhadaaIf you desire it, it won't stand, man
Irukka edam koduthaa padukka edam kaeppaeIf given space to sit, you ask for a place to sleep
Vera edam nee paaradaaLook for some other place, man
Paambirukkum puthukkullaeInside the anthill where the snake resides
Kaiya vittu kaala vittu paakka venaaDo not put your hands and legs inside to check
Kadikkum kadikkumIt will bite, it will bite
Male
Aadum paambirukkudhuThere is a dancing snake inside
Adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhuIt is lying down without moving
Veeram ullirukkudhuValor resides deep within
Adhu neram paathirukkudhuIt is just waiting for the right time
Female
Buthi irundhaa pozhachukkalaamIf you have brains, you can survive
Unakku buthi illaiyae kathi edungaYou don't have brains, pick up the knife
Buthi irundhaa pozhachukkalaamIf you have brains, you can survive
Unakku buthi illaiyae kathi edungaYou don't have brains, pick up the knife
Veeram vandhuruchu nethi adi nethi adiValor has arrived, hit the bullseye, hit the forehead
Vegam vandhuruchu suthi adi suthi adiSpeed has arrived, strike around, strike all around
Veeram vandhuruchuValor has arrived
Chorus
Nethi adi nethi adiHit the bullseye, hit the forehead
Female
Vegam vandhuruchuSpeed has arrived
Chorus
Suthi adi suthi adiStrike around, strike all around
Female
Podu idhu thaanaa ullae idhu ponaaPour it in, once this goes inside automatically
Kozhaigalum kattabommangaEven cowards become brave like Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Paaru ini melae panna pora dhooluLook at the blast he is going to create hereafter
Appuramaa ucha kattangaThen comes the climax peak
Thoongura paamba konjamThe sleeping snake, a little bit
Sundi ippa vittu puttaenI have flicked and provoked it now
Odi pudikkum thaedi kadikkumIt will run and catch, search and bite
Male
Aadum paambirukkudhuThere is a dancing snake inside
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes
Male
Adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhuIt is lying down without moving
Female
Yen maamaaWhy, uncle?
Male
Veeram ullirukkudhuValor resides deep within
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes
Male
Adhu neram paathirukkudhuIt is just waiting for the right time
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes
Male
Vittaennaa ooru rendaagum paaruIf I let loose, see the town split into two
Kuduthaennaa kuthaalam kodaikkaanal onnaagumIf I strike, Courtallam and Kodaikanal will become one
Aadum paambirukkudhuThere is a dancing snake inside
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes
Male
Adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhuIt is lying down without moving
Female
Yen maamaaWhy, uncle?
Male
Veeram ullirukkudhuValor resides deep within
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes
Male
Adhu neram paathirukkudhuIt is just waiting for the right time
Female
AamaamaaYes, yes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk/kuthu song portrays a group of friends cheering up a heartbroken man who has suffered a defeat in love and feels like a failure in life. Through lively metaphors, local proverbs, and comical banter, the lyrics encourage him to unleash his latent strength and courage instead of wallowing in self-pity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Aadum paambirukkudhu

The dormant courage inside a person is metaphorically compared to a dancing snake lying still inside an anthill ('Aadum paambirukkudhu adhu aadaama paduthirukkudhu').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Vittaennaa ooru rendaagum paaru

Exaggerated claims of power, asserting that letting loose will split the town in two and bring distant places together.

Edhai (Second letter rhyming)

Irukka edam koduthaa padukka edam kaeppae

The second consonant 'ru' rhymes across lines ('Irukka edam' / 'Vera edam').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Thembu ingirukku ingirukku ingirukku

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Th' in 'Thembu' and 'V' in 'Vambu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1988 Tamil movie 'Illam' starring Sivakumar and Amala, this track serves as a classic comic-relief tavern song utilizing rustic Tamil proverbs and street slang.

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