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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Achamillaa Paadhaiyil

From Mangai Oru Gangai · 1987

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Details
Mangai Oru Gangai1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam
Chorus
………………...
Female
Achcham illaa paathaiyilOn a fearless path
Ellorum selvomaeLet us all walk
Thittam pottu vaazhvilaeBy planning our lives
Munnaeri selvomaeLet us progress forward
Vaanamae ellaiyaai veeramae kolgaiyaaiWith the sky as our limit and bravery as our principle
Naalumae vaazhuvomLet us live every single day
Female
Achcham illaa paadhaiyilOn a fearless path
Ellorum selvomaeLet us all walk
Thittam pottu vaazhvilaeBy planning our lives
Munnaeri selvomaeLet us progress forward
Female
Vaanamae ellaiyaai veeramae kolgaiyaaiWith the sky as our limit and bravery as our principle
Naalumae vaazhuvomLet us live every single day
Thottathu thulangida thol koduppomWe will lend a shoulder to make everything we touch shine
Por thoduppom naal kurippomWe will wage a battle, we will set a date
Intha nilamaigal maarida vazhi vaguppomWe will pave the way to change these conditions
Female
Aangal kaiyil pengal endrumWomen are never slaves
Adimaiyillaiyae….hoIn the hands of men... ho
Aana mattum solli paarththumDespite explaining as much as possible
UnaravillaiyaeThey haven't realized it
Female
Maalai sooda thedumpothuWhen searching to wear the wedding garland
Manitha santhaiyilIn the human market
Pengal munnae aangal thammaiWhen men sell themselves for a price
Vilaikku virkkaiyilIn front of women
Unmaiyil pennidamIn truth, to the woman
Angu vilaimagan aavathu aanmaganaeThe man himself becomes a sold commodity there
Chorus
lala lala laa lala lala laaLala lala laa lala lala laa
Lalalala lalalala lalalala laaLalalala lalalala lalalala laa
Female
Achcham illaa paadhaiyilOn a fearless path
Ellorum selvomaeLet us all walk
Thittam pottu vaazhvilaeBy planning our lives
Munnaeri selvomaeLet us progress forward
Chorus
………………....
Female
Yaezhai chinna poiyai sonnaalIf a poor person tells a small lie
Thalaiyil kuturaan hoThey knock him on the head, ho
Maedai yaeri poiyai sonnaalIf someone gets on a stage and lies
Kaiyai thatturaanThey applaud and clap hands
Female
Illaiyendru kaiyai vachchaaIf someone shows empty hands with nothing to give
Siraiyil poduraanThey throw him into prison
Kadaththalkaaran kannil pattaalIf a smuggler catches their eye
Vanakkam poduraanThey offer a respectful greeting
Female
Needhiyum thoonguthuJustice too is fast asleep
Intha nilamaigal endraikku maaruvathuWhen will these conditions ever change?
Chorus
Lala lala laa lala lala laaLala lala laa lala lala laa
Lalalala lalalala lalalala laaLalalala lalalala lalalala laa
Female
Achcham illaa paadhaiyilOn a fearless path
Ellorum selvomaeLet us all walk
Thittam pottu vaazhvilaeBy planning our lives
Munnaeri selvomaeLet us progress forward
Vaanamae ellaiyaai veeramae kolgaiyaaiWith the sky as our limit and bravery as our principle
Naalumae vaazhuvomLet us live every single day
Female
Nenjil thunivenumIn our hearts, courage
Kodiyinai yaettri vaippomWe shall raise as a flag
Thottaththu thulangida thol koduppomWe will lend a shoulder to make everything we touch shine
Por thoduppom naal kurippomWe will wage a battle, we will set a date
Intha nilamaigal maarida vazhi vaguppomWe will pave the way to change these conditions
Chorus
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam
Rambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampamRambam pambam tharappam tharappampampampam

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a social reform anthem advocating for fearless living, women's empowerment, and socio-economic justice. It urges people to live courageously with planning and vision, holding bravery as a guiding principle and aiming high without self-imposed limits. The lyrics challenge patriarchal attitudes that treat women as subordinates, turning the table on dowry practices by pointing out that men who put a price on themselves in marriage markets become mere commodities. Furthermore, the song highlights the blatant hypocrisy of society and law enforcement: poor people are punished for petty mistakes, while corrupt leaders, deceptive speakers, and wealthy smugglers are treated with honour and applause. Calling out the sleeping system of justice, the song inspires unity and revolutionary spirit to break free from unjust norms and build an equal society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Por thoduppom naal kurippom

The lines end with identical suffix forms ('koduppom', 'thoduppom', 'kurippom', 'vaguppom'), creating a strong rhythmic and motivational cadence.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Vaanamae ellaiyaai veeramae kolgaiyaai

Repetition of the initial sound 'Vaa' and 'Vee' in 'Vaanamae' and 'veeramae'.

Metaphor

Nenjil thunivenum kodiyinai yaettri vaippom

Comparing courage to a flag raised high within one's heart ('Nenjil thunivenum kodiyinai yaettri vaippom').

Irony / Social Satire

Yaezhai chinna poiyai sonnaal ... Maedai yaeri poiyai sonnaal Kaiyai thatturaan

Contrasting how a poor man's small lie leads to punishment while a politician's lie on stage receives applause.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mangai Oru Gangai' (1987) is a Tamil film directed by T. Hariharan, featuring music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal in one of their rare Tamil projects. The lyrics penned by Muthulingam strongly reflect the social themes of female independence and systemic criticism prevalent in mid-1980s Tamil cinema.

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