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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ada Maayandi

From Vandhale Maharasi · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
M. Thangappan
Music director
Vaali
Details
Vandhale Maharasi1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ada maayaandi malaiyaandiHey Maayaandi, Malaiyaandi,
Madura muniyaandiMadurai Muniyaandi,
Peyaandi pichaandiPeyaandi, Pichaandi,
Intha pei viratta naan vendiI prayed to drive away this ghost,
Venthaenae innaalum….aamaamI have been burning till today... yes,
Nee vanthidaiyyaa em melae…Come upon us now, oh Lord...
Male
Ada pallikkodam pogatha paavi paya mavanaeHey sinful fellow's son who didn't even go to school,
Antha kallukoodam engaedaa kanja paya mavanaeWhere is that arrack shop, you miserly fellow's son?
Male
Kulaththil vizhuntha setha kuppanaa suppanaaIs it Kuppan or Suppan who fell into the pond and died?
Illa kenaththil vizhunthu sitha kanthanaa nanthanaaOr is it Kandhan or Nanthan who fell into the well and died?
Kayaththilae thongi setha kallanaa kullanaaIs it Kallan or Kullan who died hanging from a rope?
Vayaththu valiyil seththa vaamanaa beemanaaIs it Vaaman or Bheeman who died of stomach pain?
Male
Paritchaiyil thoththu seththa paalanaa lolanaaIs it Paalan or Lolan who died failing in exams?
Kaanal parichaiyil thoththu pona paalanaa lolanaaIs it Paalan or Lolan who failed in the mirage-like examination?
Kadan pattathaala suttukitta kaadaanaa maadaanaaIs it Kaadan or Maadan who shot himself due to heavy debts?
Dei solludaa dei vettipuduvaen solludaaHey tell me, hey speak up or I will chop you down, speak up!
HahahahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song features a dramatic and comedic folk exorcism scene where a shaman calls upon various guardian deities (such as Muniyaandi, Maayaandi, and Peyaandi) to drive away an evil spirit. In a trance-like state, the speaker aggressively questions the possessing spirit to reveal its true identity, humorously listing various mundane or tragic ways people in the village might have died.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai and Monai (Rhyme & Alliteration)

Kulaththil vizhuntha setha kuppanaa suppanaa

Vaali uses rhythmic paired rhyming names (Kuppan-Suppan, Kandhan-Nanthan, Kallan-Kullan, Vaaman-Bheeman, Paalan-Lolan, Kaadan-Maadan) to create a trance-like chant ideal for a ritualistic exorcism scene.

Rhetorical Questioning

Paritchaiyil thoththu seththa paalanaa lolanaa

The shaman continuously poses hyper-specific yet absurd questions about the ghost's cause of death to force the spirit to reveal itself.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vandhale Maharasi' (1973), starring Jaishankar and Jayalalithaa, features music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Vaali crafted this unique ritual comedy song, blending traditional deity invocations with contemporary humorous takes on tragic deaths like failing examinations.

Keep listening

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