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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Marivantha

From Manikuyil · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manikuyil1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adi maari vandha mayilaeHey peacock that transformed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Chorus
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Male
Ammaa nee nenachadhumMadam, whatever you think,
Appadiyae nadakkudhuHappens just like that.
Selvaakkum vasadhiyum kaaladiyil kidakkudhuInfluence and wealth lie at your feet.
Kannaal oru saada senjaaIf you just make a sign with your eyes,
Kaala maadum kannu podumEven a bull will give birth to a calf.
Chorus
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Male
Aal irundhaa kaavalukkuIf someone is guarding,
Aadu vandhu maeyumaaWill a goat come and graze?
Aadu vandhu maenjadhukkuJust because a goat grazed,
Paattu chonnaa podhumaaIs it enough to just sing a song about it?
Kannae kannammaa… aa… aa…Oh my dear Kannamma...
Kannae kannammaa enga kachaeri kekkanumaaOh my dear Kannamma, do you want to hear our musical concert?
Pakka vaathiyamaa satti paanaigal podhumammaaPots and pans are enough as accompanying musical instruments, my lady.
Ezhai sollu thaan oru naal ambalathil yaerumammaaThe words of a poor man will one day rise to the public assembly.
Yaeri vittaa maelum keezhum onnu pola maarumammaaOnce it rises, high and low will become equal.
Sonnaakkaa yaetthukko onna neeyum maathikkoIf told, accept it and change yourself into one with us.
Ellaarukkum ellaam endruSaying 'Everything belongs to everyone',
Paadum paatta kaadhil vaanguListen carefully to the song that preaches this.
Male
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Ammaa nee nenachadhum appadiyae nadakkudhuMadam, whatever you think happens just like that,
Selvaakkum vasadhiyum kaaladiyil kidakkudhuInfluence and wealth lie at your feet.
Kannaal oru saada senjaaIf you just make a sign with your eyes,
Kaala maadum kannu podumEven a bull will give birth to a calf.
Chorus
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Male
Kai niraiya kaasirukkum paingiliyae sornamaeOh parrot-like golden woman with a hand full of money,
Kaaseduthu nee koduthaa kuyilu vandhu koovumaeIf you take out money and give it, the cuckoo bird will come and sing.
Ponnae ponnammaa… aa… aa…Oh golden Kannamma...
Ponnae ponnammaa ezha paadida sammadhamaaOh golden Kannamma, do you agree to let this poor man sing?
Haei maanae yem paatta unga maaliga othukkumaaHey deer-like woman, will your mansion accept my song?
Pattu metha thaan unakku kora pullaa maariduchaaHas the silk mattress turned into a grass mat for you?
Pattadhilae vecha paalum etti kaayaa aayiduchaaHas the milk placed on the pot turned bitter like strychnine fruit?
Ezha paatta kaekkura yaereduthu paakkuraYou listen to the poor man's song and look up at him,
Enna aachu yaedhu aachu maanae thaenae neeyum solluWhat happened, why did it happen? My deer, my honey, tell me.
Male
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Ammaa nee nenachadhum appadiyae nadakkudhuMadam, whatever you think happens just like that,
Selvaakkum vasadhiyum kaaladiyil kidakkudhuInfluence and wealth lie at your feet.
Kannaal oru saada senjaaIf you just make a sign with your eyes,
Kaala maadum kannu podumEven a bull will give birth to a calf.
Male
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Chorus
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed,
Ippa mazhaiyadikka pogudhadiNow it is going to rain down.
Yaeri vandha veyilaeOh heat of the sun that has risen,
Ippa ezhaigala vaattudhadiNow it is tormenting the poor people.
Maari vandha mayilaePeacock that changed.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk song from the movie Manikuyil uses rustic metaphors to address class differences, social inequality, and the dynamics of power. The singer addresses a woman of high standing and wealth as a 'transformed peacock', remarking on how the affluent command obedience while the poor suffer under the oppressive heat of social hardship. Despite the stark division, the song carries a strong message of egalitarianism, asserting that the voice of the poor will eventually find its place in the public forum, bridging the gap between the privileged and the marginalized.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urubagam)

Adi maari vandha mayilae

Compares the high-status lady to a 'transformed peacock' (Maari vandha mayilae) and a 'golden parrot' (paingiliyae sornamae).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi)

Kaala maadum kannu podum

An extreme exaggeration stating that if the wealthy lady makes a subtle signal with her eyes, even a male bull would give birth.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kannaal oru saada senjaa / Kaala maadum kannu podum

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kannaal' and 'Kaala'.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aadu vandhu maeyumaa / Aadu vandhu maenjadhukku

Matching second consonants across lines ('du' in Aadu / Aadu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Manikuyil (1993) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Ramarajan and Gouthami. Lyricist Vaali crafted this song with sharp social commentary using traditional Tamil rural folk idioms and metaphors.

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