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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arakoraya Sethavanum

From Thozhar Pandian · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, Sriram
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thozhar Pandian1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aehae hehhaehae haehaeAehae hehhaehae haehae
Hohohohoh oho hohho hohoHohohohoh oho hohho hoho
Male
Ara koraiyaa sethavanumOne who dies an incomplete life
Aaviyaaga alaivadhunduWanders around as a ghost
Kaadhalilae sethavanumOne who dies in love
Kaathu karuppu aavadhunduBecomes an evil spirit
Raatchasa koottamA crowd of demons
Indha raathiri neramAt this night time
Male
Misaa vilae sethavanumOne who died under MISA detention
Pisaasaaga alivadhunduWanders around as a devil
Male
Motor yeri sethavanumOne who dies getting run over by a motor vehicle
Kaatteriyaa aavadhunduBecomes a forest vampire
Male
Thayir vada dhesigana theriyumaaDo you know 'Thayir Vada Desigan'?
Enga koottathukku thalaivanunnuThat he is the leader of our group?
Sonnaa puriyumaaWill you understand if I tell you?
Male
Thalaivanin theni enna theriyumaaDo you know what our leader's delicacy is?
Manusan thala kariyumIt is human head meat
Elumbu thaannuAnd bones alone
Sonnaa puriyumaaWill you understand if I tell you?
Male
Avan ulavum boomi idhuThis is the land where he roams
Yaar varavum naanga vidavae maattomWe will never allow anyone else to enter
Avan idathai vaarisugalEven if the legal heirs of his property
Kettu vandhaa naanga tharavae maattomCome and ask for his place, we will not hand it over
Male
Ohohoho ho hohoho ohohohoOhohoho ho hohoho ohohoho
Ohohoho ho hohoho hoho hoho hoOhohoho ho hohoho hoho hoho ho
Male
Udukkaiyum veppilaiyum adichidumPlaying the udukkai drum and waving neem leaves,
Endha poosaariyum inga vandhaaIf any priest comes here,
Baachaa palikkumaaWill his tricks work?
Male
Manja thanni mandhirathaalWith holy turmeric water and incantations,
VirattinaaIf he tries to drive us away,
Indha paguttharivu peigalukkuTo these rationalist ghosts,
Acham pirakkumaaWill any fear be born?
Male
Idhu varaikkum neeyum ingaeFor having lived here until now,
Irundhadhukku rent tharavae venaaYou don't even need to pay rent,
Padukkaiyaiyum paayaiyum thaanIf you just roll up your mat and bedding and leave,
Suruttikkittu ponaa thodavae maattomWe will not even touch you.
Male
Ara koraiyaa sethavanumOne who dies an incomplete life
Aaviyaaga alaivadhunduWanders around as a ghost
Kaadhalilae sethavanumOne who dies in love
Kaathu karuppu aavadhunduBecomes an evil spirit
Raatchasa koottamA crowd of demons
Indha raathiri neramAt this night time
Male
Misaa vilae sethavanumOne who died under MISA detention
Pisaasaaga alivadhunduWanders around as a devil
Male
Motor yeri sethavanumOne who dies getting run over by a motor vehicle
Kaatteriyaa aavadhunduBecomes a forest vampire

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Thozhar Pandian' (1994) is a satirical, comedic track sung from the perspective of a group of ghosts protecting their domain. The lyrics categorize various spirits based on their cause of death—ranging from unfulfilled lives and tragic love stories to fatal road accidents and political deaths under MISA detention during the Emergency period.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Refrain)

Ara koraiyaa sethavanum / Aaviyaaga alaivadhundu

Repeated line endings like 'ethavanum' and 'aavadhundu' create a rhythmic, chant-like echo suitable for a song sung by spirits.

Oxymoron / Satirical Metaphor

Indha paguttharivu peigalukku

The term 'Paguttharivu peigal' (Rationalist ghosts) combines the rationalist ideology (which denies ghosts) with supernatural beings, creating humor and social satire.

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Udukkaiyum veppilaiyum adichidum

Assonance/Alliteration of initial sounds in consecutive lines ('Udukkaiyum' / 'Endha').

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Pulamaipithan cleverly infuses political and Dravidian rationalist commentary into what appears to be a typical horror-comedy song. The mention of 'MISA' refers to the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, under which many political activists were detained during the 1975-77 Emergency in India.

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