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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aska Bandhi

From Aramudaitha Kombu · 2023

Lyricist
A. C. Sekar
Singer
Velmurugan
Music director
Al Rufian
Details
Aramudaitha Kombu2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thiruvizha kootathulaIn the temple festival crowd,
Thirunangai attamThe transgender community dances.
Chinnanjiru ilasunga thaanThe very young folks are
Engaloda koottamOur group/crowd.
Male
Othayila ponaalumEven if we walk alone,
AtchapadamattoomWe will not feel afraid.
Ondikondi vandhaalumEven if you challenge us one-on-one,
Mallukatti paapomWe will fight back and see.
Male
Aska bhandhi seasonattaAska bhandhi seasonatta (folk rhythmic refrain)
Hisika pangu seesanavaeHisika pangu seesanavae (folk rhythmic refrain)
Ivala ivana avalaIs it her, him, or her?
Avala avana ivala..heyIs it her, him, or her.. hey!
Male
Aadu maadukitta koodaEven towards cattle and animals,
Anbu veikkurangaPeople shower love.
Thirunangainga engakittaYet with transgender people,
Vambhu izhukkurangaThey start unnecessary fights.
Male
Annan thambhi kooda thaanaAlong with brothers,
Aandavanum padaichaanGod created everyone.
Manushapaya marandhuputtuYet humankind forgot,
Anadhaiya vechaanAnd left them as orphans.
Male
Aska bhandhi seasonattaAska bhandhi seasonatta (folk rhythmic refrain)
Hisika pangu seesanavaeHisika pangu seesanavae (folk rhythmic refrain)
Ivala ivana avalaIs it her, him, or her?
Avala avana ivala..heyIs it her, him, or her.. hey!
Male
Saathi madha baedhamellaamCaste and religious discrimination
Engalukku illaWe do not possess.
Busukkulla ponaalumEven if we ride inside a bus,
Ticket theva illaNo ticket is required.
Male
Thaai thagappan thaan engala tahanOur mother and father themselves
Veedhiyil vittangaAbandoned us on the streets.
Em porappa anadhaiyaaYet our birth as orphans,
Vittadhilla naangaWe never let down.
Male
Aska bhandhi seasonattaAska bhandhi seasonatta (folk rhythmic refrain)
Hisika pangu seesanavaeHisika pangu seesanavae (folk rhythmic refrain)
Ivala ivana avalaIs it her, him, or her?
Avala avana ivala..heyIs it her, him, or her.. hey!
Male
Anba engala aala vandha..aa..aa.aa..If you come to rule us with love...
Anba engala aalavandhaIf you come to rule us with love,
Aadharavu kodupomWe will give you full support.
Adhigaara athumeeralaIf you abuse power and cross limits,
Viratti naanga adippomWe will chase and beat you.
Male
Aadhi sivan amsamadaWe are a part of original Lord Shiva,
Engaloda vamsamadaThat is our sacred lineage.
ManidhaO human being,
Unakku theridhaDo you know?
Puridha nalla puridhaDo you understand, understand well?
YeleyyHey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the film 'Aramudaitha Kombu' (2023) centers on the lives, identity, and resilience of the transgender community (Thirunangai) in Tamil Nadu. Sung in a vibrant Gaana/folk style by Velmurugan, the lyrics emphasize how the community navigates societal prejudice, rejection by family, and casual discrimination while maintaining courage, solidarity, and self-respect. The song confronts human hypocrisy—pointing out that society shows affection to animals while marginalizing trans individuals. It celebrates their freedom from caste and religious divisions and grounds their pride in Hindu mythology by connecting their identity to the Ardhanarishvara form of Lord Shiva. The overall message is a bold declaration: treat them with love and receive unwavering support, but abuse authority and they will fiercely stand their ground.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Aadhi sivan amsamada / Engaloda vamsamada

The second letter consonant 'd' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Aadhi' and 'Aadharavu' / 'Ondikondi' and 'Mallukatti' style rhyme patterns).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ivala ivana avala / Avala avana ivala..hey

Repetition of ending syllables creating a rhythmic chant pattern.

Rhetorical Questions & Pronoun Play

Ivala ivana avala / Avala avana ivala..hey

Playful rapid alternation of gendered pronouns (Ivala/Ivana) questioning rigid binary gender norms.

Alliteration (Monai)

Puridha nalla puridha

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds ('P' sound in Puridha / 'Th' sound in Theridha).

Did you know?

Trivia

Velmurugan, renowned for his distinct earthy voice in Tamil folk and gaana cinema songs, delivers a powerful vocal performance here that mixes traditional Tamil festival rhythmic beats with contemporary social commentary on transgender rights.

Keep listening

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