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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Avan Thotatha Pookkal

From Sivappu Malli · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela, T. L. Maharajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sivappu Malli1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Avan thodaatha pookkalThe flowers he did not touch
Indru vaadi vittathuHave withered away today
Aval moga moochchuHer breath of desire
Indru sendru theeyai suttathuWent today and burned even the fire
Female
Kannil thengum viragamLonging stagnating in the eyes
Ingae nagara marukkum naragamA hell here that refuses to move
Iruvarukkum idaiyilBetween the two of them
Oru soga megam ulavumA cloud of sorrow wanders
Male
Mangala selvi kungumam andruOn that day, the auspicious woman's vermilion
Anniya vaerviyaal azhinthu ponathuWas erased by alien sweat
Saainthu kidantha santhana maalaiyaiThe resting sandalwood garland
Kurangugal moondru kollai kondanaWas looted by three monkeys
Female
Paayil kidantha paari jaadhaththaiThe jasmine lying on the mat
Naaigal moondru nasukki nugarnthanaWas crushed and sniffed by three dogs
Male
Niyaayam ketta yaezhai puliyaiThe poor tiger that asked for justice
Thindru theerththathu neruppuWas consumed completely by fire
Yaarthaan intha kodumaikku poruppuWho indeed is responsible for this atrocity?
Male
Ivargal vinai vithaiththa kayavargalThese are villains who sowed the seeds of karma
Vaetti kattiya neruppugalFires wearing dhotis
Female :Ivargal karppai thulaikkum ambugalFemale: They are arrows that pierce chastity
Kannai koththum paambugalSnakes that peck at the eyes
Male
Indru ivargalai vittu vaiththirunthaalIf they are left spared today
Dharmam ingae tharkolai puriyumRighteousness here will commit suicide
Azhutha makkalae ezhunthu nillungalOh weeping people, rise up and stand!
Theeyai eduththu theerpezhuthungalTake the fire and write your verdict!
Male
Nimirnthu nillungal niyaayam kaelungalStand tall and demand justice!
Nimirnthu nillungal niyaayam kaelungalStand tall and demand justice!
Nimirnthu nillungal niyaayam kaelungalStand tall and demand justice!
Nimirnthu nillungal niyaayam kaelungalStand tall and demand justice!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful song from the movie 'Sivappu Malli' expresses deep anguish, trauma, and indignation against horrific injustice and violation. It graphically narrates the tragedy of innocent victims—a woman whose purity and sacred mark were destroyed by ruthless oppressors (metaphorically described as monkeys and dogs), and an innocent person seeking justice who was burned to death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Vaetti kattiya neruppugal

Describing evil oppressor men wearing traditional garments as 'fires wearing dhotis' to highlight their destruction hidden under a facade of respectability.

Zoomorphism / Metaphor

Kurangugal moondru kollai kondana

Comparing human oppressors to destructive animals like 'monkeys' and 'dogs' to denote their savagery.

Personification

Dharmam ingae tharkolai puriyum

Attributing human actions to the abstract concept of 'Dharmam' (Righteousness/Justice) by depicting it committing suicide if bad people go unpunished.

Repetition / Anaphora

Nimirnthu nillungal niyaayam kaelungal

Repeating the call to action at the end to create a strong rally cry for revolution and justice.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sivappu Malli' (1981) is a renowned communist-themed revolutionary Tamil film starring Vijayakanth and Chandrasekar, directed by Rama Narayanan. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Vairamuthu.

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