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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bannari Ammane

From Raja Gopuram · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Raja Gopuram1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Bannaari ammanae un paera nambinaenOh Bannari Amman, I believed in your name.
Nanmaiya cheiyavae naan pooja seiyiraenI perform worship so that good things happen.
Male
Ellorum vaazhanum innalgal poganumEveryone should prosper, and afflictions should depart.
Ennaalum boomiya inbam thaan aalanumForever, happiness alone should rule this earth.
Male
Pagalaagi iravaagi thadumaari vazhi maarum boomiTurning into day and night, the earth stumbles and strays off path.
Pala paera manam maathi ozhungaakku ulagaalum saamiChange the minds of many people and make them righteous, oh ruler of the world!
Pakka balam nee irundhaa matha balam thaevai illaIf you are my strong support, no other strength is needed.
Bakthiyudan thaedi vandhaa panjam ellaam theerumammaaIf sought with devotion, all poverty will come to an end, oh Mother.
Male
Naadu nallaarukku yaezhaikkellaam dullaarukkuThe country is fine, but for the poor, everything is gloomy.
Vaazhvu pollaarukku saami ellaam kallaarukkuLife favors the wicked, and for the uneducated, God feels like a stone.
Aathaa kannu paathaa thaappaa thorandhidumIf the Mother looks with her eyes, the locked bolt will open.
Male
Hei seekkiram vizhi kaattuHey, show your eyes quickly!
Male
Aehaei pagalaagi iravaagi thadumaari vazhi maarum boomiAh, turning into day and night, the earth stumbles and strays off path.
Pala paera manam maathi ozhungaakku ulagaalum saamiChange the minds of many people and make them righteous, oh ruler of the world!
Male
Bakthiyudan thaedi vandhaa panjam ellaam theerumammaaIf sought with devotion, all poverty will come to an end, oh Mother.
Female
Koottamaa nikkira paiyangalaaOh boys standing in a crowd!
Oru kolaaru solren seiyungadaaI am telling you a task, do it, guys!
Chorus
Aa… seiraen seiraenAh... I will do it, I will do it!
Chorus
Solrom solromWe will tell, we will tell!
Male
Aei paappamma morachu paakkuraaHey, Paappamma is staring fiercely!
Vaangadaa odi pogalaamCome on, guys, let us run away!
Male
Paadha mullaarukku maedu pallam kallaarukkuThe path is full of thorns, with rough ups, downs, and stones.
Yaedhum illaarukku yaekkam mattum fullaarukkuFor those who have nothing, longing alone is full.
Thuninjaa thadaiyum odaiyum edhukkum varuma madiyumIf you dare, obstacles will break; will laziness ever bring success?
Male
Hae saami thaan badhil kooruHey God, give us an answer!
Male
Aei hae haeHey hae hae!
Pagalaagi iravaagi thadumaari vazhi maarum boomiTurning into day and night, the earth stumbles and strays off path.
Pala paera manam maathi ozhungaakku ulagaalum saamiChange the minds of many people and make them righteous, oh ruler of the world!
Male
Bakthiyudan thaedi vandhaa panjam ellaam theerumammaaIf sought with devotion, all poverty will come to an end, oh Mother.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This devotional folk song from the 1984 Tamil film Raja Gopuram, written by Vairamuthu, is an earnest prayer addressed to Goddess Bannari Amman. The singer appeals to the deity for universal prosperity, peace, and divine guidance in a world that frequently strays from righteousness. The lyrics contrast spiritual devotion with harsh social realities, pointing out how the poor suffer and life often seems unfair to the innocent.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edaai Monai / Rhyme and Code-Mixing

Yaedhum illaarukku yaekkam mattum fullaarukku

The lyrist cleverly blends Tamilized English words (dull, full) with traditional Tamil suffixes (aarukku) to create rhyming commentary on socio-economic struggles.

Metaphor

Aathaa kannu paathaa thaappaa thorandhidum

The term 'thaappaa thorandhidum' (the bolt will open) is used metaphorically to represent the opening of opportunities and the removal of life's obstacles by divine grace.

Refrain

Pagalaagi iravaagi thadumaari vazhi maarum boomi

Repetition of chorus lines emphasizing the continuous cycle of day and night while pleading for moral reformation of humanity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vairamuthu, the song pays homage to Goddess Bannari Amman, a popular local deity worshipped predominantly in the Erode and Sathyamangalam regions of Tamil Nadu. The song is notable for mixing traditional devotional prayer with street-colloquial Tamil and Tanglish rhyming words.

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