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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Buddhiyulla

From Annai · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Chandrababu
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Annai1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Buththi ulla manidhan ellaamNot all intelligent human beings
Vettri kaanbadhillaiFind success in life
Vettri pettra manidhan ellaamNot all human beings who achieve success
Buththisaali illai buththisaali illaiAre intelligent, are intelligent
Male
Panam irukkum manidharidamAmong people who have wealth
Manam iruppadhillaiThere is no kind heart
Manam irukkum manidharidamAmong people who have a kind heart
Panam iruppadhillaiThere is no wealth
Male
Panam irukkum manidharidamAmong people who have wealth
Manam iruppadhillaiThere is no kind heart
Manam irukkum manidharidamAmong people who have a kind heart
Panam iruppadhillaiThere is no wealth
Male
Panam padaitha veettinilaeIn the house of the wealthy
Vandhadhellaam sondhamEveryone who arrives acts like family
Panamillaadha manidharukkuFor a person without money
Sondham ellaam thunbamEven relatives bring only sorrow
Male
Buththi ulla manidhan ellaamNot all intelligent human beings
Vettri kaanbadhillaiFind success in life
Vettri pettra manidhan ellaamNot all human beings who achieve success
Buththisaali illai buththisaali illaiAre intelligent, are intelligent
Male
Paruvam vandha anaivarumaeNot everyone who comes of age
Kaadhal kolavadhillaiFalls in love
Kaadhal konda anaivarumaeNot everyone who falls in love
Manam mudippadhillaiGets married
Male
Paruvam vandha anaivarumaeNot everyone who comes of age
Kaadhal kolavadhillaiFalls in love
Kaadhal konda anaivarumaeNot everyone who falls in love
Manam mudippadhillaiGets married
Male
Manam muditha anaivarumaeNot everyone who gets married
Serndhu vaazhvadhillaiLives together happily
Serndhu vaazhum anaivarumaeNot everyone who lives together
Serndhu povadhillaiPasses away together
Male
Buththi ulla manidhan ellaamNot all intelligent human beings
Vettri kaanbadhillaiFind success in life
Vettri pettra manidhan ellaamNot all human beings who achieve success
Buththisaali illai buththisaali illaiAre intelligent, are intelligent
Male
Kanavu kaanum manidhanukkuFor a man who spends life dreaming
Kaanbadhellaam kanavuEverything he beholds is just a dream
Avan kaanugindra kanavinilaeIn the dreams that he beholds
Kaanbadhellaam uravuEverything appears as a cherished bond
Male
Kanavu kaanum manidhanukkuFor a man who spends life dreaming
Kaanbadhellaam kanavuEverything he beholds is just a dream
Avan kaanugindra kanavinilaeIn the dreams that he beholds
Kaanbadhellaam uravuEverything appears as a cherished bond
Male
Avan kanavil aval varuvaalShe will enter his dream
Avanai paarthu sirippaalAnd smile looking at him
Avan kanavil yaar varuvaarWho will enter his dream now?
Yaarai paartthu azhaippaarWhom will she look at and call out to?
Male
Buththi ulla manidhan ellaamNot all intelligent human beings
Vettri kaanbadhillaiFind success in life
Vettri pettra manidhan ellaamNot all human beings who achieve success
Buththisaali illai buththisaali illaiAre intelligent, are intelligent

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic philosophical song written by Kannadasan reflects on the paradoxes and ironies of human life. It points out that intelligence does not guarantee material success, nor does worldly success imply true wisdom. The lyricist delves into social realities, highlighting how wealth and genuine affection rarely reside together, and how society gravitates towards money rather than character.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Paradox)

Buththi ulla manidhan ellaam vettri kaanbadhillai

The lyrics rely on stark philosophical contrasts between intellect and success, wealth and heart, and love and longevity.

Emona / Ethukai (Rhyme)

Panam irukkum manidharidam / Manam iruppadhillai

The second consonant sound matches between adjacent lines, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm ('nam' in Panam and Manam).

Anaphora

Serndhu vaazhvadhillai / Serndhu vaazhum anaivarumae

Repetition of phrase structures at the beginning of successive clauses ('Kaadhal konda...', 'Serndhu...').

Did you know?

Trivia

Sung soulfully by P. B. Sreenivas for the 1962 film 'Annai', music composed by R. Sudarsanam, this song remains one of Kannadasan's most iconic reflective philosophical masterworks.

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