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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Carile Savari Seiyum

From Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi · 1957

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
Ghantasala
Music director
Master Venu
Details
Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Carilae savari seiyumRiding in a luxury car,
Kannam sivandha ponnammaOh golden lady with rosy red cheeks!
Un kannam sivandhadhu enna endru neeWhy your cheeks are so rosy and bright,
Enni paarthdhum undaamaHave you ever thought and pondered upon it?
Male
Ooril vaazhum ezhai pennugalinFrom the poor women living in this town,
Uzhaippin panamae unaveaagiTheir hard-earned money turns into your food,
Ooril vaazhum ezhai pennugalinFrom the poor women living in this town,
Uzhaippin panamae unaveaagiTheir hard-earned money turns into your food,
Unavin rasndhaan kozhuppaai maariThe essence of that food turns into fat and health,
Un melae jollikudhu theriyumaAnd shines upon your face, do you know?
Male
Carilae savari seiyumRiding in a luxury car,
Kannam sivandha ponnammaOh golden lady with rosy red cheeks!
Un seerum sirappulla singaara vaazhvaiAbout your grand, glorious, and beautiful lifestyle,
Kooruven konjam nidhaniyammaI shall tell you, hold on a moment, dear lady!
Male
Panju methai manjam meedhuResting upon a soft cotton mattress and bed,
Paduthu thoongum ponnammaOh golden lady who lies down and sleeps,
Panju methai manjam meedhuResting upon a soft cotton mattress and bed,
Paduthu thoongum ponnammaOh golden lady who lies down and sleeps,
Un panju methai manjam vandhadhaiHow this soft cotton bed came to be,
Nenjil ninaithadhum undamooHave you ever reflected upon it in your heart?
Male
Vanjamillar vazhakkamaanarThose without deceit became customary laborers,
Vaazha theriya ezhaiyaanaarThey became poor, not knowing how to live shrewdly,
Vanjamillar vazhakkamaanarThose without deceit became customary laborers,
Vaazha theriya ezhaiyaanaarThey became poor, not knowing how to live shrewdly,
Kanjikaagavae kastapadubavarThose who toil desperately even for basic rice gruel,
Kai thiramai enna theriyumaDo you know the sheer handiwork and effort they possess?
Male
Carilae savari seiyumRiding in a luxury car,
Kannam sivandha ponnammaOh golden lady with rosy red cheeks!
Un seerum sirappulla singaara vaazhvaiAbout your grand, glorious, and beautiful lifestyle,
Kooruven konjam nidhaniyammaI shall tell you, hold on a moment, dear lady!
Male
Piditha pidikkul adangum sallaA fine muslin cloth so delicate it fits inside a fist,
Udaikkul minukkum ponnammaOh golden lady shining in such attire,
Piditha pidikkul adangum sallaA fine muslin cloth so delicate it fits inside a fist,
Udaikkul minukkum ponnammaOh golden lady shining in such attire,
Nee uduthum saelaiyundaana unmaiyaiThe truth behind how the saree you wear was made,
Unarndhu paarthadhum undaamooHave you ever realized and thought about it?
Male
Kizhindha kovanam tharitham varumaiWearing torn loincloths, trapped in poverty and misery,
Piditha maandhrgal neithaar kandaaiThe afflicted weavers were the ones who wove it, see!
Kizhindha kovanam tharitham varumaiWearing torn loincloths, trapped in poverty and misery,
Piditha maandhrgal neithaar kandaaiThe afflicted weavers were the ones who wove it, see!
Uzhaikka pala per sugikka sila perFor many to labor so that a few may indulge,
Irukka inimel mudiyathammaThis unfair state cannot continue anymore, lady!
Male
Carilae savari seiyumRiding in a luxury car,
Kannam sivandha ponnammaOh golden lady with rosy red cheeks!
Un seerum sirappulla singaara vaazhvaiAbout your grand, glorious, and beautiful lifestyle,
Kooruven konjam nidhaniyammaI shall tell you, hold on a moment, dear lady!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a sharp social commentary that exposes the stark economic divide in society. Addressing an affluent woman riding in a car, the singer asks her to reflect on the origins of her luxury, health, and comfort. Her rosy cheeks, soft cotton bed, and fine muslin sarees are not merely items of wealth—they are the fruits of the relentless, backbreaking labor of impoverished workers, weavers, and honest poor women who themselves struggle for basic sustenance and wear torn loincloths.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Kannam sivandha ponnamma

Repetition of ending sounds across lines such as 'ponnamma', 'undaama', and 'nidhaniyamma' creates a rhythmic, musical flow.

Social Contrast & Irony

Kizhindha kovanam tharitham varumai / Piditha maandhrgal neithaar kandaai

Contrasting the lady's fine muslin cloth and rich lifestyle with the weaver's torn loincloth and extreme poverty.

Hyperbole & Imagery

Piditha pidikkul adangum salla

Describing fine muslin cloth so delicate and soft that an entire garment can be folded to fit inside a closed fist.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, known as 'Kavirayar', this song reflects his strong socialist ideology and Dravidian movement leanings. The song uses Ghantasala's distinct voice to critique class inequality directly through Tamil cinema music in the 1950s.

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