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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devi Jagan Madha

From Ivan Avanethan · 1960

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, P. Leela
Music director
M. Ranga Rao
Details
Ivan Avanethan1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Devi Jegan madhaDevi Mother of the World
Devi Jegan madhaDevi Mother of the World
Unthan thiruvullam irangaathaaWon't your divine heart show mercy?
Saran pugunthida malarpaatham arulGrant your flower-like feet for me to surrender
Devi Jegan madhaDevi Mother of the World
Female
Kaaviya kalaiyae kaninthidum nilaiyaeOh art of epic poetry, state of ripe perfection
Vaazhvinil oliveesum valar maamathiA growing full moon shining light in life
Vanithaamani maraven ini….Gem among women, I shall never forget you from now on...
Devi Jegan madhaDevi Mother of the World
Male
Kaattu poochi pol neeLike a wild insect, you
Veettukkul thannaalaeAre by yourself inside the home
Kavi kaalaththilum country-yaagaEven in this age, living like an unrefined country person
Vaazhvathu pidikkalaIs not agreeable to me
Naagareegamillaa karnadagiAn uncivilized orthodox traditionalist
Male
Kaalam therinjiKnowing the modern times
Nilan selai kattanumShould wear a nylon saree
Female
Aiyyo kannaadi polOh dear, like glass
Udamabai yaenga kaattanumShould display the body enticingly
Male :Kudhirai laadam polMale: Like a horseshoe
Shoe-vao maattanumShould wear shoes
Female
Edhukku kuthichchu kuthichchuWhy jump and leap around
Vazhukki vizhunthu kaattanumSlipping and falling down to show off
Male
Saattai polLike a whip
Rettai sadai podanumShould wear double braids
Female :Tamilnadu-in panbaiFemale: The culture of Tamil Nadu
Edhukku ippadi kedukkanumWhy ruin it like this?
Male
Kannukkeththa mayiKohl suitable for the eyes
Kaiyikkeththa paiyiHandbag suitable for the hand
Karuppukeththa dayiDye suitable for black hair
Veliyae kaattidaama vayiKeep it modest without showing off outside
Male
Kaattu poochchu pola neeLike a wild insect, you
Veetukkul thannaalaeBy yourself inside the house
Kali kaalaththilum country-yaagaEven in this modern age, living so country-like
Vaazhvathu pidikkalaI do not like living like that
Naagareegamillaa karnadagiUncivilized orthodox woman
Male
………………..[Music/Interlude]
Female
Kannilaadum oru pennai kanduSeeing a maiden dancing before the eyes
Dhinam enni engu rajaThinking and longing daily, oh king
Kannilaadum oru pennai kanduSeeing a maiden dancing before the eyes
Dhinam enni engu rajaThinking and longing daily, oh king
Intha vanna mamayil minnal pola vanthuArriving like lightning, this colorful grand peacock
Minnum kadhal roja paaraiLook at the shining rose of love
Kannilaadum oru pennai kanduSeeing a maiden dancing before the eyes
Dhinam enni enggum rajaThinking and longing daily, oh king
Female
Antha santham un aariThat rhythm and charm is yours
Therina santharaangi neraaDirectly facing a Chandra-like beauty
Male :AahaaMale: Ahah
Female
Antha santham un aariThat rhythm and charm is yours
Therina santharaangi neraaDirectly facing a Chandra-like beauty
piriyudaa anthu korananuAffection overflows in this moment
Aasai theerakkanu vinthulaaraTo fulfill the desire completely
Joraai kannilaadum oru pennai kanduGrandly seeing a maiden dancing before the eyes
Dhinam enni engum rajaThinking and longing daily, oh king
Maatharai kanni vaikkum rajaThe king who captivates maiden hearts
Female
………………..[Music/Interlude]
Female
Haji aavo aavoCome, welcome, welcome
Dobi vaalae thumkoTo you washerman
Meraa naam salaam haiMy name gives greetings
Aavo aavoCome, welcome
Dobi vaalae thumkoTo you washerman
Meraa naam salaam haiMy name gives greetings
ThumkoTo you
Meraa naam salaam haiMy name gives greetings
Namakki ummel kulaamugaiWe are your humble servants
Dobi vaalae thumkoTo you washerman
Meraa naam salaam haiMy name gives greetings
Female
Thego thego kam kadhal thivaanaaLook, look at the mad lover of love
Male :Vaa meraa bul bulMale: Come my nightingale
Female
Thapalaa dekkaamae gaanaa bajaanaaPlaying music without even needing a tabla
Thaalam poduraanga paisaa kajaanaStriking the beat, creating a treasury of money
Aaa…aa…aa…aa…Aaa…aa…aa…aa…
Male
Thego thego come kadhal dhivaanaaLook, look, come mad lover of love
Thapalaa dekkaamae gaanaa bajaanaaPlaying music without needing a tabla
Thego thego come kadhal dhivaanaaLook, look, come mad lover of love
Thapalaa dekkaamae gaanaa bajaanaaPlaying music without needing a tabla
Thapalaa dekkaamae gaanaa bajaanaaPlaying music without needing a tabla
Thaalam poduraanga paisaa kajaanaStriking the beat, creating a treasury of money
Female
Aavo aavoCome, welcome
Dobi vaalae thumkoTo you washerman
Meraa naam salaam haiMy name gives greetings
Female
Update fashion honymoon seasonUpdated fashion, honeymoon season
Hello my dear love-vukethu rationHello my dear, a ration tailored for love
Hello my dear love-vukethu rationHello my dear, a ration tailored for love
Male
………………….[Music/Ending]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The soundtrack from 'Ivan Avanethan' (1960) showcases a blend of classical devotion, satirical cultural commentary, and lighthearted cross-cultural musical banter. The track begins with a traditional devotional prayer to the Mother Goddess seeking divine grace and praising feminine virtues with poetic imagery of moonlight and classical art. The song then transitions into a humorous debate between modern Western trends and traditional Tamil modesty, contrasting nylon sarees, high heels, and double braids against traditional values. The final section incorporates a playful mix of Tamil, Hindi/Urdu, and English loanwords, celebrating romance, rhythm, and contemporary urban fashion in a comedic duetting style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Kaattu poochi pol nee

Comparison of a person's solitary domestic existence to a wild insect ('Kaattu poochi pol') and transparent clothing to glass ('kannaadi pol').

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannukkeththa mayi / Kaiyikkeththa paiyi / Karuppukeththa dayi

Consonance across lines matching the second letter 'n' in 'Kannukkeththa', 'Kaiyikkeththa', and 'Karuppukeththa'.

Code-mixing / Linguistic Hybridity

Update fashion honymoon season

Blending Tamil, English ('country', 'update fashion', 'honeymoon season'), and Hindi/Urdu ('Aavo aavo', 'Dobi vaalae', 'bul bul', 'dhivaanaa') for comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. Ranga Rao with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, this song demonstrates the early Tamil cinema trope of using multi-lingual code-switching (mixing Tamil, Hindi, and English) to satirize Westernization and modern urban trends while keeping the audience entertained with catchy rhythmic beats.

Keep listening

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