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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Echu Pizhaikkum Thozhile

From Madurai Veeran · 1956

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Jikki, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Madurai Veeran1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yechi pizhaikkum thozhilaeIs a profession based on deceit
Sari thaanaaReally right?
Enni paarungaThink about it
Male
Yechi pizhaikkum thozhilaeIs a profession based on deceit
Sari thaanaaReally right?
Enni paarungaThink about it
Aiyaa enni paarungaSir, think about it
Both :Aiyaa enni paarungaBoth: Sir, think about it
Male
Naachiyappaa sangili karuppaaNachiyappa, Sangili Karuppa
Poochi kaattum pokkiri suppaaPokkiri Suppa, who tries to scare and trick
Naachiyappaa sangili karuppaaNachiyappa, Sangili Karuppa
Poochi kaattum pokkiri suppaaPokkiri Suppa, who tries to scare and trick
Moottai adichaa unnaiyae viduvaanaaIf you steal a bundle, will he let you go?
Nenaichi paarungaJust think about it
Moottai adichaa unnaiyae viduvaanaaIf you steal a bundle, will he let you go?
Nenaichi paarungaJust think about it
Nallaa nenaichi paarungaThink deeply about it
Nallaa nenaichi paarungaThink deeply about it
Male
Saettai podum pulligal ellaamAll those troublemakers
Kottai vittu kambi ennanumWill lose their stronghold and count bars
Siraiyil kambi ennanumCount iron bars in prison
Male
Saettai podum pulligal ellaamAll those troublemakers
Kottai vittu kambi ennanumWill lose their stronghold and count bars
Siraiyil kambi ennanumCount iron bars in prison
Female
Poottai udaikkumLock-breaking
Puliyae idhai neengaO tiger, you all
Purinju kollungaUnderstand this
Poottai udaikkum poottai udaikkumLock-breaking, lock-breaking
Poottai udaikkumLock-breaking
Poottai udaikkum puliyae idhai neengaLock-breaking tiger, you all
Purinju kollungaUnderstand this
Neenga purinju kollungaYou understand this
Neenga purinju kollungaYou understand this
Male
Kaalam ellaam vazhippari kollaiA lifetime of highway robbery and plunder
Karnam pottu pizhaippadhum thollaiDoing tricks to survive is also endless trouble
Kaalam ellaam vazhippari kollaiA lifetime of highway robbery and plunder
Karnam pottu pizhaippadhum thollaiDoing tricks to survive is also endless trouble
Female
Kanavil kooda vendaam aiyaaDon't even desire it in your dreams, sir
Nalla kelungaListen carefully
Kanavil kooda vendaam aiyaaDon't even desire it in your dreams, sir
Nalla kelungaListen carefully
Aiyaa nalla kelungaSir, listen carefully
Aiyaa nalla kelungaSir, listen carefully
Male
Oorai adichu pizhaikkavum vendaam…Don't live by looting the village...
Aa… ae…Aa... ae...
Oorai adichu pizhaikkavum vendaamDon't live by looting the village
Yaarukkum nee bayappada vendaamYou need not be afraid of anyone
Oorai adichu pizhaikkavum vendaamDon't live by looting the village
Yaarukkum nee bayappada vendaamYou need not be afraid of anyone
Female
Yerai pidichi maanam peridhaaiHold the plow and live with dignity paramount
Vaazha venungaWe must live
Yerai pidichi maanam peridhaaiHold the plow and live with dignity paramount
Vaazha venungaWe must live
Naamae vaazha venungaWe ourselves must live
Naamae vaazha venungaWe ourselves must live

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song serves as a reformer's counsel addressed to thieves, tricksters, and bandits. It cautions them against surviving on deceit, highway robbery, and breaking into houses, highlighting that such illegal acts only lead to losing one's freedom and counting iron bars in prison. The lyrics advise them to abandon corrupt means and instead embrace honest labor, specifically agriculture ('holding the plow'), so they can hold their heads high with self-respect and live without fear of authority or society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Saettai podum pulligal ellaam / Kottai vittu kambi ennanum

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow, such as 'Saettai' and 'Kottai'.

Monaie (Initial Alliteration)

Poottai udaikkum puliyae idhai neenga

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words, such as 'Poottai' and 'Puliyae'.

Tamil Metaphor / Idiom

Siraiyil kambi ennanum / Yerai pidichi maanam peridhaai

'Kambi ennanum' literally means 'counting bars', a Tamil idiom for serving a prison sentence. 'Yerai pidichi' (holding the plow) symbolizes taking up farming and honorable hard work.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madurai Veeran (1956) was a blockbuster starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The soundtrack was composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. This reformer-style song perfectly aligned with MGR's screen image of championing social righteousness, honest hard work, and dignity of labor.

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