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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eedatra Patthinikku

From Thanga Padhumai · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
C. S. Jayaraman, Padmini
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Thanga Padhumai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aththaan neengal kolaikaararaaHusband, are you a murderer?
Kotravanai kondreergalaDid you kill the king?
Koorungal aththaan koorungalTell me, husband, tell me!
Male
Eedattra pathiniyin inbathai kondravan naanI am the one who killed the happiness of a peerless virtuous wife.
Aval idhayathil kondhalitha ennathai kondravan naanI am the one who killed the hopes churning in her heart.
Vaazha thagundhavalai vaazhaamal vaithuvittuLeaving the woman worthy of life unable to live,
Paazhum parathaiyinaal panbudhanai kondravan naanI am the one who killed my character due to a ruinous courtesan.
Male
Andha kolaigalukkkkae aalaai irundhu vittaenI have become subject to those murders;
Ini endha kolai seidhaalum ennadi en gyanappennae..ae…Whatever murder I commit hereafter, what does it matter, my wise maiden?
Ennadi en gyanappennaeWhat does it matter, my wise maiden?
Ennadi en gyanappennaeWhat does it matter, my wise maiden?
Male
Aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullaeMan's beginning takes place within a woman,
Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd after playing his part, he settles into the soil.
Manidhan aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullaeMan's beginning takes place within a woman,
Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd after playing his part, he settles into the soil.
Aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd settles into the soil.
Aaraindhu paar mana kannukkullaeExamine and reflect with the eye of your mind,
Aathiran kollaadhae nenjukkullaeDo not harbour rage within your heart.
Aaraindhu paar mana kannukkullaeExamine and reflect with the eye of your mind,
Aathiran kollaadhae nenjukkullaeDo not harbour rage within your heart.
Male
Aarambhamaavadhu….Beginning...
Manidhan aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullaeMan's beginning takes place within a woman,
Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd after playing his part, he settles into the soil.
Female
Aththaan aththaanHusband, husband,
Ungal meedhu kodum pazhi vandhirukkiradhaeA cruel blame has come upon you!
Aththaan en meedhu unmaiyaaga anbirundhaalHusband, if you truly have love for me,
Anjaamal unmaiyai sollungalTell the truth without fear!
Yaarukkum anjaamal unmaiyai sollungalTell the truth without fear of anyone!
Male
Anbai keduthu nal aasaiyai kondravanOne who destroyed love and killed good desires,
Anji nadappaano gyanappennae..ae…Will he walk in fear, my wise maiden?
Anbai keduthu nal aasaiyai kondravanOne who destroyed love and killed good desires,
Anji nadappaano gyanappennae..ae…Will he walk in fear, my wise maiden?
Thunbathai katti sumakka thunindavanOne who dared to bind and carry sorrow,
Sonnaalum kaetpaano gyanappennaeWill he listen even if spoken to, my wise maiden?
Sonnaalum kaetpaano gyanappennaeWill he listen even if spoken to, my wise maiden?
Male
Aarambhamaavadhu….Beginning...
Manidhan aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullaeMan's beginning takes place within a woman,
Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd after playing his part, he settles into the soil.
Female
Aththaan unmaiyai koora mudiyaadhabadiHusband, what terrible mistake did you commit,
Avvalavu periya thavaru enna seithuvitteergalThat prevents you from telling the truth?
Male
Thavarukku thavaraana thavarai purindhu vittuHaving committed a blunder on top of a mistake,
Thanippattu ponavan gyanappennae…ae…..ae….I have become isolated, my wise maiden...
Thavarukku thavaraana thavarai purindhu vittuHaving committed a blunder on top of a mistake,
Thanippattu ponavan gyanappennae…I have become isolated, my wise maiden...
Thanippattu ponavan gyanappennaeI have become isolated, my wise maiden.
Padhari padhari nindru kadhari pulambinaalumEven if one stands trembling in panic, weeping and lamenting,
Payanpattu varuvaano gyanappennaeWill it be of any use, my wise maiden?
Payanpattu varuvaano gyanappennaeWill it be of any use, my wise maiden?
Male
Aarambhamaavadhu….Beginning...
Manidhan aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullaeMan's beginning takes place within a woman,
Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullaeAnd after playing his part, he settles into the soil.
Aaraindhu paar mana kannukkullaeExamine and reflect with the eye of your mind,
Aathiran gollaadhae nenjukkullaeDo not harbour rage within your heart.
Female
Aaaaaaaaaa…… aththaan… aththaan…..Aaaaah... husband... husband...
Idhu enna aththaan… idhu enna….What is this, husband... what is this...
Ungal kangal engae aththaan…..Where are your eyes, husband?
Ungal kangal engae…..aththaanWhere are your eyes, husband?
Male
Koduththavanae parithu kondaandiThe one who gave eyes snatched them back, oh dear girl!
Maanae valarthavanae veruthu vittaandiThe one who nurtured me as a deer abandoned me, oh dear girl!
Kannai koduththavanae parithu kondaandiThe one who gave eyes snatched them back, oh dear girl!
Maanae valarthavanae veruthu vittaandiThe one who nurtured me as a deer abandoned me, oh dear girl!
Poruthamaana thunaiyirundhumDespite having a suitable life partner,
Pongi varum azhagirundhumAnd despite her overflowing beauty,
Pona pakkam poga vittaen paarvaiyaiI allowed my gaze to wander wherever it went,
Avan poruthirundae purindhu kondaan vaelaiyaiAnd God patiently bided his time and did his deed.
Poruthamaana thunaiyirundhumDespite having a suitable life partner,
Pongi varum azhagirundhumAnd despite her overflowing beauty,
Pona pakkam poga vittaen paarvaiyaiI allowed my gaze to wander wherever it went,
Avan poruthirundae purindhu kondaan vaelaiyaiAnd God patiently bided his time and did his deed.
Kannai koduthavanae parithu kondaandiThe one who gave eyes snatched them back, oh dear girl!
Maanae valarthavanae veruthu vittaandiThe one who nurtured me as a deer abandoned me, oh dear girl!
Female
Karunaiyae vadivamaana dheivamaaDid the God who is the very embodiment of mercy
Ungal kangalai parithadhuSnatch away your eyes?
Male
Edhiril vandhu kedukkavillaiHe did not come directly in front to harm,
Idhayamidam kodukkavillaiNor did He grant space in His heart.
Edhiril vandhu kedukkavillaiHe did not come directly in front to harm,
Idhayamidam kodukkavillaiNor did He grant space in His heart.
Engirundo yaevivittaan kiliyaiFrom somewhere unknown He dispatched the parrot,
Adhu en thalaiyil pottadhadi pazhiyaiAnd it cast the blame onto my head, my girl.
Kannai koduthavanae parithu kondaandiThe one who gave eyes snatched them back, oh dear girl!
Maanae valarthavanae veruthu vittaandiThe one who nurtured me as a deer abandoned me, oh dear girl!
Female
Needhi nilai peraFor justice to prevail,
En naetriyil kungumam thigazhaFor the vermilion on my forehead to shine,
Unmaiyai koorungal…Tell the truth...
Ungal manaivi kaetkiraal…..Your wife is asking you...
En manjalum kungumamum kaetkirathu athathaan…My turmeric and vermilion are asking you, husband...
Male
Singaaram kettu… siraippatta paavikku…For a sinner whose charm is lost and who is imprisoned,
Samsaaram edhukkadi …thangamWhy does he need a family, my precious?
Samsaaram edhukkadi….Why does he need a family?
Singaaram kettu… siraippatta paavikku…For a sinner whose charm is lost and who is imprisoned,
Samsaaram edhukkadiWhy does he need a family,
Thangam samsaaram edhukkadi….My precious, why does he need a family?
Singaaram kettu… siraippatta paavikku…For a sinner whose charm is lost and who is imprisoned,
Samsaaram edhukkadiWhy does he need a family,
Thangam samsaaram edhukkadi….My precious, why does he need a family?
Male
Manaiviyai kuzhandaiyai marandhu pirindhavanaiOne who forgot and separated from his wife and child,
Vaazhthuvadhaagaadhadi…ee….ee…ee…Is not worthy of being blessed, my girl...
Manaiviyai kuzhandaiyai marandhu pirindhavanaiOne who forgot and separated from his wife and child,
VaazhthuvadhaagaadhadiIs not worthy of being blessed,
Thangam mannikka koodaaadhadiMy precious, he should not be forgiven!
Singaaram kettu… siraippatta paavikku…For a sinner whose charm is lost and who is imprisoned,
Samsaaram edhukkadiWhy does he need a family,
Thangam samsaaram edhukkadi….My precious, why does he need a family?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional philosophical dialogue song from the film 'Thanga Padhumai' (1959) depicts a heart-wrenching exchange between a remorseful husband (Manoharan, played by Sivaji Ganesan) and his loyal wife (Selvi, played by Padmini). The husband has fallen from virtue due to lust and deceit, losing both his moral standing and his eyesight as cosmic retribution. When the wife questions him about the false accusations of regicide leveled against him, the husband expresses deep guilt, acknowledging that his moral degradation killed his wife's happiness long before any physical crime.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullae / Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullae

Matching second consonants across successive lines, e.g., 'Aarambhamaavadhu' / 'Aaraindhu' / 'Aathiran' in lines 12-18.

Monae (Initial letter rhyming/alliteration)

Padhari padhari nindru kadhari pulambinaalum

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds within the same line, such as 'Padhari padhari... kadhari'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Ini endha kolai seidhaalum ennadi en gyanappennae

Addressing the mind/self as 'gyanappennae' (wise maiden) as an internal philosophical interlocutor, a classic Siddhar poetic tradition.

Contrast / Anthesis

Manidhan aarambhamaavadhu pennukkullae / Avan aadi adanguvadhu mannukkullae

Contrasting life's origin in a woman's womb ('pennukkullae') with man's ultimate end in the soil ('mannukkullae').

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Trivia

This legendary song from 'Thanga Padhumai' (1959) features music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. It was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Leela. The framing of 'Gyanappennae' pays homage to ancient Tamil Siddhar philosophical songs.

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