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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellorudaiya Vazhkaiyilum

From Paattukku Oru Thalaivan · 1989

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala unduThere is a woman in my life too
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala unduThere is a woman in my life too
Ava kaadhaliyaa illa kraadhagiyaaIs she a lover or a cruel villainess?
Endhan naayagiyaa rendum ketta paadhagiyaaIs she my heroine or a wicked sinner stuck in between?
Male
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala undu hoo hooThere is a woman in my life too, hoo hoo
Male
Unmai poiya kandariyaTo distinguish truth from lies
Gnyaanam enakkilla illaI do not possess the wisdom, no
Poigalaiyum nambidum naanI who even trusted lies
Deivathaiyum nambavillaDid not even place trust in God
Male
Maiya kannil poosiSmearing kohl in her eyes
Enna poiyaal valachu pudichaaShe trapped me with her lies
Kaiyaal saambala kozhachuMixing ash with her hands
Endhan nethiyil pattaiya adichaaShe smeared holy ash on my forehead (tricked me completely)
Male
Sithargalum sonnadhellam un vaazhvilaeEverything the Siddhars said is in your life
Sitharicha deivam ippo en nenjilaeThe God who tested me now resides in my heart
Yechuputtu ponaalae ava pombalaeShe spat and walked away, that woman
Nenja vittu pogaathu en kaadhalaeYet my love refuses to leave my heart
Male
Ava pombalaiyaIs she really a woman?
Naan avala nambalaiyaaDid I not put my trust in her?
Aanukkoru pennillaiyaaIsn't there a woman for every man?
Vaazhkkaiyilae vambillaiyaa aiyaaIsn't there trouble in life, oh sir?
Male
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala undu hoo hoooThere is a woman in my life too, hoo hooo
Male
Aariraaroo paadum andha thaayumThat mother who sings lullabies
Oru pombala thaanIs also a woman
Nenju kedum paattu solliThe one who gave songs that corrupt the heart
Thandhavalum pombala thaanIs also a woman
Male
Kaathu kaathu irunthuWaiting patiently
Ava thoonga vachu paduppuShe puts you to sleep and lays you down
Kaadhal paarva paarthuLooking with a gaze of love
Iva thookathaiyum keduppaThis woman steals your sleep away
Male
Thaaya vittu thooram thooramFar, far away from your mother
Nee ponaalumEven if you go
Seiya vittu naesam paasam pogathappaaHer maternal love and affection for her child never fade, my friend
Vaanathula suthum kazhugu kann paarva thaanThe gaze of the eagle hovering in the sky
Nilathula sethu azhugum pinam meedhu thaanIs set upon the corpse rotting on the ground
Male
Andha vaanatha polLike that vast sky
Annai ennum pennum unduThere is a woman called a mother
Kothum andha kazhugu polLike that pecking eagle
Penn avalum ingu unduThere is also a woman here
Male
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala unduThere is a woman in my life too
Ava kaadhaliyaa illa kraadhagiyaaIs she a lover or a cruel villainess?
Endhan naayagiyaa rendum ketta paadhagiyaaIs she my heroine or a wicked sinner stuck in between?
Male
Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala unduThere is a woman in everyone's life
Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala undu hoo hooThere is a woman in my life too, hoo hoo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song reflects on the deep duality of womanhood from the perspective of a heartbroken man. It explores how women shape a man's life in diametrically opposite ways: on one hand, there is the selfless mother who provides unconditional love, patience, and comfort; on the other, there is the deceitful lover who uses charm and falsehoods to bring betrayal and agony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Aariraaroo paadum andha thaayum... Nenju kedum paattu solli Thandhavalum pombala thaan

Contrasts the nurturing mother who lulls her child to sleep ('thoonga vachu paduppa') with the deceptive lover who steals sleep away ('thookathaiyum keduppa').

Simile (Upamai)

Andha vaanatha pol Annai ennum pennum undu, Kothum andha kazhugu pol Penn avalum ingu undu

Compares the mother's boundless love to the expansive sky ('vaanatha pol'), while comparing a deceitful woman to a predatory eagle ('kazhugu pol') eyeing a corpse.

Idiomatic Metaphor

Kaiyaal saambala kozhachu Endhan nethiyil pattaiya adichaa

The Tamil phrase 'nethiyil pattaiya adichaa' (smearing ash on the forehead) is an idiom signifying complete betrayal, trickery, or ruin.

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Ellorudaiya vaazhkaiyilum pombala undu / Ennudaiya vaazhvilum oru pombala undu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines ('Ellorudaiya' / 'Ennudaiya') establishing a rhythmic folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1989 Vijayakanth starrer 'Paattukku Oru Thalaivan', this song was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung with expressive folk vigor by Malaysia Vasudevan. The lyrics highlight Ilaiyaraaja's knack for blending raw folk wisdom with philosophical ruminations on human relationships.

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