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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellorum Poranthom

From Agal Vilakku · 1979

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Agal Vilakku1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vidudhalai vidudhalai vidudhalaiFreedom, freedom, freedom!
Chorus :Vidudhalai vidudhalai vidudhalaiChorus: Freedom, freedom, freedom!
Male
Engal annan engal mannanOur brother, our king
Punnagai mannan poovizhi kannanKing of smiles, lotus-eyed Kannan
Sembhannnaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Chorus
:Sembhannnaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Sembhannnaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Male
Karnan thambhi kaliyuga paariYounger brother of Karna, the King Pari of Kali Yuga
Ezhai pangaali engalin thozhanBenefactor of the poor, our comrade
Sembhannaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Chorus
Sembhannnaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Sembhannnaakku vidudhalaiFreedom for Sembhan!
Male :Vidudhalai vidudhalai vidudhalaiMale: Freedom, freedom, freedom!
Chorus :Vidudhalai vidudhalai vidudhalaiChorus: Freedom, freedom, freedom!
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Chorus
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Male
Ac vasadhi veedu irundhumEven if one owns an air-conditioned house
Ezhadikku moonadaikkulInto a space of seven by three feet
Vandhu vizhuvomWe will ultimately fall
Chorus :Aamaa aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes, yes!
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Male
Vatti pottu thuttu serththavanThe one who accumulated money by lending at interest
Pottikkulla katti pottavanThe one who locked it up inside a safe box
Chorus :Vatti pottu thuttu serththavanChorus: The one who accumulated money by lending at interest
Pottikkulla katti pottavanThe one who locked it up inside a safe box
Male
Rottiyum paalum kudippaanHe drinks only bread and milk
Ada paththiyam dhenamum iruppaanAh, he stays on a strict medical diet every day
Uchchi mudinjadhum saaviyumOnce the final breath leaves the head
Chorus :Kai maaridum pai maaridumChorus: The hands will change, the money bag will change
Male
Aasa pattu naama paavangala serthomDriven by desire, we accumulated sins
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Male
Ac vasadhi veedu irundhumEven if one owns an air-conditioned house
Ezhadikku moonadaikkulInto a space of seven by three feet
Vandhu vizhuvomWe will ultimately fall
Chorus :Aamaa aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes, yes!
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Male
Baaga pirivinai yethadaaWhy property partition, my man?
Paasam uravugal yethadaaWhy affection and family ties, my man?
Chorus :Baaga pirivinai yethadaaChorus: Why property partition, my man?
Paasam uravugal yethadaaWhy affection and family ties, my man?
Male
Thaniyaa porandhom valarndhomWe were born alone and grew up
Thaniyaa pirinjae irundhomWe remained separated and alone
Vaasa kadhavukku poottundhaanThere is a lock at the entrance door
Chorus :Ini yethadha ada maanidaaChorus: What is the point now, oh human?
Male :Seettu nerandharamaaga irukkaadhuMale: The life-ticket is not permanent!
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Male
Ac vasadhi veedu irundhumEven if one owns an air-conditioned house
Ezhadikku moonadaikkulInto a space of seven by three feet
Vandhu vizhuvomWe will ultimately fall
Chorus :Aamaa aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes, yes!
Male
Ellorum porandhomWe all were born
Onnaaga valarndhomWe grew up together
Enna kondu poga poromWhat are we going to take with us?
Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka poromIn the end, where are they going to place us?
Chorus
Thannaana nanananaaThannaana nanananaa
Thannaana naananaaThannaana naananaa
Thannaana naananaanaThannaana naananaana
Thannaanae nanna naanaaThannaanae nanna naanaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Agal Vilakku' blends folk celebratory chants of liberation with profound philosophical reflections on mortality and transience. The opening section celebrates a benevolent local figure named Sembhan, comparing his generosity to historical and mythological givers like Karna and King Pari. As the song progresses, the chorus shifts focus to the universal leveller of human existence: death. The lyrics question the point of greed, hoarding money, strict diets, and fighting over property partitions. Regardless of how rich someone becomes—even if they live in air-conditioned luxury—everyone ends up in the same six-to-seven-foot grave in the end. It serves as a stern moral reminder that life's ticket is temporary and material wealth cannot be carried beyond death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Purana / Historical Reference)

Karnan thambhi kaliyuga paari

Compares the hero to Karna (from Mahabharata) and King Pari (one of the Kadai Ezhu Vallal) to signify extreme generosity.

Rhetorical Question

Enna kondu poga porom / Kadaisiyila enga kondu veikka porom

Questions the purpose of human existence, greed, and attachments when nothing can be taken after death.

Contrast / Imagery

Ac vasadhi veedu irundhum / Ezhadikku moonadaikkul

Juxtaposes high-end luxury ('AC vasadhi veedu') with the stark reality of the grave ('Ezhadikku moonadaikkul').

Edhukai (Monosyllabic Second-letter Rhyme)

Vatti pottu thuttu serththavan / Pottikkulla katti pottavan

Tamil poetic rhyme scheme where the second letter matches across consecutive lines (Vatti / Potti).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Agal Vilakku' (1979) was directed by R. Selvaraj and starred Vijayakanth in one of his very early career roles. The philosophical lines written by lyricist Muthulingam draw inspiration from traditional Siddhar poetry that emphasizes the impermanence of human life.

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