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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennalum Thanniyile

From Kuravanji · 1960

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, Jikki
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Kuravanji1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Humming ….(Humming...)
Male
Humming…(Humming...)
Female
Hoo o o o o hoo o oHoo o o o o hoo o o
Female
Ennaalum thanniyilaeAlways in the water,
Enga pozhappae irukkuOur livelihood lies!
Raa raa raja rajaCome, come, my king, my king,
Odi vaaraai raja rajaRun and come quickly, my king!
Chorus
Ennaalum thanniyilaeAlways in the water,
Enga pozhappae irukkuOur livelihood lies!
Raa raa raja rajaCome, come, my king, my king,
Odi vaaraai raja rajaRun and come quickly, my king!
Male
Ponjaathi pullaigalaiLeaving wife and children,
Thannanthaniyaagha vittuAll alone behind,
Puyalodu thattukattuTying together a catamaran,
Kattumaram kattikittuTo fight through the storm,
Chorus
Hoo o o ooHoo o o oo
Male
Ponjaathi pullaigalaiLeaving wife and children,
Thannanthaniyaagha vittuAll alone behind,
Puyalodu thattukattuTying together a catamaran,
Kattumaram kattikittuTo fight through the storm,
Female
Anjaamale kadalu alaiyodu modhikittuFearlessly clashing against the sea waves,
Anjaamale kadalu alaiyodu modhikittuFearlessly clashing against the sea waves,
Akkaraikum ikkaraikkum aalaattam pottavanaeO one who moved dramatically between this shore and that shore!
Male
Vanjaga thimilangaWhen treacherous whales and sharks,
Vaal adichaa kattumaramStrike with their tails, the catamaran,
Vakkaramae pannikittuGets violently tossed around,
Sakkaiyaaga vittuvidumAnd reduced to mere pulp!
Chorus
Hoo o o ooHoo o o oo
Male
Vanjaga thimilangaWhen treacherous whales and sharks,
Vaal adichaa kattumaramStrike with their tails, the catamaran,
Vakkaramae pannikittuGets violently tossed around,
Sakkaiyaaga vittuvidumAnd reduced to mere pulp!
Female
Konjamkooda anjaamae valaigalai veesikittuWithout an ounce of fear, casting the nets,
Konjamkooda anjaamae valaigalai veesikittuWithout an ounce of fear, casting the nets,
Kondhalikkum thanniyilae mundhikittu seekiramaePushing ahead quickly through the turbulent waters!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song vividly depicts the harsh yet courageous life of Tamil fishermen. It emphasizes how their entire existence and daily bread depend on the treacherous sea. Leaving behind their beloved wives and children on the shore, the fishermen assemble simple wooden catamarans and venture out into unpredictable weather and dangerous waters.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ennaalum thanniyilae / Enga pozhappae irukku

Matching initial vowel sounds ('E' in Ennaalum and Enga) creates a smooth musical opening rhythm.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Anjaamale kadalu alaiyodu modhikittu / Akkaraikum ikkaraikkum aalaattam pottavanae

Consonance of the second letter 'k/kk' sound across rhythmic phrasing.

Vivid Imagery / Hyperbole

Vakkaramae pannikittu / Sakkaiyaaga vittuvidum

Describes the destructive force of sea creatures thrashing catamarans into 'sakkai' (crushed sugarcane pulp/shreds).

Epizeuxis / Repetition

Raa raa raja raja / Odi vaaraai raja raja

Immediate repetition of 'raja' and 'raa' conveys urgency, affection, and rhythmic folk tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1960 movie 'Kuravanji', based on traditional Tamil dance drama literature (Kuravanji Natakam), featured music composed by T. R. Pappa. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was renowned for his ability to translate the authentic dialect and folk culture of coastal Tamil workers into captivating cinema songs. Singers A. L. Raghavan and Jikki brought an energetic, realistic coastal folk flair to this duet.

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