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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eppadiyellam

From Pori · 2007

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Dhina
Details
Pori2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Ye eppadi ellaam iruntha{Hey, look how he used to be,
Podiyan ippadi aagi ponaanaeThat young guy has turned out like this!
Chorus :Ponaanae ponaanae} (2)Chorus: He turned out, he turned out!}
Male
Kadavul engalai kaakanumGod must protect us,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Kanna thuranthu paarkanumMale: He must open His eyes and look at us,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Koyilu vanthu kumbida maatomMale: We won't come to temples to pray,
Aanaal melae thookanumBut He must still lift us up high!
Male
Latchiyam illai yappaWe have no lofty goal, man,
Katchiyum illai yappaNor do we belong to any party, man,
Aanaa enga kodiBut our flag
Utchchathilae eranumappaMust reach the very top, man!
Chorus
Thannanaa thanaa nannaa naaThannanaa thanaa nannaa naa
Thannanaa thanaa nannaa naaThannanaa thanaa nannaa naa
Thannanaa thanaa nannaa naaThannanaa thanaa nannaa naa
Thannanaa thanaa nannaa nannaa nannaa naaThannanaa thanaa nannaa nannaa nannaa naa
Male
{Ye eppadi ellaam iruntha{Hey, look how he used to be,
Podiyan ippadi aagi ponaanaeThat young guy has turned out like this!
Chorus :Ponaanae ponaanae} (2)Chorus: He turned out, he turned out!}
Chorus
Jujuju juju jujuJujuju juju juju
Jujuju juju jujuJujuju juju juju
Jujuju juju jujuJujuju juju juju
Jujuju juju jujuJujuju juju juju
Male
Hey thanakku mattumHey, the person who thinks only about his own hunger
Pasikudhunnu ninaikiravan pachondhiIs just a chameleon!
Chorus :Pachondhi pachondiChorus: Chameleon, chameleon!
Male
Aduthavanga vayathukaagaFor the sake of filling others' stomachs,
Uzhaikanumda kaiyenthiOne must work, even if it means begging!
Chorus :Kaiyenthi kaiyenthiChorus: Begging, begging!
Male
Edhukku unakku kavalaiWhy do you worry?
Adha kozhuthu koondodaBurn those worries to the root!
Marainji kidakkum porulaiThe hidden talent inside you,
Edu jananga poopodaBring it out so people shower flowers on you!
Chorus
HoiHoi!
Male :Pedalum illayappaMale: There is no pedal, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Sakkaram illaiyappaMale: There is no wheel, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Aanaa bhoomi mattumMale: But the earth alone
Suthi kondae irukudhapaaKeeps spinning around anyway, man!
Chorus
HoiHoi!
Male :Mazhaiyum illaiyappaMale: There is no rain, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Veyilum illaiyappaMale: There is no sunshine, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Aana kannukullaMale: But inside our eyes,
Vaanavillum theiryudhapaaA rainbow is clearly visible, man!
Male
{Ye eppadi ellaam iruntha{Hey, look how he used to be,
Podiyan ippadi aagi ponaanaeThat young guy has turned out like this!
Chorus :Ponaanae ponaanae} (2)Chorus: He turned out, he turned out!}
Male
Ye varavu irunthaaHey, if there is income,
Selavu irrukum varuthapada koodaadhuThere will be expenses, so don't feel sad!
Chorus :Koodaadhu koodaadhuChorus: Don't feel sad, don't feel sad!
Male
Ye varathupattu kidapadhaalaHey, just wallowing in sadness
Vidivu vanthu seraadhuWon't bring a bright new dawn!
Chorus :Seraadhu seraadhuChorus: Won't bring, won't bring!
Male
Uzhaikka marantha payalaA fellow who forgets to work,
Intha ulagam nambaadhuThis world will never trust him!
Parakka therinja kuruviA bird that knows how to fly
Oru kilaiyil thangaadhuWill never stay on just one branch!
Chorus
HoiHoi!
Male :Kattilum illaiyappaMale: There is no bed, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Meththaiyum illaiyappaMale: There is no mattress, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Aanaal kanavu mattumMale: But dreams alone
Colour colouraa suthuthupaaaKeep spinning around in full color, man!
Chorus
HoiHoi!
Male :Kannadaasan illaiyappaMale: He is not Kannadasan, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Kambanum illaiyappaMale: Nor is he Kamban, man,
Chorus :HoiChorus: Hoi!
Male :Aana kavidhai mattumMale: But poetry alone
Pothukittu kottudhappaaKeeps bursting forth and pouring out, man!
Male
{Ye eppadi ellaam iruntha{Hey, look how he used to be,
Podiyan ippadi aagi ponaanaeThat young guy has turned out like this!
Chorus :Ponaanae ponaanae} (2)Chorus: He turned out, he turned out!}
Chorus
Kadavul engalai kaakanumGod must protect us,
Kanna thuranthu paarkanumHe must open His eyes and look at us,
Koyilu vanthu kumbida maatomWe won't come to temples to pray,
Aanaal melae thookanumBut He must still lift us up high!
Male
Latchiyam illai yappaWe have no lofty goal, man,
Katchiyum illai yappaNor do we belong to any party, man,
Aanaa enga kodiBut our flag
Utchchathilae eranumppaMust reach the very top, man!
Male
Than nan na nanaThan nan na nana
YappaMan
Than nan na nanaThan nan na nana
YappaMan
Than nan na nana nanaThan nan na nana nana
Nana nana nana yappaNana nana nana man
Chorus
Johnny johnny yes papaJohnny Johnny yes papa,
Eating sugar no papaEating sugar no papa,
Telling lies no papaTelling lies no papa,
Haha haha haaHaha haha haa
Haha haha haaHaha haha haa
Haha haha haaHaha haha haa
Male :Yappaaaaaa…Male: Man!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a carefree, motivational street-style anthem about resilience, optimistic living, and ambition despite lacking material resources. The lyrics express the viewpoint of ordinary, working-class youth who may not be overly religious, educated, or politically aligned, yet hold grand aspirations to rise high in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Latchiyam illai yappa / Katchiyum illai yappa

The second letters of both lines ('tchi') rhyme, creating traditional Tamil rhythmic flow.

Metaphor

Hey thanakku mattum pasikudhunnu ninaikiravan pachondhi

A self-centered person is directly compared to a chameleon (pachondhi).

Contrast / Muran

Kattilum illaiyappa... Aanaal kanavu mattum colour colouraa suthuthupaaa

Contrasts the harsh reality of having no bed with the colorful richness of one's dreams.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Eppadi Ellaam Iruntha' from the 2007 Tamil movie 'Pori' stars Jiiva and Pooja. The film's music was composed by Dhina, and the lyrics were penned by Yugabharathi. The track playfully incorporates popular nursery rhymes like 'Johnny Johnny Yes Papa' to emphasize a quirky, carefree attitude.

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