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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethilum Valvlan Da

From Nammavar · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kamal Haasan, Chorus, Swarnalatha
Music director
Mahesh Mahadevan
Details
Nammavar1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ippozhudhu neengal ketka pogumIn the song that you are about to hear right now
Paadalil varumComing up in this song
Isai thaalam thaarai thappattai pondraMusical beats like the Thaarai and Thappattai drums
Pakkavaathiyangal ellaamae kalappadamillaadhaAll the background accompaniment sounds are unadulterated
Suthamaana manidha kuralil seiyappattavaiMade purely using the natural human voice!
Male
Edhilaeyum vallavandaaHe is a master of everything, man!
Nambikkai ullavandaaHe is a man full of confidence!
Vaenaandaa vaathiyamae vittu thallaendaaNo need for instruments, toss them aside, man!
Haei ennadaa yosikkirae vaayaalae vaasikkirenHey, what are you pondering? I play instruments with my mouth!
Miruthangam naadhaswaram kettu kollaedaaListen closely to the sound of Mridangam and Nadaswaram, man!
Male
Pudhu metta pottukkadaaCompose a brand new tune, man!
Ilamotta paathukkadaaTake a look at the young tender bud, man!
Nammoda paattukkingaeFor our song right here
Potti undaadaa haaIs there any real competition? Haha!
Chorus
Vaikka pullil vaal eduppaarHe can draw a sword even from a haystack!
Vandhavarai thorkkadippaarHe will defeat whoever comes to compete!
Jhum jhum jhumJhum jhum jhum
Nammavarai jeyikkaTo defeat our man (Nammavar)
Ingae aal irukkaadaaIs there anyone capable here?
Jhum jhum jhumJhum jhum jhum
Chorus
Paadam sollum nallavaruHe is a good teacher who imparts lessons,
Sagala kalaa vallavaruHe is a master of all sixty-four arts!
Jhum jhum jhumJhum jhum jhum
Paattukkoru paatteduppaarHe will compose a fitting song for every tune,
Kettuk kollendaaListen to it, man!
Jhum jhum jhumJhum jhum jhum
Male
Malayaala mettil ippoNow in a traditional Malayalam tune,
Oru paattu paadurendaaI will sing a song for you, man!
Vayalaru paattu rombaThe poetic songs of Vayalar,
Kettirukkendaa haeiI have listened to plenty of them, hey!
Chorus
Oyilaaga mundu kattiStylishly tying the mundu dhoti,
Malliya poovu chendu kattiWearing a cluster of jasmine flowers,
Nammoda vandhu konjamAsk her to come along with us
Aada chollendaaAnd dance a little, man!
Male
Mandhiram kaavilinnuFrom the sacred grove of Manthram Kavu,
Thaimaasa kodiyaettamThe flag hoisting festival in the month of Thai,
Pada kaali muttatthinnuIn the front courtyard of Padakaali temple,
Paanjaari thudi thaalamThe rhythmic beat of Panchari and Thudi drums,
Female
Malavaazhum dhevikkinnuDedicated to the Goddess living on the mountain,
Nirathaala polimelamGrand musical arrangements with colorful traditional lights,
Malar manjal kungumathaalWith flowers, turmeric, and vermilion,
Udalaagae abishaegamAnointing the divine body completely!
Male
Thudi thaalam thudi thaalamThudi rhythm, Thudi rhythm,
Thumba poo thudi thaalamThudi rhythm pure as the Thumba flower!
Chorus :Thinnandaa thinnandaaChorus: Thinnandaa thinnandaa
Thinnandaa thinnandaaThinnandaa thinnandaa
Jumjum balaebalae balaebalae balae…Jumjum bravo bravo bravo...
Male
Yaahuyaahu uyaahuyaahuYaahuyaahu uyaahuyaahu
Uyaahuyaahu uyaahuyaahuUyaahuyaahu uyaahuyaahu
Chorus
Balaebalae balaebalae balae…Bravo bravo bravo...
Male
Punjaabi paaniyilaeIn the energetic Punjabi style,
Naam paadum paadalilaeIn the song that we sing,
Nenjodu kikku varumA kick of high energy hits the heart,
Kettu kollungo gudiyaeListen to it, dear folks!
Chorus
Sshaa…Sshaa...
Male :Sshaa…Male: Sshaa...
Chorus :Sshaa…Chorus: Sshaa...
Male :Sshaa…Male: Sshaa...
Chorus :Sshaa… sshaa… hoiyaa…Chorus: Sshaa... sshaa... hoiyaa...
Chorus
Kudiyirundha koyililaeIn the movie Kudiyirundha Koyil,
Vathiyaaru aadaiyilaeIn the iconic attire of a teacher,
Appodhu paartha sugamThe delight experienced back then,
Paarthu kollungaTake a look at it now!
Male
Baabaavae kaalamaroduOh Baba, near the black tree,
Nee nikkiyaavae laakaesortuYou stand like a resort,
Baabaavae kaalamaroduOh Baba, near the black tree,
Nee nikkiyaavae laakaesortuYou stand like a resort,
Ae kaerukadidhaa ae kaerukadidhaaOh, climb up fast, climb up fast,
Adugai dhikkaa laadhinussa chadugaiStep forward and dance with excitement,
Male
Ae baabaavae kaalamaroduOh Baba, near the black tree,
Nee nikkiyaavae laakaesortuYou stand like a resort,
Joolae joolae laal dhamSwing and sway, ecstatic continuous joy,
Masthu kalandharIntoxicated, carefree wanderer,
Saevanudhi sakkaar dhamSweet offerings of devotion,
Masthu kalandharIntoxicated, carefree wanderer,
Chorus
Balaebalae balaebalae balae…Bravo bravo bravo...
Male
Edhilaeyum vallavandaaHe is a master of everything, man!
Nambikkai ullavandaaHe is a man full of confidence!
Vaenaandaa vaathiyamae vittu thallaendaaNo need for instruments, toss them aside, man!
Haei pudhu metta pottukkadaaHey, compose a brand new tune, man!
Ilamotta paathukkadaaTake a look at the young tender bud, man!
Nammoda paattukkingaeFor our song right here,
Potti undaadaa haa yendaaIs there any competition? Haha, why man!
Chorus
Paaduravan paadattumaeLet the singer sing,
Aaduravan aadattumaeLet the dancer dance,
Thorkkaamae namma kittaeCan anyone walk away from us
Povadhundodaa daeiWithout tasting defeat, hey man?
Male
Thelungula naan paadattumaaShall I sing in Telugu now?
Theramai ellaam kaattattumaaShall I showcase all my talents?
Kai thaalam poda vaikkumOur music will make everyone
Namma sangeethamClap their hands to the beat!
Chorus
Pala mozhiyum kathavaruHe has learned many languages,
Paattil ivar vallavaruHe is a supreme master of music,
Ivaraattam paada ingaeTell me who else is there here
Yaaru sollungaWho can sing like him?
Male
Hae aeruvaakkaa saagaaroHey, start the plowing festival,
Ranno chinnannaaOh my dear younger brother,
Nee kashtamandhaa theerunuroAll your troubles will fade away,
Ranno chinnannaaOh my dear younger brother,
Female
Aeruvaakkaa saagaaroStart the plowing festival,
Ranno chinnannaaOh my dear younger brother,
Nee kashtamandhaa theerunuroAll your troubles will fade away,
Ranno chinnannaaOh my dear younger brother,
Male
Mysore kannadathilIn Mysore Kannada style,
Paattundu ennidathilI have a song ready with me,
Naan paadi kaattattumaa unga munnaalaeShall I sing and demonstrate it in front of you?
Chorus
Kaaveri kollidathilNear the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers,
Kaicharakku unnidathilWith the local skill and talent you possess,
Yeraalam innum unduThere is still plenty more to show,
Podu thillaalaeHit a grand rhythmic beat!
Male
Kolu kolanna kolae kolu kolaeKolu kolanna kolae kolu kolae
Yekkolu rannadhak kolaeYekkolu rannadhak kolae
Kolu kolanna kolae kolu kolaeKolu kolanna kolae kolu kolae
Yekkolu rannadhak kolaeYekkolu rannadhak kolae
Male
Malaijaadhi irular avaroda isaiyilIn the tribal music style of the mountain Irulas,
Pudhusaaga ippa oru paatta chollattaaShall I present a fresh new song now?
Male
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa daandu daanduAahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa move forward, move forward
Daandu daandu dandumaari aambalaA strong, bold man of valor
Daandu daandu dandumaari aambalaA strong, bold man of valor
Paaippu paaippu paaippuMouth beats mimicking the pipe instrument
Sithaada vaangi vaikkiren ippudaeI am buying and offering a traditional silk dress right now,
Vekkiren vekkiren ingudae vekkaadhae pullingalaeI am keeping it right here, don't feel shy, youngsters!
Male
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa daandu daanduAahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa move forward, move forward
Daandu daandu dandumaari aambalaA strong, bold man of valor
Daandu daandu dandumaari aambala aahaa aahaaA strong, bold man of valor, aahaa aahaa
Male
Thaa thai thai thatthuRhythmic vocal syllable beat
Aa thai thai thatthuRhythmic vocal syllable beat
Chorus
Thaa thai thai thatthuRhythmic vocal syllable beat
Aa thai thai thatthuRhythmic vocal syllable beat
Male
……………………………….[Vocal rhythmic intermission]
Chorus
……………………………..[Vocal rhythmic intermission]
Male
Kai thattum ungalin paaraattuYour sincere applause and appreciation
Onnu thaanIs the single biggest thing,
Kalainjargal engalukkuThat serves as a wonderful reward
Nalla sanmaanam…mm…For us artists...
Nalla sanmaanam…mm…A wonderful reward...
Chorus
Aaaaannnn….Aaaaannnn....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Edhilayum Vallavanda' from the 1994 movie 'Nammavar' is an extraordinary musical experiment showcasing vocal percussion, polyglot verse, and a cappella craftsmanship. Preceded by a spoken disclaimer, the song asserts that all musical and percussion accompaniments—imitating traditional drums, brass, and reed instruments—are produced exclusively using the human mouth without artificial sound instruments. The lyrics celebrate the protagonist as a master polymath proficient in sixty-four traditional arts, capable of adapting to any style of song.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Vocal Percussion / Sound Imitation (Isai Kurippu)

Miruthangam naadhaswaram kettu kollaedaa

The lyrics explicitly state that instruments like Mridangam and Nadaswaram are simulated entirely through vocal percussion and mouth sounds.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paaduravan paadattumae / Aaduravan aadattumae

The second letter sound ('du') rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a pleasing internal rhythm.

Polyglot / Multilingual Intertextuality

Thelungula naan paadattumaa / Mysore kannadathil paattundu ennidathil

The song seamlessly integrates regional dialects and folk refrains from Malayalam, Punjabi, Telugu, Kannada, and Irula tribal music into Tamil lyrics.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Mahesh Mahadevan and sung by Kamal Haasan (who also played the lead role of a college professor in *Nammavar*), this song is one of the earliest full-length Indian cinematic songs to heavily feature a cappella beatboxing techniques, where Kamal Haasan vocally mimicked various Indian classical, folk, and tribal musical instruments.

Keep listening

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