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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ezhu Thalaimuraiyin

From Kalthoon · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kalthoon1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ezhu thalaimuraiyin munbirundhadhoruA spear that was planted seven generations ago,
Engal vamsa magan natta vaelPlanted by a brave son of our lineage,
Male
Ezhu thalaimuraiyin munbirundhadhoruA spear that was planted seven generations ago,
Engal vamsa magan natta vaelPlanted by a brave son of our lineage,
Male
Endha naalinilum kuttravaaligalaiA spear trained to slay and finish off
Kondru theerthu vida kattra vaelThe wrongdoers on any given day,
Male
Pagaivar anja varum kurudhi konja varumA heroic spear that comes to terrify enemies, shed blood,
Pazhiyai vaanga varum veera vaelAnd seek vengeance,
Male
Paavam seibavarkku paadamaaga varumA spear that comes as a lesson to sinners,
Bakthi dhevadhaiyin sakthi vaelThe powerful spear of the goddess of devotion,
Male
Bandha paasangalai endha naalinilumThis victorious spear never considers
Paarppadhillai indha vettri vaelTies of affection or family relations,
Bandha paasangalai endha naalinilumThis victorious spear never considers
Paarppadhillai indha vettri vaelTies of affection or family relations,
Indha boomi vittu vandha podhuWhen it leaves this earth,
Uyir vaangi thaan padhiyum indha vaelThis spear embeds itself only after taking a life,
Indha boomi vittu vandha podhuWhen it leaves this earth,
Uyir vaangi thaan padhiyum indha vaelThis spear embeds itself only after taking a life,
Male
Maariyaathaa saanidhiyilIn the presence of Goddess Mariyamman,
Vaeleduthu nattu vechaListen, I will tell you the reason
Kaaranathai cholren kaeladaaWhy this spear was taken and planted here!
Ada maanamulla aathi appanListen, a respectable ancestor of ours,
Aana pazhi theerthu vittuAvenged a humiliation and settled a score,
Thaaneduthu natta vaeladaaAnd then took and planted this spear!
Male
Naachi muthu kaundaruNachimuthu Gounder had
Katti vandha pendaattiA wedded wife,
Nallaval oruthi irundhaaWho was a good and virtuous woman,
Male
Ava ulla padi thaanirukkaWhile she remained inside the house,
Ombadhu paer vappaattiHe kept nine concubines
Oorukkullae kooda irundhaaRight inside the village,
Male
Uthamamaam pathiniyaaiAs a virtuous and faithful wife,
Sathiyam thavaraamalWithout straying from truth,
Otha pilla pethu irundhaaShe gave birth to a single son,
Andha pacha pulla munnilaiyilIn front of that innocent child,
Pathiniyai naachi muthuNachimuthu constantly kicked and beat
Nithamumae pottu odhachaanThat virtuous wife,
Nithamumae pottu odhachaanConstantly kicked and beat her,
Male
Thaai vadittha kanneeraiSeeing the tears shed by his mother,
Thaan paartha pillaikkuThe child who watched it
Vaai paechu ninnadhaeyadaaLost his speech and became mute, O friend!
Pilla vaai izhandhu ponaalumThough the child lost his voice,
Paal kudittha nenjukkullaeInside the chest that drank her milk,
Vanjam onnu vandhadhaeyadaaA deep desire for vengeance arose, O friend!
Male
Vellaatti munnilaiyil vellaadi pola avalIn front of a servant woman, being humiliated like a plaything,
Vaedhanaiyum konjamalladaaHer agony was not small, O friend!
Andha vaedhanaiyai paatha pullaThe child who witnessed that agony,
Thaanazhndha kanneeruShed tears that would surpass
Kaavaeriyai minjumaeyadaa…The mighty Kaveri river...!
Kaavaeriyai minjumaeyadaa…The mighty Kaveri river...!
Male
Vammaulla pennorutthiWhen a woman of noble lineage
Vanjaganukku vaaithu vittaalIs destined to marry a treacherous man,
Pinnum avan pona kadhai perusaachuThe tragic story that followed grew larger,
Andha paerazhagi sonnadhu thaan seyalaachuWhatever that beautiful mistress commanded came to pass,
Male
Pattathu raaniyai neeIf you send your anointed queen
Pallaakkil anuppi vittaalAway in a palanquin,
Pakkatthil naan iruppen endraalae'I will remain by your side,' she promised,
Andha paadhagan manaivi thanai kondraanaeAnd so that wicked villain killed his own wife!
Paadhagan manaivi thanai kondraanaeThat wicked villain killed his own wife!
Male
Appaavin seyal paarthaanHe saw his father's evil deed,
Ammaavin kolai paarthaanHe saw his mother's murder,
Appodhu seeri vandhaan oomaiyadaaThen he roared forth, though mute!
Ammaa… ammaa… ammaa…Mother... Mother... Mother...
Paesi ammaa ammaavendrae thudithaanHe cried out 'Mother, Mother!' and trembled,
PillaiyadaaThat young son!
Male
Kannilae neruppeduthaWith fire blazing in his eyes,
Vanna magan thaan paatthuLooking at her precious son,
Pennarasi thaan azhaithaal anbinilaeThe queen of women called out with love,
Than paechinaal adakki vittaal mudivinilaeAnd bound him with her words in the end,
Paechinaal adakki vittaal mudivinilaeBound him with her words in the end,
Male
Kattuppatta andha maganThat dutiful son kept his restraint,
KaathirundhaandaaHe waited patiently, O friend,
Andha kaalam varum neram varaiUntil the right time arrived,
PaathirundhaandaaHe kept watching and waiting!
Thattu ketta thandhan avan pangaali aanaanThat depraved father became his mere rival in property,
Mahan thaayuraitha vaakkin padi pagaiyaaliyaanaanAnd as per his mother's word, the son became his enemy!
Male
Hahahaha hahahahaaHahaha... Hahaha...
Ennikku unnoda attoozhiyamum akkiramamumThe day your atrocities and injustice
Ellaiyai meeri indha graamathaiyae baadhikkudhoCross all limits and affect this entire village,
Annikkae nee en appan illa pangaaliOn that day, you are not my father, but an adversary,
Unna theetthu katta utharava kuduthuttaa engammaaOur mother gave me permission to eliminate you!
Male
Naalaikku ooraiyae pagaichukkittuTomorrow, turning the whole village against you,
Nee kallu kada therakka poraYou are going to open a liquor shop,
Enga aathaa sonna neram vandhuruchuThe time foretold by our mother has arrived!
Male
Aaru padai vaelena aadi varugindraan…Like the divine spear of Lord Murugan, he comes dancing...
Soora vadhan maeni thanil paaya varugindraan…He comes to strike down the body of the demon Sooran...
Thandhai ena pillai ena paasam ini illai…There is no affection left between father and son...
Sadhadhiyil indha vadivael uraikkum ellai…This sharp spear marks the boundary of justice in this lineage!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-drama narrative ballad from the film 'Kalthoon' (1981), written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. It unfolds as a passionate monologue detailing a tragic family saga of cruelty, betrayal, and divine retribution. A tyrannical man, Nachimuthu Gounder, mistreats his virtuous wife in favor of concubines, eventually murdering her to satisfy a mistress. Their young son, traumatized into muteness by witnessing his mother's constant abuse, harbors deep vengeance. Before dying, his mother commands him to hold his rage until his father's atrocities cross all limits and harm the entire village. The climax of the song arrives as the father plans to open a liquor shop that threatens the village's well-being. Recognizing that the fateful hour foretold by his mother has arrived, the son renounces all filial bonds. He steps forward not as a son, but as an agent of cosmic justice—likened to Lord Murugan's sacred spear (Vel) destroying the demon Soorapadman—ready to execute vengeance and restore honor to his ancestral lineage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pagaivar anja varum kurudhi konja varum / Pazhiyai vaanga varum veera vael

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' ('Pagaivar', 'Pazhiyai') creates rhythmic emphasis appropriate for a heroic ballad.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Bandha paasangalai endha naalinilum / Paarppadhillai indha vettri vael

The second consonant sound 'ndh' in 'Bandha' matches 'indha', producing classical Tamil poetic harmony.

Hyperbole / Simile

Andha vaedhanaiyai paatha pulla / Thaanazhndha kanneeru / Kaavaeriyai minjumaeyadaa…

Exaggeration comparing the child's immense flood of tears shed over his mother's plight to the mighty Kaveri river.

Mythological Metaphor (Ani)

Aaru padai vaelena aadi varugindraan… / Soora vadhan maeni thanil paaya varugindraan…

Metaphorically comparing the vengeful son to Lord Murugan's sacred spear (Vel) charging to pierce the body of the demon Soorapadman.

Muran (Contrast / Antonymy)

Thandhai ena pillai ena paasam ini illai… / Sadhadhiyil indha vadivael uraikkum ellai…

Contrast between sacred filial love (Thandhai/Pillai paasam) and absolute enmity driven by justice.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Kalthoon' (1981) was directed by Major Sundarrajan, based on a popular stage play written by Amuthan. It starred Sivaji Ganesan and Major Sundarrajan in lead roles. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song showcase his mastery over traditional Tamil narrative song structures (Villu Paattu style elements), using vivid imagery of Lord Murugan's Vel to turn a domestic tragedy into an epic battle between righteousness and evil.

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