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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Idhuthaan Ulagamadaa Manidhaa

From Paasavalai · 1956

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
C. S. Jayaraman
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Paasavalai1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaa manidhaaThis is the way of the world, O human.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Male
Porul irunthaal vandhu koodumIf you have wealth, people will gather around you.
Adhai izhanthaal vilagi odumIf you lose it, they will run away.
Porul irunthaal vandhu koodumIf you have wealth, people will gather around you.
Adhai izhanthaal vilagi odumIf you lose it, they will run away.
Male
Idhu thaan ulagamadaa manidhaaThis is the way of the world, O human.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Male
Udhaithavan kaalai muthamidumIt kisses the feet of the one who kicks it.
Uththamar vaazhvai koththividumIt destroys and pecks away at the lives of righteous people.
Udhattil uravum ullathil pagaiyumHarboring friendship on the lips while keeping hatred in the heart,
Valarthae arivai maaithuvidumIt nurtures hypocrisy and destroys true wisdom.
Udhattil uravum ullathil pagaiyumHarboring friendship on the lips while keeping hatred in the heart,
Valarthae arivai maaithuvidumIt nurtures hypocrisy and destroys true wisdom.
Male
Porul irunthaal vandhu koodumIf you have wealth, people will gather around you.
Adhai izhanthaal vilagi odumIf you lose it, they will run away.
Male
Idhu thaan ulagamadaa manidhaaThis is the way of the world, O human.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Male
Uzhaippavan kaiyil odu tharumIt puts a begging bowl in the hands of the hard worker.
Unavukku bathilaai nanjai tharumIt serves poison instead of food.
Uzhaippavan kaiyil odu tharumIt puts a begging bowl in the hands of the hard worker.
Unavukku bathilaai nanjai tharumIt serves poison instead of food.
Pazhaiyae puriyum kodiyon pusikkaTo feed the cruel person who commits evil deeds,
Paalum palamum dhinam thedi tharumIt searches daily to offer rich milk and fruits.
Pazhaiyae puriyum kodiyon pusikkaTo feed the cruel person who commits evil deeds,
Paalum palamum dhinam thedi tharumIt searches daily to offer rich milk and fruits.
Male
Porul irunthaal vandhu koodumIf you have wealth, people will gather around you.
Adhai izhanthaal vilagi odumIf you lose it, they will run away.
Male
Idhu thaan ulagamadaa manidhaaThis is the way of the world, O human.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Male
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Aaa….aaa…haaa….aaa…..aaa….Aaa….aaa…haaa….aaa…..aaa….
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa…Aaaa….aaa…..aaa…
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Aaa….aaa…haaa….aaa…Aaa….aaa…haaa….aaa…
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Male
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Male
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Male
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….Aaaa…aaa…haa….aaa….
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Haaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Male
Meiyai poiyaai maatrividumIt turns truth into falsehood.
Veenae siraiyil pootividumIt locks up innocent people in prison unnecessarily.
Poiyum purattum nirainthavan thannaiFor the person full of lies and deceit,
Poiyum purattum nirainthavan thannaiFor the person full of lies and deceit,
Pugazhndhae paadal punainthu vidumIt composes songs in praise and glory.
Male
Porul irunthaal vandhu koodumIf you have wealth, people will gather around you.
Adhai izhanthaal vilagi odumIf you lose it, they will run away.
Male
Idhu thaan ulagamadaa manidhaaThis is the way of the world, O human.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.
Idhu thaan ulagamadaaThis is the way of the world.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song composed by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram serves as a scathing philosophical critique of society's hypocritical and materialistic nature. The lyricist highlights how society worships wealth and power while mistreating honest, hardworking people. Fake friends flock around those with money but abandon them in times of loss. The world rewards tyrants with luxuries while handing begging bowls and poison to honest laborers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Maranpattu Sorkal)

Meiyai poiyaai maatrividum

Contrasting 'truth' (Mei) and 'lie' (Poi) to show how society distorts reality.

Metaphor / Imagery

Udhattil uravum ullathil pagaiyum

Contrasting 'friendship on lips' (Udhattil uravu) and 'hatred in heart' (Ullathil pagai) to illustrate double-faced nature.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Porul irunthaal vandhu koodum

Repetition of the phrase 'Porul irunthaal' and 'Idhu thaan ulagamadaa' to reinforce the central thematic hook.

Anaaphora / Alliteration (Monaai)

Pazhaiyae puriyum kodiyon pusikka

The initial 'Pa' sound repeats across words like 'Pazhaiyae' and 'Paalum' in consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the movie Paasavalai (1956), this song reflects his strong communist leanings and social reformist ideals, dissecting class divide and economic injustice through simple yet potent Tamil poetry.

Keep listening

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