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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Idli Chutney

From Album Songs 2020 · 2020

Lyricist
Sean Roldan
Singer
Sean Roldan
Music director
Sean Roldan
Details
Album Songs 20202020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idli chutneyIdli and chutney
Male
Chutney idliChutney and idli
Male
Without idli there is no chutneyWithout idli there is no chutney
Without chutney there is no idliWithout chutney there is no idli
Rendum serthu full kattu kattniEat both together to your heart's content
Ada soru illana patniHey, without food there is starvation
Male
Humming ……………..Humming...
Male
Without idli there is no chutneyWithout idli there is no chutney
Without chutney there is no idliWithout chutney there is no idli
Rendum serthu full kattu kattniEat both together to your heart's content
Ada soru illana patniHey, without food there is starvation
Male
If love is idliIf love is idli
Jail is chutneyJail is chutney
If fame is idliIf fame is idli
Shame is chutneyShame is chutney
Male
Without idli there is no chutneyWithout idli there is no chutney
Male
Without chutney there is no idliWithout chutney there is no idli
Male
Humming ……………Humming...
Male
Inbam irundha thunbam irukkumIf there is pleasure, there will be pain
Laabam irundha nashtham irukkumIf there is profit, there will be loss
Idhu packaged-uThis comes as a package deal
Medu irundha pallam irukkumIf there is an elevation, there will be a dip
Vetri irundha thozhvi irukkumIf there is victory, there will be defeat
Adhu thaan da ruleThat is the rule, my friend
Male
Onnu illama innonnu illaWithout one, the other does not exist
Idli illama chutney illaWithout idli there is no chutney
Male
Idli chutneyIdli chutney
Idli chutneyIdli chutney
Male
Humming ……………….Humming...
Male
Without hard work there is no kaasuWithout hard work there is no money
Without worker there is no bossuWithout worker there is no boss
Without violence there is no peaceuWithout violence there is no peace
Without event there is no newsuWithout event there is no news
Male
Without loudu there is no quiteuWithout loud there is no quiet
Without morning there is no nightuWithout morning there is no night
Without leftu there is no rightuWithout left there is no right
Without blacku there is no whiteuWithout black there is no white
Male
Without no validityWithout validity
No singularityThere is no singularity
That is realityThat is reality
Please accept with dignityPlease accept with dignity
Male
Humming ……………Humming...
Male
Inbam irundha thunbam irukkumIf there is pleasure, there will be pain
Laabam irundha nashtham irukkumIf there is profit, there will be loss
Idhu packaged-uThis comes as a package deal
Medu irundha pallam irukkumIf there is an elevation, there will be a dip
Vetri irundha thozhvi irukkumIf there is victory, there will be defeat
Adhu thaan da ruleThat is the rule, my friend
Male
Onnu illama innonnu illaWithout one, the other does not exist
Idli chutneyIdli chutney
Onnu illama innonnu illaWithout one, the other does not exist
Chutney idliChutney idli
Male
SambharSambar
Male
Idly ku chutney okChutney for idli is okay
Sambhar illana eppadi raBut how can it be without sambar, man?
Male
Onnu illama innonnu illaWithout one, the other does not exist
Idli illama chutney illaWithout idli there is no chutney

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and philosophical song uses the culinary pairing of South Indian staples, idli and chutney, as a metaphor for the dualities of life. It highlights how opposing forces—such as pleasure and pain, victory and defeat, profit and loss, day and night—are fundamentally interdependent and form an inseparable 'package deal' in human existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

If love is idli / Jail is chutney

Compares abstract life concepts like love/jail and fame/shame to daily food staples like idli and chutney.

Antithesis / Binary Opposition

Inbam irundha thunbam irukkum / Laabam irundha nashtham irukkum

Pairs contrasting words to emphasize complementary dualities of life (pleasure/pain, profit/loss, elevation/dip, victory/defeat).

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Inbam irundha thunbam irukkum / Laabam irundha nashtham irukkum

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines (Inbam/Laabam, Medu/Vetri).

Anaphora

Without hard work there is no kaasu / Without worker there is no bossu

Repetition of the phrase 'Without...' at the beginning of multiple successive lines for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written and composed by Sean Roldan, the song adopts a quirky, conversational Tanglish style to simplify complex philosophical ideas into relatable, everyday dining terms.

Keep listening

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