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Isaimozhi
Kathanayaki album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idli Saambaar

From Kathanayaki · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
S. C. Krishnan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kathanayaki
Movie release year
1955
Lyrics added on
1 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Idly saambhar namma idly saambhar
Idly saambhar namma idly saambhar
Endrum rushiyaaga thindru pasiyaarum
Idly sambhar
Endrum rushiyaaga thindru pasiyaarum
Idly saambhar namma idly saambhar
Idlyai paarththu poori masaalae
Izhivaai pesuthu thozharkalae
Idlyai paarththu poori masaalae
Izhivaai pesuthu thozharkalae
Idly magaththuvam poorikku lesaai
Eduththu solluvaen kelungalae
Idly magaththuvam poorikku lesaai
Eduththu solluvaen kelungalae
Kallukadaiyai moodi arasiyin
Control kadaiyai eduthathu
Gandhi sonnathai thalaimel vaiththu
Gowravam thanthu kaaththathu
Kallukadaiyai moodi arasiyin
Control kadaiyai eduthathu
Gandhi sonnathai thalaimel vaiththu
Gowravam thanthu kaaththathu
Paattikkoruvan bharathiyendrea
Paadum pulavanai thanthathedhu
Saattai kodukkum kaaviyam
Bharathidasanai ingae thanthathu
Saattai kodukkum kaaviyam
Bharathidasanai ingae thanthathu
Idly saambhar namma idly saambhar
Ayalnaattil hindhu matham nilai naattavae
Adhi viveganandharai seyalodu
America desam sendru vara
Selavu seithittathu edhu
Yaarappaa selavu senjathu theriyaathaa
Namma ramanathapuram rajathaan
Deiva thirukkural senjilappathikaaram
Selvamaai thanthathu edhu
Seeraana jothidam sangeetha vinnyaana
Seelarai thanthathu edhu
Madharas vaala idly sambhar
Mandai karvam kollaathu
Madharas vaala idly sambhar
Mandai karvam kollaathu
Mathiyillaamae evaraiyum yaesi
Madamaiyinaalae thullaathu
Mathiyillaamae evaraiyum yaesi
Madamaiyinaalae thullaathu
Idly saambhar namma idly saambhar
Idli and sambar, our very own idli and sambar!
Idli and sambar, our very own idli and sambar!
To always eat with relish and satisfy our hunger,
Idli and sambar!
To always eat with relish and satisfy our hunger,
Idli and sambar, our very own idli and sambar!
Looking at idli, the poori-masala
Speaks with contempt, my friends!
Looking at idli, the poori-masala
Speaks with contempt, my friends!
To make poori understand the greatness of idli,
I will explain it clearly, just listen!
To make poori understand the greatness of idli,
I will explain it clearly, just listen!
Which land closed down toddy shops
And lifted rationing controls on rice?
Which land held Gandhi's words with utmost reverence
And preserved them with honor and pride?
Which land closed down toddy shops
And lifted rationing controls on rice?
Which land held Gandhi's words with utmost reverence
And preserved them with honor and pride?
Hailed as the supreme master of song,
Which land gave us the great poet Bharati?
Composing powerful verses sharp as a whip,
Which land gave us poet Bharatidasan?
Composing powerful verses sharp as a whip,
Which land gave us poet Bharatidasan?
Idli and sambar, our very own idli and sambar!
To establish Hinduism in foreign lands,
Enabling the brilliant Swami Vivekananda
To journey to America and back,
Who bore all the expenses for that trip?
Don't you know who funded it, my friend?
It was none other than our King of Ramanathapuram!
The divine Thirukkural and the classic Silappadikaram—
Which land gifted them to us as timeless treasures?
Flawless astrology, music, and science—
Which land gave us such men of noble intellect?
The idli-sambar of the Madras folk
Does not swell with foolish arrogance;
The idli-sambar of the Madras folk
Does not swell with foolish arrogance;
Without reason, it never insults anyone,
Nor does it leap around in mindless vanity!
Without reason, it never insults anyone,
Nor does it leap around in mindless vanity!
Idli and sambar, our very own idli and sambar!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This humorous yet deeply patriotic song from the 1955 movie 'Kathanayaki' uses the playful rivalry between 'Idli Sambar' (symbolizing Tamil identity and culture) and 'Poori Masala' (representing foreign or non-local influences). In response to Poori's taunts, the song enumerates the immense cultural, historical, and intellectual achievements of Tamil Nadu to showcase humility and pride without arrogance. The lyrics highlight Tamil achievements such as enforcing prohibition in respect of Gandhi's ideals, giving birth to iconic poets like Subramania Bharati and Bharathidasan, producing immortal literature like Thirukkural and Silappathikaram, and the historic patronage of Raja Bhaskara Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram who funded Swami Vivekananda's trip to the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Ultimately, the song celebrates the grounded, humble, and rich heritage of Madras and Tamil culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification and Allegory

“Idlyai paarththu poori masaalae Izhivaai pesuthu thozharkalae”

Food items 'Idly Sambar' and 'Poori Masala' are personified as debaters representing Tamil culture and rival influences.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Mathiyillaamae evaraiyum yaesi / Madamaiyinaalae thullaathu”

The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

Moonaai (Initial Syllable Alliteration)

“Madharas vaala idly sambhar / Mandai karvam kollaathu”

Repetition of the initial 'Ma' sound across words creates melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a classic example of social commentary disguised as a comedy song, a hallmark of lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. The historical reference to the Raja of Ramanathapuram (Bhaskara Sethupathi) funding Swami Vivekananda's trip to Chicago in 1893 is a rare historical fact featured in Tamil film music.

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