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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Indha Aattukkum Namma

From Paasavalai · 1956

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

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Namma naattukkumAnd our country
Perung koottirukkudhu koonaaraeThere is a great connection, oh shepherd!
Idhai otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Male
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Namma naattukkumAnd our country
Perung koottirukkudhu koonaaraeThere is a great connection, oh shepherd!
Idhai otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving thisalong
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Male
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadiDeceitful trickery, deceitful trickery
Ellam ippadi pogudhuEverything is going away like this
Nallaarukkul pollaarai polLike wicked people amidst good people
Narigal koottam vazhudhuA pack of foxes flourishes
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadiDeceitful trickery, deceitful trickery
Thillaalangadi thillaalaeDeceitful trickery, rhythm of trickery
Male
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Namma naattukkumAnd our country
Perung koottirukkudhu koonaaraeThere is a great connection, oh shepherd!
Idhai otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Male
Kanakku meeri thindradhaalaeBecause of overeating beyond measure
Kanatha aadu saayudhu…aa…aa…aa..The heavy goat falls down... aa... aa... aa..
Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa…aa…Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa...aa...
Kanakku meeri thindradhaalaeBecause of overeating beyond measure
Kanatha aadu saayudhuThe heavy goat falls down
Adhai kanda pinnum mandhai ellamEven after seeing that, the entire herd
Adhukku maelae maeyudhuGrazes right on top of it
Male
Panakirukku thalaiyil yaeriMoney-madness climbs into the head
Pagutharivun thaeyudhuAnd rational thinking erodes away
Panakirukku thalaiyil yaeriMoney-madness climbs into the head
Pagutharivun thaeyudhuAnd rational thinking erodes away
Indha paazhaaipona manidha koottamThis ruined group of humans
Thaanaai vizhundhu maayudhuFalls down and perishes on its own
Male
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Namma naattukkumAnd our country
Perung koottirukkudhu koonaaraeThere is a great connection, oh shepherd!
Idhai otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Male
Aasai endra bambarathai uruvaai konduTaking the form of a spinning top called desire
Paasam endra kodung kayitraal aattang kanduSwayed by the harsh rope called affection
Naesam endra vattathul urundu urunduRolling round and round within the circle called love
Nenjudainthu pona uyir anaegan unduMany souls have lived with broken hearts
Aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…Aaa....aaa....aaa....aa...
Male
Idhai padithirunthum manakuranguDespite knowing this, the monkey-like mind
Pazhaiya kilaiyai pidikuthuClings to the old branch again
Paasavalaiyil maattikittuGetting caught in the net of attachment
Vauvaal pola thudikkuthuIt writhes like a trapped bat
Male
Nadakkum paadhai purinthidaamalWithout understanding the path it travels
Kurukkae pugundhu thavikkudhuIt blindly interrupts and suffers
Adukku paanai pondra vaazhvaiLife, which is like a stack of clay pots
Thudukku poonai odaikkudhuIs shattered by a reckless cat
Male
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Indha aattukkumBetween this goat
Namma naattukkumAnd our country
Perung koottirukkudhu koonaaraeThere is a great connection, oh shepherd!
Idhai otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Otti otti thiribavargalThose who wander around driving this along
Oru mudivung kaanaraeSee no end or resolution
Male
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadiDeceitful trickery, deceitful trickery
Thillaalangadi thillaalaeDeceitful trickery, rhythm of trickery
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadiDeceitful trickery, deceitful trickery
Thillaalangadi thillaalaeDeceitful trickery, rhythm of trickery

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the 1956 movie Paasavalai, this allegorical song uses the imagery of a shepherd, goats, and foxes to deliver a sharp critique of human greed, social hypocrisy, and loss of rational thought. Kalyanasundaram compares people who blindly chase material wealth to goats overeating beyond measure and collapsing, while the rest of the herd continues to graze blindly over them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Aasai endra bambarathai uruvaai kondu

Desire is compared to a spinning top ('aasai endra bambaram') and affection to the controlling rope ('paasam endra kodung kayiru').

Simile (Uvamai)

Vauvaal pola thudikkuthu

The human mind entangled in worldly attachment is compared to a bat squirming when caught in a trap ('vauvaal pola thudikkuthu').

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Adukku paanai pondra vaazhvai

Human life is poetically compared to fragile stacked clay pots ('adukku paanai') easily destroyed by a reckless cat ('thudukku poonai').

Etuhaai (Second letter rhyme)

Indha aattukkum / Namma naattukkum

The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines ('aattukkum' and 'naattukkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Paasavalai (1956) was directed by A. S. A. Sami and scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for integrating Dravidian movement philosophies and Marxist critique into folk rhythm lyrics.

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