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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Indiran Vanthathum

From Aan Paavam · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aan Paavam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hae vandhanam vandhanamHey, welcome, welcome!
Chorus :Vandhanam vandhanamChorus: Welcome, welcome!
Male :Vandha sanamellaamMale: All the people who came...
Chorus :Kundhanum kundhanumChorus: Sit down, sit down!
Male
Indhiran vandhadhumIndra coming down,
Chandhiran vandhadhumThe Moon coming down,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ingae M G R vandhadhumHere, M. G. R. coming to prominence,
N T R vandhadhumN. T. R. coming to power,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Chorus
Indhiran vandhadhumIndra coming down,
Chandhiran vandhadhumThe Moon coming down,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ingae M G R vandhadhumHere, M. G. R. coming to prominence,
N T R vandhadhumN. T. R. coming to power,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Katchi valathadhumBuilding political parties,
Aatchi pudichadhumCapturing power in government,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ada americavula aatchi amaichadhumHey, even forming governments in America (Ronald Reagan),
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Chorus
Katchi valathadhumBuilding political parties,
Aatchi pudichadhumCapturing power in government,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ada americavula aatchi amaichadhumHey, even forming governments in America,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Male
Kailaasa naadhanaThe Lord of Kailash (Shiva),
Murugana kannaalaOr Lord Murugan, with your own eyes,
Paakka thaan mudiyumaa kooruTell me, can you actually see them?
Ambathanju kaasu neeIf you just pay fifty-five paise,
Kuduthuttaa thannaalaAutomatically by itself,
Kadavula paakkalaam paaruLook, you can see God on screen!
Male
KaathavaraayanKathavarayan...
Chorus :madhura veeranChorus: Madura Veeran...
Male :Theraiyila thaanaeMale: Only on the screen,
Chorus :PurinjiruchuChorus: Did we understand them!
Male :Gandhiya koodaMale: Even Mahatma Gandhi,
Padathula thaanaeOnly through movies,
Innikku dhesamToday the nation
Chorus :TherinjirukkuChorus: Has come to know!
Male
Ada pasi thookkam parandhaachuHey, hunger and sleep flew away,
Pazhasellaam marandhaachuOld troubles were all forgotten,
Kottaga valandha piraguAfter cinema halls grew in numbers,
Naattula kutham koranjirukkuCrime in the country has decreased!
Chorus
Ada kottaga valandha piraguHey, after cinema halls grew in numbers,
Naattula kutham koranjirukkuCrime in the country has decreased!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Ethanaiyo maedhaingaSo many geniuses,
Nyaaninga veerangaSages and brave heroes,
Velli thirai thandhadhu ingaeThe silver screen gave them to us here!
Harichandhiran naadagamOnly after watching Harishchandra play,
Paathu thaan gandhiyumGandhi too
Sathiyatha nambinaal angaeBelieved in truth back then!
Male
KisukisuGossip columns...
Chorus :PottuChorus: Printing!
Male :Kelvi badhilMale: Question and answer section...
Chorus :PottuChorus: Printing!
Male :Pathirtikka vandhaaMale: If magazines publish it,
Chorus :LaabamungaChorus: It's pure profit!
Male
VaazhkkaikkuFor life's stresses...
Chorus :IngaeChorus: Right here!
Male :VadikaalMale: An outlet...
Chorus :VenumChorus: Is needed!
Male :Cinema onnaeMale: Cinema alone
Chorus :PodhumungaChorus: Is quite enough!
Male
Ada pagalellaam ozhacheengaHey, you worked hard all day,
Iravellaam siricheengaYou laughed away through the night,
Velli thiraiyila thangam velanjadhuGold was harvested on the silver screen,
Enga cinema thaanThat is our cinema!
Chorus
Ada velli thiraiyilaHey, on the silver screen,
Thangam velanjadhuGold was harvested,
Enga cinema thaanThat is our cinema!
Male
Hae indhiran vandhadhumHey, Indra coming down,
Chandhiran vandhadhumThe Moon coming down,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ingae M G R vandhadhumHere, M. G. R. coming to prominence,
N T R vandhadhumN. T. R. coming to power,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Chorus
Hae indhiran vandhadhumHey, Indra coming down,
Chandhiran vandhadhumThe Moon coming down,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ingae M G R vandhadhumHere, M. G. R. coming to prominence,
N T R vandhadhumN. T. R. Ko power,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Kalai valandhadhumArt flourishing...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male :Kaadhal sonnadhumMale: Expressing love...
Chorus :Ingae thaanChorus: Is right here!
Male
Katchi valathadhumBuilding political parties,
Aatchi pudichadhumCapturing power in government,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ada americavula aatchi amaichadhumHey, even forming governments in America,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Chorus
Katchi valathadhumBuilding political parties,
Aatchi pudichadhumCapturing power in government,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!
Ada americavula aatchi amaichadhumHey, even forming governments in America,
Indha cinema thaanIt's all because of this cinema!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vandhanam Vandhanam' from the 1985 film Aan Paavam is a lively, meta-tribute to the power and cultural impact of cinema in society. Sung in a street-play (Therukoothu/folk) narrative style, the song celebrates cinema as an all-encompassing medium that brings gods to the common man for a few paise, shapes political destinies (referencing figures like MGR, NTR, and Ronald Reagan), and serves as an emotional escape for working-class people after a long day of labor. The song highlights how movies educate, entertain, and unite people across all walks of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme (Edugai / Monai)

Indhiran vandhadhum / Chandhiran vandhadhum

The song heavily utilizes traditional Tamil rhyming patterns, such as 'Indhiran / Chandhiran' and 'Vandhanam / Kundhanum', creating a bouncy folk rhythm suitable for street performance.

Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai / Adukku)

Ada kottaga valandha piragu / Naattula kutham koranjirukku

Exaggerating the impact of cinema by stating that crime decreased in the country and leaders took power worldwide solely because cinema halls grew.

Allusion

Ingae M G R vandhadhum / N T R vandhadhum

Direct references to historical, political, and mythological icons like M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao, Ronald Reagan (America), Mahatma Gandhi, and Harishchandra to emphasize cinema's social influence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this song opens Pandiarajan's hit comedy film 'Aan Paavam'. It serves as a tribute to cinema itself, picturized as a touring drama troupe performance announcing the movie's beginning.

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