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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Inge Ellarum Nallavangathan

From Irandil Ondru · 1988

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Irandil Ondru1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ingae ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone here is good
Naama thoongurappoWhen we are sleeping
Ellaarum kettavangathaanEveryone is bad
Thoongi muzhikkirappoWhen waking up from sleep
Chorus
Ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone is good
Naama thoongurappoWhen we are sleeping
Male :HaanMale: Haan
Chorus :Ellaarum kettavangathaanChorus: Everyone is bad
Thoongi muzhikkirappoWhen waking up from sleep
Male
Ada thoonginaal aasaiyum thoonguthuOh, when we sleep, desires sleep too
Kanna muzhikkaiyil ellaamae muzhikkuthuWhen eyes open, everything wakes up
Idhil nallavan kettavan yaaravan sollu neeTell me, who is good and who is bad in this?
Chorus
Ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone is good
Naama thoongurappoWhen we are sleeping
Ellaarum kettavangathaanEveryone is bad
Thoongi muzhikkirappoWhen waking up from sleep
Male
Maanida vaazhve arupathuthaanHuman life is just sixty years
Maanava paruvam irupathuthaanStudent age is just twenty years
Maanida vaazhveHuman life is
Chorus :ArupathuthaanChorus: Just sixty years
Male :Maanava paruvamMale: Student age is
Chorus :IrupathuthaanChorus: Just twenty years
Male
Kalloori vaazhvil kondaattamthaanaeCollege life is full of celebration
Kalyaanam aanaa thindaattamaeGetting married leads to struggles
Kalloori vaazhvilCollege life is
Chorus :KondaattamthaanaeChorus: Full of celebration
Male :Kalyaanam aanaaMale: Getting married leads to
Chorus :ThindaattamaeChorus: Struggles
Male
Kindalum keliyum illaamalaeWithout fun and teasing
Ennathaan seivathu sollungalaeTell me what else is there to do?
Kindalum keliyum illaamalaeWithout fun and teasing
Ennathaan seivathu sollungalaeTell me what else is there to do?
Kanniyarai kannaal kandumEven after seeing young women with their eyes
Kaalaiyargal summaarunthaaIf young men remain quiet
Kaalai avan kaalai allaThat bull is not a true bull
Kozhaiyammaa kozhaiyammaaHe is a coward, oh coward!
Chorus
Ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone is good
Naama thoongurappoWhen we are sleeping
Ellaarum kettavangathaanEveryone is bad
Thoongi muzhikkirappoWhen waking up from sleep
Male
Thevaigal illaama aasai illaThere are no desires without needs
Aasaigal illainnaa olagam illaThere is no world without desires
Thevaigal illaamaWithout needs
Chorus :Aasai illaChorus: There are no desires
Male :Aasaigal illainnaaMale: Without desires
Chorus :Olagam illaChorus: There is no world
Male
Kaattrulla pothae thoottrungal endruWinnow while the wind blows, so they said
Sonnathu yaaru theriyaathappaaDon't you know who said that, my friend?
Kaattrulla pothaeWhile the wind blows
Chorus :Thoottrungal endruChorus: Winnow, so they said
Male :Sonnathu yaaruMale: Who said that?
Chorus :TheriyaathappaaChorus: Don't you know, my friend?
Male
Vayasula aaduvom rajavaipolIn our youth, we shall dance like kings
Vayasula aaduvom rajavaipolIn our youth, we shall dance like kings
Oointhathum thoonguvom thaaththaavai polOnce tired, we will sleep like grandfathers
Ilamaiyil summaarunthaa vaalipam kekkaathammaaIf you sit idle in youth, youthfulness won't stay with you
Vayasuthaan yaerunaa yaar theduvaa yaar theduvaaAs age advances, who will seek you, who will seek you?
Male
Ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone is good
Chorus :Naama thoongurappoChorus: When we are sleeping
Male :Ellaarum kettavangathaanMale: Everyone is bad
Chorus :Thoongi muzhikkirappoChorus: When waking up from sleep
Male
Ada thoonginaal aasaiyum thoonguthuOh, when we sleep, desires sleep too
Kanna muzhikkaiyil ellaamae muzhikkuthuWhen eyes open, everything wakes up
Idhil nallavan kettavan yaaravan sollu neeTell me, who is good and who is bad in this?
Chorus
Ellaarum nallavangathaanEveryone is good
Naama thoongurappoWhen we are sleeping
Male :HaeMale: Hae
Chorus :Ellaarum kettavangathaanChorus: Everyone is bad
Thoongi muzhikkirappoWhen waking up from sleep

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ingae ellaarum nallavangathaan is a lively, philosophically playful track from the 1988 Tamil film Irandil Ondru, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung energetically by Malaysia Vasudevan with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam. The song cheekily comments on human morality, remarking that everyone appears innocent and good while asleep, but worldly desires and flaws surface as soon as consciousness returns.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Irony

Ellaarum nallavangathaan naama thoongurappo / Ellaarum kettavangathaan thoongi muzhikkirappo

Contrasting goodness and badness based on state of sleep, ironically pointing out human hypocrisy and innate desire.

Monai / Etukai (Alliteration & Rhyme)

Maanida vaazhve arupathuthaan / Maanava paruvam irupathuthaan

Matching opening consonant sounds and line endings to create a rhythmic tempo suited for a college youth song.

Simile (Upamai)

Vayasula aaduvom rajavaipol / Oointhathum thoonguvom thaaththaavai pol

Comparing youthful living to that of a king and rest after exhaustion to that of an elderly grandfather.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from Irandil Ondru (1988) features Ramki and Gautami. Lyricist Panchu Arunachalam incorporated famous Tamil proverbs such as 'Kaattrulla pothae thoottrungal' (make hay while the sun shines) into contemporary college slang, making it a popular anthem among youth in the late 1980s.

Keep listening

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