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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iniya Gaanam

From Paattu Padava · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paattu Padava1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iniya gaanam mm..mm..mm…mm..Sweet song mm..mm..mm…mm..
Pudhiya vedhamNew scripture
Ilamai naadham mm..mm..mm…mm..Youthful sound mm..mm..mm…mm..
Amudha geethamNectarous song
Male
Kavidhai theettalaamWe can compose poetry
Adhai kuyilgal ketkalaamThe cuckoos can listen to it
Nadhiyin paattelaamAll the songs of the river
Nam arivai theettalaamCan sharpen our intellect
Anumadhi ilavasamPermission is free
Anaiththilum paravasamEcstasy in everything
Namakku kidaikkumWe will receive
Male
Iniya gaanam hae hae haehaeSweet song hae hae haehae
Pudhiya vedhamNew scripture
Ilamai naadham haa haa haaa hahaYouthful sound haa haa haaa haha
Amudha geetham…mm….mm….Nectarous song…mm….mm….
Male
Iduppula pudikkiraWaist-catching
Sulukkaiyum valippaiyumSprains and pain
Rap nadanam endru solluriyaeYou call it rap dance
Ularala paattunnuGibberish as a song
Udharala koothunnuShaking as a performance
Veththu vaaya nee melluriyaeYou chew nonsense with an empty mouth
Male
Sabaiyila yerittuStep onto the stage
Sarakkaiyum kaattittuShow your real substance
Adhukku piragu pecha pesikkoSpeak after doing that
Vikkaadha sarakkukkuFor unsellable goods
Vaikkaadhae vilambaramDo not put up advertisements
Thalaiya kuninju kavundhu paduthukkoBow your head and lie face down
Male
Vaa vaa pudhusukkuCome, come to novelty
Adhu tharum sogusukkuTo the comfort it provides
Go go guinness kkuGo, go for Guinness records
Koodidum manasukkuTo the expanding heart
Verenna velaikku vaalibam irukkudhuWhat other work is youth meant for?
Aei ae ae ae aeiAei ae ae ae aei
Male
Yaa… yaiyaiya yaiyaiya yaa…Yaa… yaiyaiya yaiyaiya yaa…
Aa..aaaa….aa….Aa..aaaa….aa….
Ada umarukku umarukkuHey, for Umar, for Umar
Umaru khayaamukku paattyedhadaaHost a song competition for Omar Khayyam
Chorus
Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Male
Ada avarukkum avarukkumHey, for him and for him
Sutthirukkum suvarukkumAnd for the surrounding wall
Poottyedhadaa dadada dadaHost a competition, dadada dada
Chorus
Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Male
Ada arisikkum paruppukkumHey, for rice and for lentils
Kaadharundha seruppukkumAnd for a torn sandal with a cut strap
Rate yedhadaaSet a price
Ada kadala punnaakkukkumHey, for peanut oil cake
Kazhudhaiyin naakkukkum poottyedhadaaAnd for a donkey's tongue, host a competition
Male
Hoi nilaa adhu vaanathu melae…Hoi, the moon is up in the sky…
Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae….ae….Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae….ae….
Nilaa adhu vaanathu melaeThe moon is up in the sky
Palaanadhu odathu melaeThat old thing on top of the boat
Sonnaan enga medhaikku medhaOur genius among geniuses said
Avanga ammaa peru yasodhaiTheir mother's name is Yasodha
Male
Niririma madhadhaniSolfeggio swaras (Ni Ri Ri Ma Ma Dha Dha Ni)
Nigaari nidhaamaSolfeggio swaras (Ni Ga Ri Ni Dha Ma)
Rimamadha dhaniniSolfeggio swaras (Ri Ma Ma Dha Dha Ni Ni)
Ri ganeesa mapaagaSolfeggio swaras (Ri Ga Ni Sa Ma Pa Ga)
Male
Iniya gaanamSweet song
Nidhapama gariSolfeggio swaras (Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri)
Pudhiya vaedhamNew scripture
Pasaani dhapaamaSolfeggio swaras (Pa Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma)
Ilamai naadhamYouthful sound
Tharikida dheem dheemthaRhythm syllables (Tharikida dheem dheemtha)
Amudha geethamNectarous song
Thadheettha nadheetthaRhythm syllables (Thadheettha nadheettha)
Male
Kavidhai theettalaamWe can compose poetry
Adhai kuyilgal ketkalaamThe cuckoos can listen to it
Nadhiyin paattelaamAll the songs of the river
Nam arivai theettalaamCan sharpen our intellect
Anumadhi ilavasamPermission is free
Anaiththilum paravasamEcstasy in everything
Namakku kidaikkumWe will receive
Male
Iniya gaanam hae haa hoo haaSweet song hae haa hoo haa
Pudhiya vedhamNew scripture
Thaadhee thaaraatthaaRhythm syllables (Thaadhee thaaraatthaa)
Ilamai naadhamYouthful sound
Thaadhee thudhudhu dheedheedheeRhythm syllables (Thaadhee thudhudhu dheedheedhee)
Amudha geetham…Nectarous song…
Aehehehe haehaehaeAehehehe haehaehae
Male
Hei…Hei…
Chorus :HaeheChorus: Haehe
Male :Hae haei…Male: Hae haei…
Chorus :HaeheChorus: Haehe
Male
Hei…Hei…
Chorus :HaeheChorus: Haehe
Male :Hae haei…Male: Hae haei…
Chorus :HaeheChorus: Haehe
Male
Ada kudumikkum kudumikkumHey, one who ties a knot between two tufts of hair
Sindu mudikkiravan somberi daaIs a lazy instigator of fights
Chorus :Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Male
Ada aduppula neruppulaHey, on the stove, in the fire
Analula kodhikkudhu saambaaru daaThe sambar is boiling in the heat
Chorus :Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoihoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Male
Ada kudhiraikku kaal unduHey, a horse has legs
Madhuraikku kaal illai yen kooradaaMadurai has no legs, tell me why!
Male
Ada kudhira nadakkudhuHey, the horse walks
Madhura nadakkala nee paaradaaMadurai doesn't walk, look at it
Male
Ada aaga mottham kootti kazhichaaHey, when you add and subtract everything
Chorus :Kanakka yevan kandu pudichaanChorus: Who ever found the exact calculation?
Male
Micham meedhi vechida venaaShould we not leave any remainder?
Chorus :Bakthi power mechida venaaChorus: Must we not praise devotional power?
Male
Niririma madhadhaniSolfeggio swaras (Ni Ri Ri Ma Ma Dha Dha Ni)
Nigaari nidhaamaSolfeggio swaras (Ni Ga Ri Ni Dha Ma)
Rimamadha dhaniniriSolfeggio swaras (Ri Ma Ma Dha Dha Ni Ni Ri)
Ganeesa mapaagaSolfeggio swaras (Ga Ni Sa Ma Pa Ga)
Male
Iniya gaanamSweet song
Haa pudhiya vedham..ha ha haaHaa new scripture..ha ha haa
Ilamai naadhamYouthful sound
Amudha geethamNectarous song
Male
Kavidhai theettalaamWe can compose poetry
Adhai kuyilgal ketkalaamThe cuckoos can listen to it
Nadhiyin paattelaamAll the songs of the river
Nam arivai theettalaamCan sharpen our intellect
Anumadhi ilavasamPermission is free
Anaiththilum paravasamEcstasy in everything
Namakku kidaikkumWe will receive
Chorus
Iniya gaanamSweet song
Male :Yeahhhh….Male: Yeahhhh….
Chorus :Pudhiya vedhamChorus: New scripture
Male :Haa haa haaaMale: Haa haa haaa
Chorus :Ilamai naadhamChorus: Youthful sound
Male :Hae hae hae hae haeMale: Hae hae hae hae hae
Chorus :Amudha geethamChorus: Nectarous song
Male :Yeah…Male: Yeah…
Ha ha ha hahaHa ha ha haha
Chorus :Iniya gaanam pudhiya vedhamChorus: Sweet song, new scripture
Male :Hae hae hae hae haeMale: Hae hae hae hae hae
Chorus :Ilamai naadhamChorus: Youthful sound
Male :Thats very gudMale: Thats very gud
Chorus :Amudha geethamChorus: Nectarous song
Male :Dada dida dadada da daMale: Dada dida dadada da da

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Paattu Padava' (1995) is a vibrant and satirical musical debate on art, poetry, modern trends, and traditional music aesthetics. The opening chorus celebrates the pure joy of music and nature—describing song as a sweet, nectarous scripture that sharpens human intellect and brings ecstasy without restriction. Interspersed with classical solfeggio swaras (Swara kalpana) and rhythmic jathis, the song weaves classicism with playful modern critiques. The verse lyrics take a humorous poke at modern fads, comparing haphazard modern dance and song trends to mere sprains and gibberish. Lyricist Vaali humorously challenges self-proclaimed artists to demonstrate real talent on stage rather than relying on false hype. Through witty puns on Tamil words, traditional proverbs, and philosophical wordplay, the song asserts that genuine artistic creation requires depth, discipline, and authentic passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Iniya gaanam / Pudhiya vedham / Ilamai naadham / Amudha geetham

The opening lines use rhyming end syllables (-am) creating a musical flow: gaanam, vedham, naadham, geetham.

Second Letter Rhyme (Edukku / Etukai)

Iduppula pudikkira / Sulukkaiyum valippaiyum

The second letters 'du' match in both lines, adhering to traditional Tamil rhyme rules.

Satire and Humour (Elaanam)

Iduppula pudikkira sulukkaiyum valippaiyum rap nadanam endru solluriyae

Playful satire comparing modern dance styles to physical sprains and uncoordinated movements.

Puns / Wordplay (Sledai)

Ada kudhiraikku kaal undu Madhuraikku kaal illai yen kooradaa

Puns on the word 'Kaal' which means both 'leg' (for horse) and 'quarter / foundation' (for the city of Madurai).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Paattu Padava' (1995) stars Rahman and SP Balasubrahmanyam. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary Music Director Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali. The track blends classical Carnatic swara passages with lighthearted theatrical dialogue, showcasing Ilaiyaraaja's mastery in fusing classical music structures with satirical film situations.

Keep listening

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