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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iraipodum Manidharukee

From Pathi Bakthi · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Pathi Bakthi1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Iraipodum manitharukkaeTo the humans who feed it food,
Iraiyaagum vellaadaeThe white goat becomes prey itself!
Idhu thaan ulagamThis is the way of the world.
Veen anuthaabam kandu neeSeeing false sympathy,
Oru naalum nambidathaeNever trust it for even a single day.
Female
Daeianna daeianna daeianna daeiannaHey brother, hey brother, hey brother, hey brother!
Daei anna daei annaHey brother, hey brother!
Daei anna driyo daei annaHey brother, driyo hey brother!
Daei anna driyo daei annaHey brother, driyo hey brother!
Female
Muraiyodu uzhaithu unnaTo work hard properly and earn food,
Mudiyatha somberiThe lazy ones who cannot do so,
Nari pola thirivaar puvimelaaeWill roam on earth like foxes.
Nalla vazhiyodu pogindraGoing along a good path,
Vaai pesaa uyirgalaiThe speechless creatures,
Vadhavadhachu thinbaar veriyaalaeThey slaughter and eat out of mad greed.
Female
Iraipodum manitharukkaeTo the humans who feed it food,
Iraiyaagum vellaadaeThe white goat becomes prey.
Idhu thaan ulagamThis is the world.
Veen anuthaabam kandu neeSeeing false sympathy,
Oru naalum nambidathaeNever trust it at all.
Female
Kaalodindha aattukaagaFor the goat with a broken leg,
Kanneer vitta budharumBuddha who shed tears,
Kadal pola ullangkondaHaving hearts vast like the sea,
Gaandhi yesunaadharumGandhi and Jesus Christ,
Female
Kaalodindha aattukaagaFor the goat with a broken leg,
Kanneer vitta budharumBuddha who shed tears,
Kadal pola ullangkondaHaving hearts vast like the sea,
Gaandhi yesunaadharumGandhi and Jesus Christ,
Female
Kazhutharukkum kodumai kanduSeeing the cruelty of slaughter,
Thiruntha vazhi sonnadhum unduThey showed paths to reform.
Kaadhil mattum kettu adhai rasichaangaPeople merely listened with their ears and enjoyed it,
Aana karikadaiyin kanakkai perukki vandhaangaBut they kept increasing the butcher shop's business!
hoo ooo oo hoo oo oo hoo oooo(Vocalizing / Melodic sounds)
Female
IraipodumFeeding food...
Iraipodum manitharukkaeTo the humans who feed it food,
Iraiyaagum vellaadaeThe white goat becomes prey.
Idhu thaan ulagamThis is the world.
Veen anuthaabam kandu neeSeeing false sympathy,
Oru naalum nambidathaeNever trust it at all.
Female
Daeianna daeianna daeianna daeiannaHey brother, hey brother, hey brother, hey brother!
Daei anna daei annaHey brother, hey brother!
Daei anna driyo daei annaHey brother, driyo hey brother!
Daei anna driyo daei annaHey brother, driyo hey brother!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This philosophical song, written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the 1958 film Pathi Bakthi, uses the metaphor of a white goat being fed by a human only to be slaughtered later as a critique of deceitful human nature and fake sympathy. The song highlights how lazy, opportunistic individuals behave like sly foxes, exploiting innocent, silent beings for their selfish pleasures. Furthermore, the lyricist points out the irony and hypocrisy of society: despite visionary leaders like Buddha, Jesus, and Gandhi advocating compassion and non-violence toward all creatures, people merely admire these teachings rhetorically while continuing to patronize butcher shops and indulge in hypocrisy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Iraipodum manitharukkae Iraiyaagum vellaadae

The goat being fed only to be slaughtered serves as a powerful metaphor for deceptive human relationships where affection masks ulterior motives.

Simile (உவமை)

Nari pola thirivaar puvimelaae

Compares lazy, deceitful humans to foxes roaming the earth.

Simile (உவமை)

Kadal pola ullangkonda

Compares the expansive, compassionate hearts of Gandhi and Jesus to the vastness of the sea.

Monaai (Monai / Assonance)

Kaalodindha aattukaaga / Kanneer vitta budharum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent lines or within lines for musical rhythm (e.g., Kaalodindha / Kanneer / Kadal).

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Iraipodum manitharukkae / Iraiyaagum vellaadae

Matching of the second consonant sound across lines ('rai' in Iraipodum / Iraiyaagum).

Did you know?

Trivia

Pathi Bakthi (1958) was directed by A. Bhimsingh and featured music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy (V. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy). Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was famous for embedding sharp socialist commentary, rationalist philosophy, and social critique into popular Tamil film songs.

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