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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iraivan Boomikku Vanthal

From Therottam · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Therottam1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Vanthaal vanthaalIf he comes, if he comes
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Male
Idhayam ullavan endraalIf he has a heart
Avan ennaipol aavaanHe will become just like me
Idhayam ullavan endraalIf he has a heart
Avan ennaipol aavaanHe will become just like me
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Male
Pennukku ullam iranduA woman has two minds
Adhil peyum deivamum unduIn them reside both a devil and a deity
Pennukku ullam iranduA woman has two minds
Adhil peyum deivamum unduIn them reside both a devil and a deity
Male
Kangal paarppathu mugaththaiEyes can only see the face
Kangal paarppathu mugaththaiEyes can only see the face
Antha kadavulum ariyaan manaththaiEven God cannot know the mind
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Male
Thaayidam poi sollum pillaiThe child tells a lie to the mother
Dhinam thanakkae poi sollum annaiEvery day the mother lies to herself
Thaayidam poi sollum pillaiThe child tells a lie to the mother
Dhinam thanakkae poi sollum annaiEvery day the mother lies to herself
Vaayalavaethaan unmaiTruth exists only at the lip service level
Vaayalavaethaan unmaiTruth exists only at the lip service level
Perum vanjaththil piranthathu penmaiWomanhood was born from great deception
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Male
Saththiyam pesiya yesuJesus who spoke the ultimate truth
Adhai sariththiramaakkiya gandhiGandhi who made that truth into history
Saththiyam pesiya yesuJesus who spoke the ultimate truth
Adhai sariththiramaakkiya gandhiGandhi who made that truth into history
Poi solla koodathendru uraiththaarThey preached that one should never lie
Poi solla koodathendru uraiththaarThey preached that one should never lie
Antha bodhanaiyai yaar padiththaar….Who actually learned from that teaching?
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies
Idhayam ullavan endraalIf he has a heart
Avan ennaipol aavaanHe will become just like me
Male
Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaalIf God comes down to earth
Avanum poi solvaanEven he will tell lies

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a cynical yet deeply philosophical reflection on human nature, truth, and deception. The protagonist expresses heartbreak and disillusionment, asserting that the earthly world is so inherently full of untruths and contradictions that even God, were He to descend to Earth and experience human emotions, would succumb to telling lies just like any ordinary human being.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirchi)

Iraivan bhoomikku vanthaal Avanum poi solvaan

Exaggerating that even God would resort to lying if He lived as a human to emphasize the overwhelming presence of deceit in the world.

Monai (Alliteration)

Pennukku ullam irandu Adhil peyum deivamum undu

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pe' in 'Pennukku' and 'Peyum'.

Contrast (Antithesis)

Adhil peyum deivamum undu

Contrasting 'Pey' (demon/evil) and 'Deivam' (god/goodness) to depict the dual nature of human emotions.

Rhetorical Question

Antha bodhanaiyai yaar padiththaar….

Asking who actually followed the noble teachings of Jesus and Gandhi to highlight societal hypocrisy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung by the iconic T. M. Soundararajan, this song features lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, known for infusing sharp philosophical observations and existential angst into commercial Tamil cinema tracks.

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