Isai Thamizh
From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvilaiyadal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Isaith thamizh nee seidha | Musical Tamil was your rare achievement... |
| Arum saadhanai…eee…eee…. | Rare achievement... |
| Nee irukkayilae enakkae | While you are present, for me |
| Perum sodhanai… | A great trial... |
| Iraivaaa…aaa….aaaa…aaaa…aaaa…. | Oh Lord... |
| Male | |
| Isaith thamizh nee seidha | Musical Tamil was your rare achievement |
| Arum saadhanai | Rare achievement |
| {Isaith thamizh nee seidha | {Musical Tamil was your rare achievement |
| Arum saadhanai | Rare achievement |
| Nee irukkayilae enakkae | While you are present, for me |
| Perum sodhanai…} (2) | A great trial...} (2) |
| Isaith thamizh nee seidha | Musical Tamil was your rare achievement |
| Arum saadhanai | Rare achievement |
| Male | |
| Vasai varumae paandi naattinilae | Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom |
| Iraivaaa…aaa….aaaa…aaaa…aaaa….aaa… | Oh Lord... |
| {Vasai varumae paandi naattinilae | {Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom |
| Kuzhali manavaalanae unadhu veettinilae} (2) | Oh husband of the sweet-voiced Goddess (Meenakshi), in your own home} (2) |
| Male | |
| Uyir mayakkam naadha paattinilae | In this soul-entrancing musical melody |
| Uyir mayakkam nadha paattinilae | In this soul-entrancing musical melody |
| {Vetri oruvanukko…ooo… | {Will victory go to an outsider... |
| Madhuraith thamizhanukko… ooo} (2) | Or to the Tamilian of Madurai...} (2) |
| Male | |
| Isaith thamizh nee seidha | Musical Tamil was your rare achievement |
| Arum saadhanai | Rare achievement |
| Male | |
| {Shiva lingam saakshi sonna | {The legend of the Shiva Linga bearing witness |
| Kadhaiyum poiyoo | Is that a lie too? |
| Maaman thiruchchabai vazhzkkuraitha | The manner in which you advocated in the royal court for the uncle |
| Muraiyum poiyoo} (2) | Is that a lie too?} (2) |
| Male | |
| {Pittukku man sumandhu | {You who carried sand for rice cakes (pittu) |
| Pirambadi patta unnai} (2) | And received strikes from a cane} (2) |
| {Pesum thamizh azhaithum | {When eloquent Tamil calls out to you |
| Vaaraadhiruppadhenna} (2) | Why do you not appear?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Isaith thamizh nee seidha | Musical Tamil was your rare achievement |
| Arum saadhanai | Rare achievement |
| Male | |
| Thaikoru pazhi nerndhal | If a mother faces blame |
| Magarkillayoo | Does it not affect her children? |
| Annai thamizhukku pazhi nerndhal | If Mother Tamil faces blame |
| Unakkillayoo | Does it not affect you? |
| Male | |
| Verukku neer ootri | Oh Lord who waters the roots |
| Vilaikindra thalaiva | And makes life bloom |
| Un oorukku pazhi nerndhal | If disgrace falls upon your city |
| Unakkindri yenakkillai | It falls on you, not just on me |
| Unakkindri yenakkillai | It falls on you, not just on me |
| Unakkindri yenakkillai…… | It falls on you, not just on me... |
இசை தமிழ் நீ
செய்த அறும் சாதனை.......
நீ இருக்கையிலே எனக்கே
பெரும் சோதனை இறைவா
ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement...
Rare achievement...
While you are present, for me
A great trial...
Oh Lord...
இசை தமிழ் நீ
செய்த அறும் சாதனை
{ இசை தமிழ் நீ செய்த
அறும் சாதனை நீ இருக்கையிலே
எனக்கே பெரும் சோதனை } (2)
இசை தமிழ் நீ செய்த
அறும் சாதனை
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Rare achievement
{Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Rare achievement
While you are present, for me
A great trial...} (2)
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Rare achievement
வசை வருமே
பாண்டி நாட்டினிலே
இறைவா ஆஆ ஆஆ
ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ
{ வசை வருமே பாண்டி
நாட்டினிலே குழலி
மணவாளனே உனது
வீட்டினிலே } (2)
Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom
Oh Lord...
{Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom
Oh husband of the sweet-voiced Goddess (Meenakshi), in your own home} (2)
உயிர் மயக்கம்
நாத பாட்டினிலே உயிர்
மயக்கம் நாத பாட்டினிலே
{ வெற்றி ஒருவனுக்கோ
ஓஓ மதுரை தமிழனுக்கோ
ஓஓ } (2)
In this soul-entrancing musical melody
In this soul-entrancing musical melody
{Will victory go to an outsider...
Or to the Tamilian of Madurai...} (2)
இசை தமிழ் நீ
செய்த அறும் சாதனை
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Rare achievement
{ சிவ லிங்கம்
சாக்ஷி சொன்ன கதையும்
பொய்யோ மாமன் திருச்சபை
வழக்குரைத்த முறையும்
பொய்யோ } (2)
{The legend of the Shiva Linga bearing witness
Is that a lie too?
The manner in which you advocated in the royal court for the uncle
Is that a lie too?} (2)
{ பிட்டுக்கு மண்
சுமந்து பிரம்படி பட்ட
உன்னை } (2)
{ பேசும் தமிழ் அழைத்தும்
வாராதிருப்பதென்ன } (2)
{You who carried sand for rice cakes (pittu)
And received strikes from a cane} (2)
{When eloquent Tamil calls out to you
Why do you not appear?} (2)
இசை தமிழ் நீ
செய்த அறும் சாதனை
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Rare achievement
தாய்க்கொரு
பழி நேர்ந்தால் மகற்கில்லையோ
அன்னை தமிழுக்கு பழி
நேர்ந்தால் உனக்கில்லையோ
If a mother faces blame
Does it not affect her children?
If Mother Tamil faces blame
Does it not affect you?
வேருக்கு நீர் ஊற்றி
விளைக்கின்ற தலைவா
உன் ஊருக்கு பழி நேர்ந்தால்
உனக்கின்றி எனக்கில்லை
உனக்கின்றி எனக்கில்லை
உனக்கின்றி எனக்கில்லை
Oh Lord who waters the roots
And makes life bloom
If disgrace falls upon your city
It falls on you, not just on me
It falls on you, not just on me
It falls on you, not just on me...
Isaith thamizh nee seidha
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement...
Arum saadhanai…eee…eee….
Rare achievement...
Nee irukkayilae enakkae
While you are present, for me
Perum sodhanai…
A great trial...
Iraivaaa…aaa….aaaa…aaaa…aaaa….
Oh Lord...
Isaith thamizh nee seidha
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Arum saadhanai
Rare achievement
{Isaith thamizh nee seidha
{Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Arum saadhanai
Rare achievement
Nee irukkayilae enakkae
While you are present, for me
Perum sodhanai…} (2)
A great trial...} (2)
Isaith thamizh nee seidha
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Arum saadhanai
Rare achievement
Vasai varumae paandi naattinilae
Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom
Iraivaaa…aaa….aaaa…aaaa…aaaa….aaa…
Oh Lord...
{Vasai varumae paandi naattinilae
{Disgrace will fall upon the Pandya kingdom
Kuzhali manavaalanae unadhu veettinilae} (2)
Oh husband of the sweet-voiced Goddess (Meenakshi), in your own home} (2)
Uyir mayakkam naadha paattinilae
In this soul-entrancing musical melody
Uyir mayakkam nadha paattinilae
In this soul-entrancing musical melody
{Vetri oruvanukko…ooo…
{Will victory go to an outsider...
Madhuraith thamizhanukko… ooo} (2)
Or to the Tamilian of Madurai...} (2)
Isaith thamizh nee seidha
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Arum saadhanai
Rare achievement
{Shiva lingam saakshi sonna
{The legend of the Shiva Linga bearing witness
Kadhaiyum poiyoo
Is that a lie too?
Maaman thiruchchabai vazhzkkuraitha
The manner in which you advocated in the royal court for the uncle
Muraiyum poiyoo} (2)
Is that a lie too?} (2)
{Pittukku man sumandhu
{You who carried sand for rice cakes (pittu)
Pirambadi patta unnai} (2)
And received strikes from a cane} (2)
{Pesum thamizh azhaithum
{When eloquent Tamil calls out to you
Vaaraadhiruppadhenna} (2)
Why do you not appear?} (2)
Isaith thamizh nee seidha
Musical Tamil was your rare achievement
Arum saadhanai
Rare achievement
Thaikoru pazhi nerndhal
If a mother faces blame
Magarkillayoo
Does it not affect her children?
Annai thamizhukku pazhi nerndhal
If Mother Tamil faces blame
Unakkillayoo
Does it not affect you?
Verukku neer ootri
Oh Lord who waters the roots
Vilaikindra thalaiva
And makes life bloom
Un oorukku pazhi nerndhal
If disgrace falls upon your city
Unakkindri yenakkillai
It falls on you, not just on me
Unakkindri yenakkillai
It falls on you, not just on me
Unakkindri yenakkillai……
It falls on you, not just on me...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic track from Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) features the court poet Hemanatha Bhagavata challenging the musicians of the Pandya kingdom, and the devotee/poet Banabhadra appealing to Lord Shiva (Sundareswarar) for help. The song blends intense devotion, Tamil pride, and a poetic challenge to the Almighty. Banabhadra reminds Lord Shiva of His past miracles in Madurai—such as bearing witness as a Lingam and taking cane strikes for an old woman selling pittu—and urges Him to protect the honor of Madurai and Tamil music.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Isaith thamizh nee seidha / Arum saadhanai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Isaith' and 'Arum' or 'Vasai' and 'Kuzhali'.
Edhukai (Rhyming)
“Pittukku man sumandhu / Pirambadi patta unnai”
Second letter agreement between lines, seen in 'Shiva lingam' and 'Maaman' or 'Pattukku' and 'Pirambadi'.
Rhetorical Questioning (Vina)
“Annai thamizhukku pazhi nerndhal / Unakkillayoo”
Using persistent questioning ('poiyoo', 'vaaraadhiruppadhenna', 'unakkillayoo') to challenge and plead with the deity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this classic song was sung by the legendary actor-singer T. R. Mahalingam, who played the role of Banabhadra in Thiruvilaiyadal (1965). The song references several Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam miracles performed by Lord Shiva in Madurai.
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