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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jilla Vittu Jilla Vandha

From Eesan · 2010

Lyricist
Mohan Rajan
Singer
Thanjai Selvi
Music director
James Vasanthan
Details
Eesan2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vandhanamma vandhanammaI have come, oh people, I have come
Ellorukum vandhanamGreetings to everyone
Mana manama sandhanamFragrant sandalwood aroma
Sandhanatha poosikittuSmearing the sandalwood paste
Sandhosama ketkanumListen with happiness
Kalakalappa aadanumDance with cheerful vigor
Kaiga thaalam podanumClap your hands to the beat
Visilu ragam paadanumWhistle a joyful tune
Kaiga thaalam podanumClap your hands to the beat
Visilu ragam paadanumWhistle a joyful tune
Female
Jilla vittu jilla vandhaMoving from district to district
Kadhaiya neeyum kelaiyaaListen to my story, sir
Thuthukkudi ponnaiyaA girl from Thoothukudi
Naan thuthukkudi ponnaiyaI am a girl from Thoothukudi
Female
Jilla vittu jilla vandhaMoving from district to district
Kadhaiya neeyum kelaiyaaListen to my story, sir
Thuthukkudi ponnaiyaA girl from Thoothukudi
Naan thuthukkudi ponnaiyaI am a girl from Thoothukudi
Thuthukkudi ponnaiyaA girl from Thoothukudi
En kadhayai kelaiyaaListen to my story, sir
Sogatha vikira ponnukkumEven a girl who sells her grief
Manasu irukuthu paaraiyaHas a heart, look at it
Sogatha vikira ponnukkumEven a girl who sells her grief
Manasu irukuthu paaraiyaHas a heart, look at it
Female
Anju penna petheduthaaThey say if one gives birth to five daughters
Arasankuda aandiyaamEven a king turns into a beggar
Vazhkaiyila bondiyaamBankrupt in life
Yettavatha enna pethaBorn as the eighth child
En appanuku ithu theriyalaMy father did not realize this
Sokkanum atha sollalaSokkan (Lord Shiva) did not tell him either
Female
Anju penna petheduthaaThey say if one gives birth to five daughters
Arasankuda aandiyaamEven a king turns into a beggar
Vazhkaiyila bondiyaamBankrupt in life
Yettavatha enna pethaBorn as the eighth child
En appanuku ithu theriyalaMy father did not realize this
Sokkanum atha sollalaSokkan did not tell him either
Sokkanum atha sollalaSokkan did not tell him either
Female
Valarnthu nikkira thennaiyaLike a tall growing coconut tree
Vakkanaiya naan ninnenI stood with pride and grace
Vakkanaiya naan ninnenI stood with pride and grace
Ezhaiyum karai serthathaalaBecause I helped a poor man reach the shore
Ezharaiya naan aanenI became afflicted by misfortune
Ezharaiya naan aanenI became afflicted by misfortune
Female
Anga suthi inga suthiWandering around here and there
Vanthaanaiya mappulaCame the groom, sir
Seekalikku marupullaA son-in-law from Sirkazhi
Valaiya pola enna kattiBinding me like a net
Ponaanaiya mappulaHe left, that groom, sir
Thuppillaatha aambalaA useless, spineless man
Avan thupillaatha aambalaHe was a useless man
Female
Anga suthi inga suthiWandering around here and there
Vanthaanaiya mappulaCame the groom, sir
Seekalikku marupullaA son-in-law from Sirkazhi
Valaiya pola enna kattiBinding me like a net
Ponaanaiya mappulaHe left, that groom, sir
Thuppillaatha aambalaA useless, spineless man
Avan thupillaatha aambalaHe was a useless man
Female
Anjanaalu mootuvaliyilWith joint pain in five days
Maappulathan paduthutaanThe bridegroom took to bed
En usura eduthutaanHe drained the life out of me
Onnu pona onnu vanthuOne ailment after another came
Varusamellam thechutaanHe wore me down all year round
Kanava ellam odaichutaanHe shattered all my dreams
En kanava ellam odaichutaanHe shattered all my dreams
Female
Anjanaalu mootuvaliyilWith joint pain in five days
Maappulathan paduthutaanThe bridegroom took to bed
En usura eduthutaanHe drained the life out of me
Onnu pona onnu vanthuOne ailment after another came
Varusamellam thechutaanHe wore me down all year round
Kanava ellam odaichutaanHe shattered all my dreams
En kanava ellam odaichutaanHe shattered all my dreams
Female
Kaichalukku kaadu vithenSold the forest land to treat a fever
Irumalukku nilam vithenSold the farmland to treat a cough
Vittathellaam pogaAfter selling everything off
Ada echamaaga naan ninenAh, I was left with nothing
Michamaaga naan ninenI was left as a remnant
Ada michamaaga naan ninenAh, I was left as a remnant
Female
Ooril ulla meesai ellamAll the moustached men in town
Enna suthi vanthuchuCame hovering around me
Ila manasa keduthuchuThey ruined my young heart
Usura vida maanam perusuHonor is greater than life itself
Buthikkuthaan therinjuchuMy mind knew that well
Vairu enga kettuchuBut did my hungry stomach listen?
Vairu enga kettuchuDid my hungry stomach listen?
Female
Oru saan vaithukkuthaanFor just one span of a hungry belly
Ellathaiyum vikkirenI sell everything
Naan ellathaiyum vikkirenI am selling everything
Ippa ingae nikkirenNow I stand right here
En kadhaiya mudikkirenI end my story
Female
Oru saan vaithukkuthaanFor just one span of a hungry belly
Ellathaiyum vikkirenI sell everything
Naan ellathaiyum vikkirenI am selling everything
Ippa ingae nikkirenNow I stand right here
En kadhaiya mudikkirenI end my story
Female
Jilla vittu jilla vandhaMoving from district to district
Kadhaiya neeyum kettiyaDid you hear my story?
En kadhaiya neeyum kettiyaDid you hear my story?
Jilla vittu jilla vandhaMoving from district to district
Kadhaiya neeyum kettiyaDid you hear my story?
En kadhaiya kettiyaDid you hear my story?
Female
Kaiga thaalam podaiyaaClap your hands, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Chorus :Kaiga thaalam podaiyaaChorus: Clap your hands, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Kaiga thaalam podaiyaaClap your hands, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Kaiga thaalam podaiyaaClap your hands, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Kaiga thaalam podaiyaaClap your hands, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir
Visilu ragam paadaiyaaWhistle a tune, sir

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk narrative song juxtaposes upbeat, fast-paced dance beats with a deeply heartbreaking life story. A woman from Thoothukudi addresses an audience, masking her intense grief behind a festive performance. She recounts her humble origins as the eighth child in a poor family, her marriage to an ailing, incapable husband, and the mounting debts incurred while paying for his medical treatments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Valarnthu nikkira thennaiya

Comparing her stature and pride to a tall coconut tree (Valarnthu nikkira thennaiya) and her marital trap to a net (Valaiya pola enna katti).

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)

Kaichalukku kaadu vithen / Irumalukku nilam vithen

Extensive use of initial letter and second letter rhyming patterns common in Tamil folk songs, such as 'Kaichalukku / Irumalukku' and 'Kaiga / Visilu'.

Irony

Sogatha vikira ponnukkum manasu irukuthu paaraiya

The speaker invites the audience to clap and whistle while delivering a deeply tragic story of economic hardship and forced prostitution.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in M. Sasikumar's 2010 film 'Eesan', this track composed by James Vasanthan uses authentic Tamil folk and Gana traditions to deliver stark social commentary on poverty, gender bias, and economic vulnerability under the guise of an energetic dance performance.

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