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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaadu Kanda Veragu

From Unakkaga Naan · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, L. R. Anjali, Manorama
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Unakkaga Naan1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaadu kandaa veragu vetrathuSeeing the forest, cutting the firewood
Chorus :Aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes!
Female :Adhai kattu kattaa velaikku vikkirathuFemale: Selling it in bundles for a price
Chorus :Aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes!
Female
Kaadu kandaa veragu vetrathuSeeing the forest, cutting the firewood
Chorus :Aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes!
Female :Adhai kattu kattaa velaikku vikkirathuFemale: Selling it in bundles for a price
Chorus :Aamaa aamaaChorus: Yes, yes!
Female
Naanga thalaiyil vaikkirathuCarrying it on our heads
Nallaa thalukki vikkirathuSelling it with a lively flair
Yaarum pudikka vanthaa veragumillaeIf anyone comes to catch us, there is no firewood left
Puliyai kandaa uyirumillaIf we see a tiger, there is no life left either
Female
Anthiraththil pozhappu nikkirathuOur livelihood hangs precariously in mid-air
Antha aandavanthaan thunaikku nikkirathuOnly that Almighty stands as our support
Chorus :Anthiraththil pozhappu nikkirathuChorus: Our livelihood hangs precariously in mid-air
Antha aandavanthaan thunaikku nikkirathuOnly that Almighty stands as our support
Male
Inaththil mudhalaaliA boss among his own clan
Panaththil peruththa enthanExtremely wealthy in money, who
Vanaththil pugunthu kondu maraththai vetta vanthaEntered my forest to chop down trees
Aattu kuttikalaa neenga maattikittikalaaOh little kids, did you get caught?
Yaei imbuttu kuttikalaa neega ambuttukitteengalaaHey, so many little kids, did you all get trapped?
Imbuttu kuttikalaa neega ambuttukitteengalaaSo many little kids, did you all get trapped?
Female
Sooranai vettiyaThe one who vanquished Sooran
Subbramaniya saamiyae neeyum vaa vaaOh Lord Subramanya, please come, come!
Appan soolaayithamum velaayithamumBearing your father's trident and spear
Sumanthu kondae vaavaaPlease come carrying them!
Chorus
Sooranai vettiyaThe one who vanquished Sooran
Subbramaniya saamiyae neeyum vaa vaaOh Lord Subramanya, please come, come!
Appan soolaayithamum velaayithamumBearing your father's trident and spear
Sumanthu kondae vaavaaPlease come carrying them!
Female
Aarumugaththu saami velaayuthaththai kaamiOh six-faced Lord, show us your spear
Yaeru mayil yaeri aiyaa inthapakkam vaa neeMount your peacock and come to this side, sir
Chorus :Yaeru mayil yaeri aiyaa inthapakkam vaa neeChorus: Mount your peacock and come to this side, sir
Female
Paadupadum yaezhai nilaiyaeThe state of the hardworking poor
Paakkavae sakikaliyae….aa…aa…aa…aa…Is unbearable to witness... aa... aa...
Paadupadum yaezhai nilaiyaeThe state of the hardworking poor
Paakkavae sakikaliyae….Is unbearable to witness...
Female
Paainthu kolla vanthaenI have come to pounce and attack
Ingae paayattum antha puliyaeLet that tiger pounce right here
Paainthu kolla vanthaenI have come to pounce and attack
Ingae paayattum antha puliyaeLet that tiger pounce right here
Female
Yaezhaikku thunai naanI am the protector of the poor
Ini yaegapogam sellathiniAbsolute tyranny will no longer work from now on
Yaezhaikku thunai naanI am the protector of the poor
Ini yaegapogam sellathiniAbsolute tyranny will no longer work from now on
Kalam maari pogum yeazhaiTimes will change, the lives of the poor
Vaazhvu maaripogum ini….Will change from now on...
Female
Padupadum yaezhai nilaiyaeThe state of the hardworking poor
Paakkavey sakikkalaiyaeIs unbearable to witness
Female
Aadhikkam seiyyum puliyaeOh domineering tiger
Unakku aanavam ennaWhat is this arrogance of yours?
Aagattum podaa veliyaeEnough, get out now!
Aadhikkam seiyyum puliyaeOh domineering tiger
Unakku aanavam ennaWhat is this arrogance of yours?
Aagattum podaa veliyaeEnough, get out now!
Male
Naan povathumillaiI will not leave
Yaezhaikku vaazhvedharkku naam vaazhnthidumFor the poor to live, the place where we dwell
Intha kaadellaam sonthamenakkuAll this forest belongs to me
Female :Enna sonnaFemale: What did you say?
Male :Yaezhaikku vaazhvedharkku naam vaazhnthidumMale: For the poor to live, the place where we dwell
Intha kaadellaam sonthamenakkuAll this forest belongs to me
Female
Velai edupaenI will take up the spear
Male :Paainthu kadippaenMale: I will pounce and bite
Female :Vaalai murippaenFemale: I will break its tail
Male :Vayiththai kizhippaenMale: I will tear open its belly
Female
Velai edupaenI will take up the spear
Male :Paainthu kadippaenMale: I will pounce and bite
Female :Vaalai murippaenFemale: I will break its tail
Male :Vayiththai kizhippaenMale: I will tear open its belly
Female
Ooradi potean paaradaaLook, I took a giant step
Naan velai eduththaa uyirudan selvaan yaaradaaIf I pick up my spear, who can escape alive, man?
Ooradi potean paaradaaLook, I took a giant step
Naan velai eduththaa uyirudan selvaan yaaradaaIf I pick up my spear, who can escape alive, man?
Sangaranai therntheduthaa sangadamillaeIf we choose Lord Shankara, there is no trouble
Dharmalinga thaathaa melae nampikkai illae…..There is no faith left in grandpa Dharmalinga...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This theatrical folk duet from 'Unakkaga Naan' (1976) portrays the plight and resistance of impoverished firewood gatherers living in a forest. When an arrogant, wealthy boss attempts to claim the forest as his private property and exploit the villagers, they invoke Lord Murugan (Subramanya) and rally together. The song transitions from a song of hardship to a fiery declaration of rebellion, where the common folk boldly stand up against tyranny and proclaim their right to the forest.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Second-letter Rhyme (Etugai)

Inaththil mudhalaali / Panaththil peruththa enthan / Vanaththil pugunthu kondu

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('Inaththil' / 'Panaththil' / 'Vanaththil').

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Sooranai vettiya / Subbramaniya saamiyae neeyum vaa vaa

Matching initial sounds in words within a line ('Sooranai' and 'Subbramaniya').

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aattu kuttikalaa neenga maattikittikalaa / Aadhikkam seiyyum puliyae

Comparing the oppressive landlord to a tiger ('puli') and the villagers to helpless young goats ('aattu kuttikal').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a folk-operatic theatrical performance piece within the 1976 film 'Unakkaga Naan'. It showcases the iconic multi-talented actor-singer Manorama alongside S. C. Krishnan and L. R. Anjali, with music scored by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Kannadasan.

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