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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathaliley Thozhvi

From Kanni Rasi · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Gangai Amaran, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kanni Rasi1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa… aa…Ah... ah...
Kaadhalilae tholviyutraanHe suffered defeat in love,
Kaalai ingaeThe young man here.
Avanai kaadhalilae thorkka vaithaWhere is the maiden who made him,
Kanni engaeFail in love?
Kavalaigalai marandhidavae indha thanniTo forget all worries, here is this drink,
Daai oothungadaa nooru milli enni enniHey guys, pour 100 ml, counting carefully!
Male
Venaam venaam pombala mogamNo, no to infatuation with women,
Ellaam pagal veshamIt is all a hypocritical charade.
Velai illaama veenaa alanjnenI wandered uselessly without a job,
Andho paridhaapamAlas, what a pity!
Male
Aambalainga paavam thaanMen are truly pitiful,
Pombalaikku laabam thaanWomen are the ones who profit.
Aasa venaandaaDon't desire it, my friend,
Naan kanda paadam thaanThis is the lesson I learned.
Male
Venaam venaam pombala mogamNo, no to infatuation with women,
Ellaam pagal veshamIt is all a hypocritical charade.
Velai illaama veenaa alanjnenI wandered uselessly without a job,
Andho paridhaapamAlas, what a pity!
Male
Annaikkoru dhevadhaasuBack in those days, Devadas,
Ponnaala thaan kettaan daaWas ruined because of a woman.
Innikkoru lakshmi pathiyumToday, even Laxmipathi,
Ponnaala thaan kettaan daaWas ruined because of a woman.
Ava pottaa vesham thaanIt was all a disguise she put up,
Naan ponen mosam thaanAnd I got cheated badly.
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Ah… ah… ah… ah…
Ava pottaa vesham thaanIt was all a disguise she put up,
Naan ponen mosam thaanAnd I got cheated badly.
Male
Un kadha thaanaeIsn't your story,
En kadha koodaThe same as my story too?
Uruppadiyaaga seru en koodaJoin me productively.
Male
Kaadhal thandha tholviyinaalaeBecause of the defeat given by love,
Karanjen andha paaviyinaalaeI melted away because of that sinful woman.
Male
Venaam venaam pombala mogamNo, no to infatuation with women,
Male :Ellaam pagal veshamIt is all a hypocritical charade.
Male :Pagal veshamHypocritical charade!
Male
Velai illaama veenaa alanjnenI wandered uselessly without a job,
Male :Andho paridhaapamAlas, what a pity!
Male :ParidhaapamWhat a pity!
Male
Pudhu chaela poovu ravikkaA new saree, flowers, and blouse—
Kadana vaangi kudukkaathae hae haeiDo not buy and give them by taking loans, hey hey!
Pombala mel aasa vechuBy placing desire on a woman,
Thaniyaaga padukkaadhaeDo not end up sleeping alone.
Male
Ponnugala nambaadhaeDo not trust women,
Pinnaala nee vembaadhaeDo not suffer later.
Ponnugala nambaadhaeDo not trust women,
Pinnaala nee vembaadhaeDo not suffer later.
Male
Aasaiyinaalae mosadiyaachuDesire led to deception,
Ava sirippaalae manam kettu pochuBecause of her smile, my mind went ruined.
Male
Pennaal ippa vedhana thaanBecause of a woman, now there is only pain,
Polappo ippa sodhana thaanLife now is nothing but a trial.
Male
Venaam venaam pombala mogamNo, no to infatuation with women,
Ellaam pagal veshamIt is all a hypocritical charade.
Male
Velai illaama veenaa alanjnenI wandered uselessly without a job,
Andho paridhaapamAlas, what a pity!
Male
Aambalainga paavam thaanMen are truly pitiful,
Male
Pombalaikku laabam thaanWomen are the ones who profit.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the grief and cynicism of a man heartbroken after a failed love affair. Drunk and disillusioned, he warns other men against falling in love and being lured by romantic charm. He views romantic gestures as superficial charades that leave men broken, penniless, and isolated. Comparing his plight to classic heartbreaks like that of Devadas, he laments how love ruins men while women remain unscathed. Through colloquial, vernacular lyrics, the song captures male angst and tragicomic warnings delivered over alcohol among companions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Venaam venaam pombala mogam

The repetition of 'Venaam venaam' (No, no) emphasizes strong rejection and warning.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aambalainga paavam thaan / Pombalaikku laabam thaan

The rhyming ends 'paavam thaan' and 'laabam thaan' create a rhythmic, repetitive pattern highlighting contrast.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Annaikkoru dhevadhaasu / Innikkoru lakshmi pathiyum

The second consonant 'n' rhymes across 'Annaikkoru' and 'Innikkoru'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kanni Rasi (1985) was directed by Pandiarajan and starred Prabhu and Revathi. Though credited in song contexts as unknown, the soundtrack was famously composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran.

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