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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaayame Idhu Poiyadaa

From Kumudham · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kumudham1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaayamae idhu poiyadaa..This body is a lie, O friend..
Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..It is merely a bag filled with air..
NamachivaayaaNamah Shivaya
Kelu maayanaaraam kuyavan seidhaListen, crafted by the potter called Maya
Mannu paandam odadaaThis mud pot is just broken pottery..
Male
Kaayamae idhu poiyadaa..This body is a lie, O friend..
Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..It is merely a bag filled with air..
Kelu maayanaaraam kuyavan seidhaListen, crafted by the potter called Maya
Mannu paandam odadaa…haa…aa…This mud pot is just broken pottery…haa…aa…
Male
Daei niruthu…Hey, stop it…
Male
NamachivaayaaNamah Shivaya
Male
Neeyum poiyaa naanum poiyaaAre you false, am I false?
Ninaithu paarthu solladaaThink carefully and tell me!
Neeyum poiyaa naanum poiyaaAre you false, am I false?
Ninaithu paarthu solladaaThink carefully and tell me!
Un vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaaIs your mouth false, is your stomach false?
Vaadham ozhungaa cheiyadaaArgue properly!
Vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaaIs your mouth false, is your stomach false?
Vaadham ozhungaa cheiyadaaArgue properly!
Male
Sarakku… sarakku…Substance… substance…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduOtherwise salute and run away!
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduOtherwise salute and run away!
Male
Vaayum poi thaan vayirum poi thaanThe mouth is indeed false, the stomach is indeed false
Yaavum poiyae thaanadaaEverything is an illusion, my friend!
Vaayum poi thaan vayirum poi thaanThe mouth is indeed false, the stomach is indeed false
Yaavum poiyae thaanadaaEverything is an illusion, my friend!
Maaya ulagil mayangum manidhaaO man who is deluded in this world of illusion!
Vambu vaadham yenadaaWhy engage in useless arguments?
Maaya ulagil mayangum manidhaaO man who is deluded in this world of illusion!
Vambu vaadham yenadaaWhy engage in useless arguments?
Male
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaayaNamah Shivaya, Shivaya, Shivaya
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaayaNamah Shivaya, Shivaya, Shivaya
Om namchivaaya sivaaya sivaayaOm Namah Shivaya, Shivaya, Shivaya
Namchivaaya sivaaya sivaayaNamah Shivaya, Shivaya, Shivaya
Male
What… poiyaa…What… a lie?
Vaayum vayirum poi endraalaeIf the mouth and stomach are false,
Kaayum kaniyum edharkadaaWhat are raw and ripe fruits for?
Vaayum vayirum poi endraalaeIf the mouth and stomach are false,
Kaayum kaniyum edharkadaaWhat are raw and ripe fruits for?
Saayam veluthu pogum munnaeBefore your true colors are exposed,
Jaldhi answer pannadaaAnswer quickly!
Saayam veluthu pogum munnaeBefore your true colors are exposed,
Jaldhi answer pannadaaAnswer quickly!
Male
Sarakku… sarakku…Substance… substance…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduOtherwise salute and run away!
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduOtherwise salute and run away!
Male
Kaayum kaniyum udalai valarkkaFruits are meant to nourish the body,
Kadavul padaitha poruladaa engappaaThey are creations of God, my friend!
Kaayum kaniyum udalai valarkkaFruits are meant to nourish the body,
Kadavul padaitha poruladaaThey are creations of God!
Kaalai pola paaya vendaamDo not pounce like a bull,
Neeyum summaa nilladaaJust stand quiet!
Kaalai pola paaya vendaamDo not pounce like a bull,
Neeyum summaa nilladaaJust stand quiet!
Male
Daei… ennaiyaa insult panra…Hey… are you insulting me?
Aalai paarthu kaalai endruLooking at a man and calling him a bull,
Azhaikkum idiot keladaaListen, you idiot!
Moolai illaa neeyum idhai unYou brainless person, take this on
Mudhugil vaangi kolladaaYour back!
Aalai paarthu kaalai endruLooking at a man and calling him a bull,
Azhaikkum idiot keladaaListen, you idiot!
Moolai illaa neeyum idhai unYou brainless person, take this on
Mudhugil vaangi kolladaaYour back!
Male
Sarakku… sarakku…Substance… substance…
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduOtherwise salute and run away!
Sarakku irundhaa avizhthu viduIf you have real substance, display it!
Illae salaam pottu odi viduiduOtherwise salute and run away!
Male
Neeyum poi thaan naanum poi thaanYou are false, and I am false,
Unadhu vaarthai meiyadaaYour words are true!
Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhuIf this body is false, then my hand
Kaiyum kooda poiyadaaThat strikes is also false!
Neeyum poi thaan naanum poi thaanYou are false, and I am false,
Unadhu vaarthai meiyadaaYour words are true!
Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhuIf this body is false, then my hand
Kaiyum kooda poiyadaa…That strikes is also false…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a comical philosophical debate between two opposing viewpoints: ascetic spiritual detachment versus worldly materialism. One character argues from the perspective of Siddhar philosophy, claiming that the physical body (Kaayam) is a temporary illusion (Maya), a mere vessel of air and clay destined to crumble. He advocates chanting Lord Shiva's name and looking beyond worldly desires.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Verum kaatradaitha paiyadaa..

Compares the human body ('Kaayam') to a bag of air ('Kaatradaitha pai') and an earthen pot ('Mannu paandam').

Moni / Rhyming (Ethirudhai)

Un vaayum poiyaa vayirum poiyaa

Use of internal rhyming across pairs of words such as 'Kaayum' and 'Kaniyum' or 'Vaayum' and 'Vayirum'.

Simile (Uvamanai)

Kaalai pola paaya vendaam

Direct comparison comparing aggressive charging behavior to a wild bull ('Kaalai pola').

Irony and Satire

Indha kaayam poi thaan adikkum enadhu Kaiyum kooda poiyadaa

Uses high philosophical truth to justify a physical slap or fight at the end.

Did you know?

Trivia

This satirical song from 'Kumudham' (1961) parodies the traditional Siddhar philosophical song 'Kaayamae Idhu Poiyada' composed by Pattinathar. Kannadasan cleverly blends high Tamil spiritual philosophical concepts with colloquial English words like 'idiot' and 'answer' for comic relief.

Keep listening

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