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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Endru Sonnaalum

From Valli Mayil · 1980

Lyricist
M. A. Kaja
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Valli Mayil1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….
Male
Kadavul endru sonnaalumWhether called God,
Karthar endru uraiththaalumOr spoken of as the Lord,
Muruga endru mozhinthaalumOr uttered as Murugan,
Allaah endru azhaiththaalumOr called upon as Allah,
Ellaa deivam ondraagum….mmmm…All deities are one... mmmm...
Adhai enni thelinthaal nandraagum…It would be good if we reflect and gain clarity on that...
Male
Mannil pirantha manitharellaamAll humans born on this earth,
Oru madhaa vayittru pillaigalaeAre children born of the same mother's womb.
Mannil pirantha manitharellaamAll humans born on this earth,
Oru madhaa vayittru pillaigalaeAre children born of the same mother's womb.
Pirappil irappil bedhamillaiThere is no difference in birth or in death,
Udal uruppil kooda maattramillai…There is no difference even in our physical organs...
Udal uruppil kooda maattramillai…There is no difference even in our physical organs...
Male
Uzhaiththu pizhaikkum oru varkkamThere is one class that works hard to survive,
Avar uzhaippil thilaikkum oru varkkamAnd one class that thrives on their labor.
Uzhaiththu pizhaikkum oru varkkamThere is one class that works hard to survive,
Avar uzhaippil thilaikkum oru varkkamAnd one class that thrives on their labor.
Yaeiththu pizhaikkum oru varkkamThere is one class that survives by deceiving,
Ingu yaemaanthu nirkkum oru varkkamAnd one class that stands here cheated.
Ingu yaemaanthu nirkkum oru varkkamAnd one class that stands here cheated.
Male
Kadavul endru sonnaalumWhether called God,
Karthar endru uraiththaalumOr spoken of as the Lord,
Muruga endru mozhinthaalumOr uttered as Murugan,
Allaah endru azhaiththaalumOr called upon as Allah,
Ellaa deivam ondraagum….mmmm…All deities are one... mmmm...
Adhai enni thelinthaal nandraagum…It would be good if we reflect and gain clarity on that...
Male
Manithan seiyyum sathiyilthaanIt is only through human treachery and deceit,
Madhamum jaathiyum uruvaachchuThat religion and caste came into existence.
Manithan seiyyum sathiyilthaanIt is only through human treachery and deceit,
Madhamum jaathiyum uruvaachchuThat religion and caste came into existence.
Manitha thanmai ullavarthaanOnly those who possess genuine humanity,
Madhaththil jaathiyil uyarnthavargalAre truly superior in religion and caste.
Madhaththil jaathiyil uyarnthavargalAre truly superior in religion and caste.
Chorus
…………………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This secular philosophical song from the film Valli Mayil (1980) advocates for religious harmony, human equality, and social justice. It begins by proclaiming that regardless of the name used to address the Almighty—whether God, Lord, Murugan, or Allah—the divine essence is universally one. The text emphasizes that all human beings share identical biology, suffering, birth, and death, rendering artificial social hierarchies baseless.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kadavul endru sonnaalum / Karthar endru uraiththaalum...

Lines 2 to 5 end with matching rhyming suffixes ('sonnaalum', 'uraiththaalum', 'mozhinthaalum', 'azhaiththaalum').

Epistrophe (Repetition)

Uzhaiththu pizhaikkum oru varkkam / Avar uzhaippil thilaikkum oru varkkam

The phrase 'oru varkkam' (a class of people) is repeated at the end of multiple consecutive lines to emphasize socio-economic class divisions.

Antithesis (Contrast)

Yaeiththu pizhaikkum oru varkkam / Ingu yaemaanthu nirkkum oru varkkam

Direct contrast is drawn between the working class and the exploiting class ('Uzhaiththu pizhaikkum' vs 'yaeiththu pizhaikkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary musical duo Shankar-Ganesh and written by lyricist M.A. Kaja, the song features iconic vocal performance by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS). TMS was frequently chosen to render such rationalist, social-reformist, and unity songs in Tamil cinema due to his powerful diction and commanding vocal depth.

Keep listening

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