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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kai Regai Paathu Josiyam

From Ithu Eppadi Irukku · 1978

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ithu Eppadi Irukku1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Diyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaaloDiyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaalo
Chorus
Haei haei haei haeiHey hey hey hey
Male
Diyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaaloDiyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaalo
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Chorus
Diyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaaloDiyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaalo
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Vellai yaana pallu kullanari kombuA white elephant's tusk, a jackal's horn
Ezhadi vaenga tholum irukku vaarungaAnd a seven-foot tiger skin are available, come buy them
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Chorus
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Male
Karuppaiyaa ponjaadhiKaruppaiya's wife
Adangaadha perum viyaadhiHad an uncontrollable severe illness
Male
Yaaraaro paathaangaSo many people examined her
Enna thaan kizhichaangaWhat could they actually achieve?
Chorus
Aiyaa thaan marundhu koduthuSir gave her medicine
Ammaavae anuppi vechaarAnd sent the lady away!
Male
Daei aiyaa thaan marundhu koduthuHey, sir gave her medicine
Noi theerthu anuppi vachaarCured her illness and sent her back!
Thottaakkaa kai pattaakkaaIf he touches, if his hand lays upon
Ada pollaadha ni theerum sonnaen sathiyamaeHey, even the worst ailment will be cured, I swear on truth!
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Chorus
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Male
Thiruppooril thirudi vittuAfter stealing in Tiruppur
Nadu kaattil olinjirundhaHiding deep inside the forest
Maayaandi thirudanaiThe thief named Mayandi
Naan mai pottu pudichenaeI caught him using magical kohl!
Chorus
Aiyaavin mandaikkullaeInside sir's skull
Arai meter kaliman irukkuThere is half a meter of clay
Male
Daei aiyaavin mandaikkullaeHey, inside sir's skull
Ara meter moolai irukkuThere is half a meter of brain!
Kannaalae kuri vechaakkaaIf he aims with his eyes
Ada thappaadhu ennaalum sonnaen sathiyamaeHey, it never fails, I swear on truth!
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Chorus
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Male
Oorukku periyavanaaiPosing as a great respectable man in town
Veli vaesham pottoruvanPutting on a false disguise, one man
Male
Thangathai kadathi vandhaanWas smuggling gold
Kai paathu sonnenaeI caught him by reading his palm!
Chorus
Adhanaal thaan aiyaa odambuThat is why sir's body
Adi vaangi veengi irukkuIs swollen from taking beatings
Male
Ada cheeOh fie!
Adhanaal thaan aiyaa odambuThat is why sir's body
Bayilvaan pol ongi irukkuIs robust and towering like a wrestler!
Kaiyaalae en kaalaalaeWith my hands and my feet
Ada vittaennaa pal pogum sonnaen sathiyamaeHey, if I strike, your teeth will fly, I swear on truth!
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Sonnadhu nadakkum paarungaSee how whatever I predict comes true
Vellai yaana pallu kullanari kombuA white elephant's tusk, a jackal's horn
Ezhadi vaenga tholum irukku vaarungaAnd a seven-foot tiger skin are available, come buy them
Male
Kai raega paathu josiyam solven kelungaListen as I tell your fortune by reading your palm lines
Chorus
Diyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaaloDiyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaalo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively Tamil street-performer folk song revolves around a fortune teller pitching his services to a crowd. He boasts about reading palm lines, selling rare magical items like jackal horns, and performing miraculous feats. Throughout the song, he comically praises his master's intellect, healing touch, and detective skills, while making humorous slips of the tongue that he quickly corrects. The song captures the vibrant, humorous, and theatrical nature of traditional street fortune tellers in rural Tamil Nadu.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Folk Refrain (Madakku / Sol-Muran)

Diyara diyaa diyaalo diyara diyaa diyaalo

The rhythmic chant 'Diyara diyaa diyaalo' acts as a classic Tamil street-performer refrain, setting a rustic rhythm for the performance.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Vellai yaana pallu kullanari kombu

Exaggerated claims like selling a 'jackal's horn' (kullanari kombu - a mythical item in Tamil folklore believed to bring fortune) and 'white elephant's tusk'.

Humorous Contrast / Slips of Tongue (Nagaichuvai)

Arai meter kaliman irukku / Ara meter moolai irukku

Comedic effect created by mistakenly insulting the master ('half a meter of clay') and quickly correcting it ('half a meter of brain').

Did you know?

Trivia

The term 'Kullanari Kombu' (jackal's horn) mentioned in the song refers to a famous Tamil myth. In folklore, jackals are believed not to have horns, but a rare jackal with a bony horn-like crest is considered an extremely lucky charm, often sold by street swindlers and performers.

Keep listening

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