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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaighal Irandil

From Veera Kanal · 1960

Lyricist
Ambikapathi
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, L. R. Eswari, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Veera Kanal1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hoo ooo ooo hooo oo oo ooo(Vocalizing)
Male
Hoo ooo ooo hooo oo oo ooo(Vocalizing)
Hooo ooo ooo oo ooo oo oo(Vocalizing)
Female
Kaigal irandil valai kulungaWith bangles jingling on both hands,
Kaalil silambu kalakalangaWith anklets tinkling softly on the feet,
Kaigal irandil valai kulungaWith bangles jingling on both hands,
Kaalil silambu kalakalangaWith anklets tinkling softly on the feet,
Male
Anna kodi idai pinni asaindhidaAs the slender waist sways gracefully like a swan,
Aadi maghizhvom ammaanaiLet us play the Ammanai game and rejoice,
Anna kodi idai pinni asaindhidaAs the slender waist sways gracefully like a swan,
Aadi maghizhvom ammaanaiLet us play the Ammanai game and rejoice.
Female
Aaradi koondhal mazhai polaeLong hair six feet in length cascading like rain,
Male :Adhil anaiyin kaigal malar polaeMale: With embracing hands tender like flowers within it,
Female :Aaradi koondhal mazhai polaeFemale: Long hair six feet in length cascading like rain,
Male :Adhil anaiyin kaigal malar polaeMale: With embracing hands tender like flowers within it,
Female :Poothu sirikkum mugathilaeFemale: On a face that blossoms with a smile,
Male :Oru pottu kulungudhu meen polaeMale: A bindi sparkles and glimmers like a fish.
Aa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….(Vocalizing)
Chorus :O hoho hoi…Chorus: Oh hoho hoi...
Female :Hoo ooo ooo ooo ooo oooFemale: Hoo ooo ooo...
Chorus :Hae haeiiChorus: Hae haeii...
Male
Ooraar ellaam aadaiyilaeWhen all the townspeople are dressed up in fine attire,
Unakkenna velai medaiyilaeWhat work do you have up on the stage?
Ha..ha..ha..haa..aaaa…aa…aa..aaa…aa..aa..(Laughter and vocalizing)
Male
Ooraar ellaam aadaiyilaeWhen all the townspeople are dressed up in fine attire,
Unakkenna velai medaiyilaeWhat work do you have up on the stage?
Thaalam illaamal bhaavam illaamalWithout beat, without expressive emotion,
Naamum kudhippom koottathilaeWe too shall jump and dance in the crowd.
Female
Aambala pombala iru jaadhiMen and women are two different kinds,
Male :Aehae aasaiyil mattum oru jaadhiMale: Hey, but in desire, they are just one kind!
Female :Humkum aambala pombala iru jaadhiFemale: Hmph! Men and women are two different kinds,
Male :Aehae aasaiyil mattum oru jaadhiMale: Hey, but in desire, they are just one kind!
Female
Gunathilae paadhi uruvathil paadhiHalf in nature, half in appearance,
Male
Kurangum naamum oru jaadhiMonkeys and humans belong to the same species!
Aa… aaa ee… oo… ae… ai…(Vocalizing)
Chorus
Kaadu vetti naadu kanda kaigalThe hands that cleared forests and built nations,
Engal kaigalAre our hands!
Kal pilandhu silai vaditha kaigalThe hands that split rocks and sculpted statues,
Engal kaigalAre our hands!
Paadu patta kaigal valam pera kaanbomWe shall ensure these hardworking hands achieve prosperity,
Female :Valam pera kaanbomFemale: We shall see them prosper!
Chorus
Panbizhandha pagaivarkkuTo the enemies who have lost all virtue,
Veera kanal aavom…We shall become a fiery flame of heroism...
Female :Veera kanal aavom…Female: We shall become a heroic flame...
Male
Veera kanal aavom…We shall become a fiery flame of heroism...
Female :Veera kanal aavom…Female: We shall become a heroic flame...
Male
Veera kanal aavom…We shall become a fiery flame of heroism...
Female :Veera kanal aavom…Female: We shall become a heroic flame...
Male
Veera kanal aavom…We shall become a fiery flame of heroism...
Female :Veera kanal aavom…Female: We shall become a heroic flame!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from the 1960 movie 'Veera Kanal' transitions through playful cultural expressions, humorous social banter, and ultimately a powerful rallying cry for working-class dignity and heroic resistance. It begins with women playing traditional games like Ammanai, celebrating beauty and grace through traditional metaphors of rain, flowers, and swans. The middle section introduces a lighthearted exchange about social roles, human desires, and playful teasing regarding human evolution and behavior.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Aaradi koondhal mazhai polae

Comparing six-foot long dark hair to rain falling ('mazhai polae').

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Kaalil silambu kalakalanga

'Kalakalanga' mimics the rhythmic tinkling sound produced by anklets (silambu).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Veera kanal aavom…

Describing the rising courage and strength of the working people as a heroic flame ('Veera kanal').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)

Kaadu vetti naadu kanda kaigal ... Kal pilandhu silai vaditha kaigal

Repetition of initial consonants/sounds across line beginnings ('Kaadu' / 'Kal').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Veera Kanal' (1960) featured historic Tamil cinema icon Gemini Ganesan and M. N. Nambiar. Lyricist Ambikapathi composed high-impact poetic verses blending ancient Tamil cultural games (like Ammanai) with political and social upliftment themes characteristic of mid-20th-century Dravidian cinema reformist ideology.

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