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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanangkuruvi Kaattuppuraa

From Raja Desingu · 1960

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Raja Desingu1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Kaanaang kuruviA forest bird,
Female
Kaattu puraaA wild pigeon,
Male
VaanampaadiA skylark,
Female
VakkadhaaraaA heron/crane,
Male
Aattathodu paadum paravaiBirds that sing along with dance,
VandhirukkudhungaHave arrived, respected folks!
Idho vandhirukkudhungaLook, they have arrived here!
Male
Aattathodu paadum paravaiBirds that sing along with dance,
VandhirukkudhungaHave arrived, respected folks!
Idho vandhirukkudhungaLook, they have arrived here!
Female
Nottam paarthu pudichudhunnaaIf you examine carefully and like what you see,
Vilaiyai kaelungaAsk for the price.
Nottam paarthu pudichudhunnaaIf you examine carefully and like what you see,
Vilaiyai kaelungaAsk for the price.
Male
Oorodu ulagam kettu pochuThe world along with society has gone corrupt,
Female
Aamaa yosichaa vaangudhu moochuYes, thinking about it leaves one breathless!
Aamaa yosichaa vaangudhu moochuYes, thinking about it leaves one breathless!
Male
Avaravar naattil aayiram thollaiEveryone has a thousand troubles in their own land,
Gavanikka naeram illaiThere is no time to even attend to them.
Avaravar naattil aayiram thollaiEveryone has a thousand troubles in their own land,
Gavanikka naeram illaiThere is no time to even attend to them.
Female
Aduthavan ellai kottilae sallaiCreating disturbance within someone else's boundary,
Koduppadhu sariyae illaiIs not at all the right thing to do.
Aduthavan ellai kottilae sallaiCreating disturbance within someone else's boundary,
Koduppadhu sariyae illaiIs not at all the right thing to do.
Male
Evarkkum avaravar idanthaan madhippuFor anyone, respect exists in their own proper place;
Idam maarinaal avamadhippuIf the place changes, it leads to disrespect.
Male
Oorodu ulagam kettu pochuThe world along with society has gone corrupt,
Female
AamaaYes,
Female
AamaaYes,
Female
AamaaYes!
Male
Udaiyavar thamakku nelathilae velanjadhaiWhat grows on the land belonging to the landlord,
Uzhubavar olikkappadaadhuMust not be hidden away by the farmer.
Udaiyavar thamakku nelathilae velanjadhaiWhat grows on the land belonging to the landlord,
Uzhubavar olikkappadaadhuMust not be hidden away by the farmer.
Female
Uzhubavar thammai udaiyavar merattiThreatening the working farmer,
Velachalai parikka koodaadhuThe landlord should not snatch away the harvest.
Uzhubavar thammai udaiyavar merattiThreatening the working farmer,
Velachalai parikka koodaadhuThe landlord should not snatch away the harvest.
Male
Kadamaiyil yaarum thavarappadaadhuNo one should fail in performing their duty,
Vedachaa ini nadakkaadhuDeceitful tricks will no longer work!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Raja Desingu (1960) uses the guise of street performers or vendors showing birds to deliver a sharp socio-political satire written by Udumalai Narayanakavi. Beneath the simple facade of describing singing and dancing birds, the lyricist addresses contemporary societal ills, cross-border interference, and economic inequality between landowners and tillers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory (Uvamaanam)

Kaanaang kuruvi Kaattu puraa

The song uses birds (Kaanaang kuruvi, Kaattu puraa, Vaanampaadi) as metaphors for human types and social themes.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Udaiyavar thamakku... / Uzhubavar olikkappadaadhu

Rhyming second letters in 'kettu' and 'vaangudhu' or 'Udaiyavar' and 'Uzhubavar'.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaanaang kuruvi / Kaattu puraa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ka' in 'Kaanaang' and 'Kaattu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Udumalai Narayanakavi, popularly known as 'Kavirayar', was famous for embedding rationalist ideas, social reform themes, and sharp political commentary into historical and mythological films like Raja Desingu.

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