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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kandi Kadhirkamam

From Arasilangkumari · 1961

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Arasilangkumari1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kandi kadhirkaamam yenjuppaiyaaO Lord of Kandy and Kathirkamam, my dear sir!
Kazhughumalai pazhanimalaiKazhugumalai and Palani hill,
Kaal nadaiyaa pogha venumI must journey by foot,
En kandhaa em murughaaMy Kandha, my Muruga,
En velaa en kumaraa aa…My Velan, my Kumara...
Subramaniyaa aarumughaaSubramanya, six-faced Lord,
Nee kan thorandhu paarthidaiyaaWon't you open your eyes and look at me?
Male
Ettu jaan kuchikkullae kandhaiyaaInside this hut measuring just eight hand-spans, O Kandha,
Eththanai naal iruppenHow many more days will I remain?
Ettu jaan kuchikkullae kandhaiyaaInside this hut measuring just eight hand-spans, O Kandha,
Eththanai naal iruppenHow many more days will I remain?
Male
Oru machuveedu katti thaarungaanumPlease build and give me a double-storied house,
Uchi malaiyin melonaeO Lord who resides atop the mountain peak!
Oru machuveedu katti thaarungaanumPlease build and give me a double-storied house,
Uchi malaiyin melonaeO Lord who resides atop the mountain peak!
Male
Sattiyil serthadhellaamWhatever I have saved in my earthen pot,
Kandhaa un sannadhi serthiduvenO Kandha, I will offer at your sanctuary,
Sattiyil serthadhellaamWhatever I have saved in my earthen pot,
Kandhaa un sannadhi serthiduvenO Kandha, I will offer at your sanctuary.
Male
Mottai aandi onnaiYou, the bald mendicant beggar,
Muzhusaavae namburenI believe in you completely,
Motchamum thandhidappaaPlease grant me salvation as well, dear father!
Ada mottai aandi onnaiHey, you bald mendicant beggar,
Muzhusaavae namburenI believe in you completely,
Motchamum thandhidappaaPlease grant me salvation as well, dear father!
Male
Theeraadha vinaigal ellaamAll unrelenting sins of past karma,
Theerthu vaippaar govindhaaGovindha will resolve them,
Maaraadha manasai ellaamAll stubborn and unyielding minds,
Maathi vaippaar govindhaaGovindha will transform them,
Male
Pattai naamam kandaalUpon seeing the Vaishnavite forehead mark,
Pasi theerppaar govindhaaGovindha will satisfy your hunger,
Un kattai kadai thaeraFor your mortal frame to achieve redemption,
Kai koduppaar govindhaaGovindha will lend a helping hand.
Male
Govindham govindhamGovindha, Govindha,
Koduthaa punniyam govindhamGiving alms yields spiritual merit, Govindha!
Raghuraamaa raghuraamaaRaghurama, Raghurama,
Nadutheruvil ennai vidalaamaaCan you leave me stranded in the middle of the street?
Male
Ada paavigalae paavigalaeOh sinners, sinners,
Paarthuttu summaa poreengalaeYou just watch and walk past indifferently!
Govindham govindhamGovindha, Govindha,
Kovappadaadhae govindhamDo not get angry, Govindha!
Male
Maanaagi mayilaagiBecoming a deer, becoming a peacock,
Maanaagi mayilaagiBecoming a deer, becoming a peacock,
Naanaagi neeyaagi vadivaagiBecoming myself, becoming yourself, taking form,
Vandha vadivae ae aeO divine manifestation that came forth,
Male
Pennaagi aanaagiBecoming woman, becoming man,
Pechaagi moochaagiBecoming speech, becoming breath,
Adae yappaaOh goodness me!
Pennaagi aanaagiBecoming woman, becoming man,
Pechaagi moochaagiBecoming speech, becoming breath,
Male
Kannaalae kollum kannaeO my dear, who slays with a single glance,
Kannaalae kollum kannaeO my dear, who slays with a single glance,
Kannae kannae kannae kannaeMy dear, my dear, my dear, my dear,
Kannae udambai nambaadhaeMy dear, do not trust this physical body,
Kannae udambai nambaadhaeMy dear, do not trust this physical body!
Male
Udambai uyir pirindha pinnaeOnce life departs from the human body,
Idhu ondrukkum udhavaadha mannaeIt is nothing but useless mud,
Udambai nambaadhae kannaeDo not trust the body, my dear,
Udambai nambaadhaeDo not trust the body!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a blend of devotion, philosophical reflection, and satirical social commentary rendered in street-performer style. The singer begins by calling out to Lord Murugan, complaining humorously about living in a tiny hut ('ettu jaan kuchi') and bargaining for a storied house in return for offering savings from a small pot. The song then shifts seamlessly to invoking Lord Govindha and Raghurama, highlighting the virtues of charity, divine resolution of sins, and the indifference of passersby to those in distress. In the final section, the lyrics transition into a deep philosophical discourse on impermanence. Calling out divine omnipresence across forms (man, woman, speech, breath, animal), the singer warns against attaching oneself to the temporary physical body, which ultimately turns into useless clay once life leaves it. Written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the verse blends popular folk worship with Siddhar-like wisdom on body impermanence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Eghai (Rhyme & Alliteration)

Theeraadha vinaigal ellaam / Maaraadha manasai ellaam

Initial sound matching across consecutive phrases or line-beginnings, such as 'Theeraadha' / 'Maaraadha' / 'Pattai' / 'Un kattai'.

Metaphor / Philosophical Imagery

Udambai uyir pirindha pinnae / Idhu ondrukkum udhavaadha mannae

'Ettu jaan kuchi' (an eight hand-span hut) and 'Idhu ondrukkum udhavaadha mannae' (useless earth) metaphorically represent the mortal body and its temporary, fragile nature.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Pennaagi aanaagi / Pechaagi moochaagi

Repetition of terms like 'Maanaagi mayilaagi', 'Pennaagi aanaagi', 'Pechaagi moochaagi' creates rhythm and emphasizes omnipresence.

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Trivia

Arasilangkumari (1961) starred M. G. Ramachandran, P. S. Veerappa, and Padmini. The film's music score was composed by G. Ramanathan. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for blending philosophical principles of Siddhar poetry with common folk dialect, accessible to everyday cinema audiences.

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