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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanjavukku Panjamillai

From Panchavarnam · 1982

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Raghuraj Chakravarthy
Details
Panchavarnam1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanchavukku panjamillae yaeiThere is no shortage of ganja, hey!
Kallil kooda bodhai illaiEven liquor doesn't give this kind of high!
Kann sivakka thammadikkalaam vaangadaaCome on guys, let's smoke until our eyes turn red!
Kai valichchaa thanthuvittu pongadaa yaei….yaei….ae…If your hands hurt, pass it along and leave, hey!
Chorus
……………...
Male
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthu correctOnly after this does true wisdom get born, correct!
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Male
Kudikkalaamaa kulirntha panangalluShall we drink cold palm toddy?
Aang kudikkalaamaa kulirntha panangalluYeah, shall we drink cold palm toddy?
Bodhai koodumaddaa odi vanthuWill the intoxication rise? Run and come...
Sollu sollu sollu sollu solluTell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!
Male
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Male
Kadikkalaama karuvaattu mandaShall we bite a piece of dry fish head?
Kadikkalaama karuvaattu mandaShall we bite a piece of dry fish head?
Konjam kalakkalodu izhukkalaamaaShall we take a puff with a bit of excitement?
Kondaa kondaa kondaaBring it, bring it, bring it!
Chorus
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Male
Kaadi kanji kaachchi vachchiBrewing sour rice gruel...
Karuvaadu konjam suttu vachchaaAnd roasting a piece of dry fish...
Amma kaadi kanji kaachchi vachchiOh mother, brewing sour rice gruel...
Karuvaadu konjam suttu vachchaaAnd roasting a piece of dry fish...
Male
Kanji thanni kudikkum munnaeBefore drinking the rice gruel water,
Kanjaa konjam adikka vanthaenI came to smoke a bit of ganja!
Kanji thanni kudikkum munnaeBefore drinking the rice gruel water,
Kanjaa konjam adikka vanthaenI came to smoke a bit of ganja!
Chorus
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Male :AiyyoMale: Oh dear!
Chorus :Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuChorus: Only after this does true wisdom get born.
Male
Arisi kuththi madiyil vachchiPounding rice and carrying it in the fold of her dress,
Aavaarampoo pottu vachchiAdorning herself with Tanner's Cassia flowers,
Arisi kuththi madiyil vachchiPounding rice and carrying it in the fold of her dress,
Aavaarampoo pottu vachchiAdorning herself with Tanner's Cassia flowers,
Male
Sorugu kondai pottukittuTying her hair in a tucked bun,
Soru kondu poraa paaruLook, she is carrying food and walking away!
Sorugu kondai pottukittuTying her hair in a tucked bun,
Soru kondu poraa paaruLook, she is carrying food and walking away!
Chorus
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Male
Kaara veettu thinna melaeOn the verandah of a brick house,
Karukku manjal araikka ponaenI went to grind raw turmeric...
Kaara veettu thinna melaeOn the verandah of a brick house,
Karukku manjal araikka ponaenI went to grind raw turmeric...
Male
Entha paiya kannu pattoWhose boy's evil eye fell on me,
Izhuththu araikka mudiyalaI couldn't pull and grind it at all!
Entha paiya kannu pattoWhose boy's evil eye fell on me,
Izhuththu araikka mudiyalaI couldn't pull and grind it at all!
Male
Maruthaiyilae kurutha vaangiBuying a tender leaf in Madurai...
Male :Dei ennadaaMale: Hey, what is that?
Male :Aang….madhuraiyilae kudhirai vaangiMale: Ah... buying a horse in Madurai,
Malligaippoo laadam kattiFitting horseshoes made of delicate jasmine flowers,
Male
Kondu vanthaen yaerungadaaI brought it, climb on it, guys,
Kovaeri kazhuthaigalaaYou stubborn mules!
Kondu vanthaen yaerungadaaI brought it, climb on it, guys,
Kovaeri kazhuthaigalaaYou stubborn mules!
Chorus
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.
Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthuOnly when you take a deep drag does the world feel sweet.
Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthuOnly after this does true wisdom get born.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical folk-style track from the movie Panchavarnam (1982). sung with full energy by Malaysia Vasudevan. The lyrics humorously contrast spiritual enlightenment (nyaanam) with the mind-altering trance of smoking ganja and drinking palm toddy. The protagonist and his group wander through rural scenarios, enjoying dried fish, rice water, turmeric grinding, and vivid surreal rural imagery. Written by Na. Kamarasan, the track uses colloquial folk storytelling and playful banter to deliver a lighthearted satire on addiction, rural eccentricities, and human folly, backed by vibrant rhythmic arrangements by Raghuraj Chakravarthy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Irony

Idhukku piraguthaan nyaanam porakkuthu

Juxtaposing spiritual wisdom ('nyaanam') with the intoxication of smoking ganja and drinking toddy.

Reduplication / Adukku Thodar

Izhukka izhukkathaan ulgam inikkuthu

Repetition of words for rhythmic emphasis and urgency.

Paronomasia / Internal Rhyme (Edugai / Monai)

Kanji thanni kudikkum munnae / Kanjaa konjam adikka vanthaen

Phonetic similarity between 'Kanji' (rice water) and 'Kanjaa' (marijuana).

Surreal Imagery / Hyperbole

Malligaippoo laadam katti

Absurdly describing shoeing a horse with delicate jasmine flowers instead of iron.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by poet Na. Kamarasan, who was known for blending classical literary tropes with contemporary folk and surreal humor. Sung by Malaysia Vasudevan, whose raw, expressive voice was ideal for rustic, high-energy tracks in 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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