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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannil Theriyum Vaanam

From Angadi Theru · 2010

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Angadi Theru2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannil theriyum vaanamThe sky that is visible to the eyes
Kaiyil varaatha..ohooo…Does not reach our hands... ohooo...
Pullum pundum vaaazhum ulagamIn a world where even grass and weeds manage to survive
Ingu neeyum vaazha vazhi illaiyaIs there no way for you to live here?
Male
Bhoomiyil yezhaigalin jananamThe birth of poor people on this earth
Adhu kadavul seitha pizhai illaiyaIs that not a mistake committed by God?
Idhu miga kodumaiThis is immensely cruel
Ilamaiyil varumaiPoverty during youth
Male
Pasi thaan miga periya mirugamHunger is indeed the biggest beast
Chorus :AdhaiChorus : That
Male :Adakkida vazhigal ingillaiyaMale : Are there no ways to subdue it here?
Kanneer thuligalin aazhamThe depth of teardrops
Chorus :AdhuChorus : That
Male :Kadalai vidavum perithillaiyaMale : Isn't it vast, even larger than the ocean?
Idhu marumaa..ohooo….oooooWill this ever change.. ohooo.... oooo
Chorus
………………………………….
Male
Ethaiyum virkkum endhira ulagamA mechanical world that sells everything
Ellaam ingae unduEverything exists here
Manithan mattum thedi paarthumYet even if you search for true humanity
Engum illaiIt is nowhere to be found
Male
Kannum kaadhum kaiyum kaalumWithout eyes, ears, hands, or legs
Illaa manithar unduThere are humans who exist
Vaayum vayirum illaaWithout a mouth and a stomach
Manithar eppavum illaiThere is never a human being
Male
:Manithan engum kannin vidhaiHuman tear-seeds are everywhere
Allith thoova kann vendumWe need eyes of compassion to see and scatter hope
Varum kaalathil varumai illaaIn the coming future, a world without poverty
Ulagam vendum…ooooo……..Is what we need... ooooo....
Male
Pullum poondum vaazhum ulagam..In a world where grass and weeds manage to survive..
Inge neeyum vaazha vazhi illaiya…Is there no way for you to live here...
Bhoomiyil yezhaigalin jananamThe birth of poor people on this earth
Adhu kadavul seitha pizhai illaiyaIs that not a mistake committed by God?
Idhu miga kodumaiThis is immensely cruel
Ilamaiyil varumaiPoverty during youth
Male
Pasi thaan miga periya mirugamHunger is indeed the biggest beast
Chorus :AdhaiChorus : That
Male :Adakkida vazhigal ingillaiyaMale : Are there no ways to subdue it here?
Kanneer thuligalin aazhamThe depth of teardrops
Chorus :AdhuChorus : That
Male :Kadalai vidavum perithillaiyaMale : Isn't it vast, even larger than the ocean?
Idhu marumaa..ohooo….oooooWill this ever change.. ohooo.... oooo
Aaahaaa….aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa…Aaahaaa.... aaaaa..... aaaaa.... aaa...
Chorus
………………………………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kannil Theriyum Vaanam' from the movie Angadi Theru (2010) is a poignant lament on poverty, social inequality, and child labor. It portrays the painful reality of young workers who labor in commercial hubs, surrounded by material abundance yet denied basic human dignity and livelihood. The lyrics question divine justice, asking why God allows severe poverty in youth while even wild weeds find a place to survive. Na. Muthukumar's lyrics highlight how hunger acts as the most ruthless beast in human life and how a commercialized 'machine world' offers everything except empathy and humanity. The song ends on a hopeful note, calling for human compassion to build a future world devoid of poverty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Pasi thaan miga periya mirugam

Hunger is explicitly compared to a ferocious, uncontrollable beast ('mirugam').

Hyperbole

Kanneer thuligalin aazham kadalai vidavum perithillaiya

Exaggerates the depth of a poor person's tears as being vast and deeper than an entire ocean to emphasize grief.

Rhetorical Question

Adhu kadavul seitha pizhai illaiya

Asks whether poverty is a mistake made by God, not to get an answer, but to provoke deep moral reflection.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil)

Adakkida vazhigal ingillaiya / Kadalai vidavum perithillaiya

Rhyming of the second letter 'da' in 'Adakkida' and 'Kadalai' across lines.

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Trivia

Angadi Theru (2010), directed by Vasanthabalan, realisticly depicted the harsh living conditions of textile shop workers on Ranganathan Street, Chennai. The film's musical score was composed jointly by Vijay Antony and G. V. Prakash Kumar; this specific emotional track was composed by Vijay Antony with lyrics written by Na. Muthukumar.

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