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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karuppu Kudaiyin

From Orey Vazhi · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, Chorus
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Movie name
Orey Vazhi
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karuppu kudaiyin keezhae
Kanyamudan arasaalum
Kavalan bangaaru
Chorus :Vaazhga
Male :Kannalae endha oru pennaiyum paaradha
Kalikaala beeshman naan
Chorus :Vaazhga
Male :Pazhamaiyai thagarthu pudhu nilaimaiyai
Bodhikkum pagutharivaalan naan
Chorus :Vaazhga vaazhga vaazhga
Hahahaaha …appadiya
Seri ungal kuraigalai sollungal
Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum kooda
Yendaannnu kepparillae
Chorus :Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum kooda
Yendaannnu kepparillae
Enga pullakutti ezhu naala saapidavillae
Pattaadai naeithu vittu katta aadai illaama
Pattiniyaa kidappadhu naanga
Pattaadai naeithu vittu katta aadai illaama
Pattiniyaa kidappadhu naanga
Male :Engalai panjaiyaai nenaikkiradhu neenga
Chorus :Engalai panjaiyaai nenaikkiradhu neenga
Vaazha pirandha naadu
Vaazha pirandha naadu
Ippo kozhaithanamaai pochae..ae
Varumai naale pengal
Thanmanathaiyae vittru
Iravu raanigal aaga engum thiriyalaachae…
Thiriyalaachae… thiriyalaachae…
Karba thadai seiyalaamna oosi poda kaasu illa
Karba thadai seiyalaamna oosi poda kaasu illa
Governmentu hospathiriyil osi padukka kedaikkala
Governmentu hospathiriyil osi padukka kedaikkala
Operation seiya ..office permission kodukkala
Operation seiya ..office permission kodukkala
Vayasu aruvathu aayum manasa adakka mudiyala
Vayasu aruvathu aayum manasa adakka mudiyala
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indha
Varumaikku kaaranam sollu
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indha
Varumaikku kaaranam sollu
Vattraadha jeevanadhi paaindhodum thennaadu
Valangundra kaaranam sollu
Vattraadha jeevanadhi paaindhodum thennaadu
Valangundra kaaranam sollu
Paalaivanam solaivanamaaagiyum naatilae
Pasi vandha kaaranam sollu
Pala kodi nottugal achadithum kooda
Pana kastam vandhadhen sollu
Cinemaavil pochaa cellarichu pocha
Cinemaavil pochaa cellarichu pocha
Varumaithanai ottidavae vazhiyonnu sollu
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indha
Varumaikku kaaranam sollu
Nee sollu karanam sollu
Kalum yaeri kidaikkindra kaasu panamgalellam
Karaindhaal thaanae varumai theerum theerum ..oho
Kalum yaeri kidaikkindra kaasu panamgalellam
Karaindhaal thaanae varumai theerum theerum
Appo kattaayamaaga naanum engappa pettikku
Kadapaarai poda poren paarum paarum
Ippo kadapaarai poda poren paarum paarum
Under a black umbrella,
Ruling with honor and dignity,
Bangaru, the protector!
Chorus: Long live!
Male: Never casting his eyes upon any woman,
I am the Bhishma of this modern age!
Chorus: Long live!
Male: Shattering old traditions and teaching new truths,
I am a rationalist!
Chorus: Long live! Long live! Long live!
Hahaha... is that so?
Alright, tell me your grievances!
Tossed back and forth like a weaver's shuttle as we suffer,
There is no one to ask about our plight.
Chorus: Tossed back and forth like a weaver's shuttle as we suffer,
There is no one to ask about our plight.
Our children haven't eaten for seven days.
After weaving fine silk clothes, with nothing to wear ourselves,
We are the ones starving.
After weaving fine silk clothes, with nothing to wear ourselves,
We are the ones starving.
Male: You are the ones who look down on us as beggars!
Chorus: You are the ones who look down on us as beggars!
A land born to thrive,
A land born to thrive,
Has now turned cowardly and helpless!
Driven by poverty, women,
Selling off their self-respect,
Have begun wandering everywhere as queens of the night...
Wandering about... wandering about...
If we want birth control, there is no money for an injection.
If we want birth control, there is no money for an injection.
In the government hospital, a free bed is nowhere to be found.
In the government hospital, a free bed is nowhere to be found.
To get an operation done, the office will not give permission.
To get an operation done, the office will not give permission.
Even at sixty years of age, the mind cannot be restrained.
Even at sixty years of age, the mind cannot be restrained.
Hey cheeky fellow, you arrogant smart-aleck,
Tell us the reason for this poverty!
Hey cheeky fellow, you arrogant smart-aleck,
Tell us the reason for this poverty!
In this southern land where perennial rivers flow,
Tell us why its wealth has withered!
In this southern land where perennial rivers flow,
Tell us why its wealth has withered!
Even after deserts turned into fertile gardens in this land,
Tell us why hunger has struck!
Even after printing millions of currency notes,
Tell us why money troubles still persist!
Did it all disappear into cinema, or get eaten away by termites?
Did it all disappear into cinema, or get eaten away by termites?
Tell us a way to drive this poverty away!
Hey cheeky fellow, you arrogant smart-aleck,
Tell us the reason for this poverty!
You tell us, tell us the reason!
All that hoarded wealth lying locked away like stone—
Only if it is spent and circulated will poverty end, oh yes!
All that hoarded wealth lying locked away like stone—
Only if it is spent and circulated will poverty end!
In that case, I will certainly take to my father's cash chest
And break it open with a crowbar, just you watch!
Right now I'm going to break it open with a crowbar, just you watch!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical track from 'Orey Vazhi' (1959) highlights socio-economic distress, poverty, and political hypocrisy. The protagonist introduces himself with exaggerated self-praise as a modern Bhishma and rationalist, prompting common working-class people to share their plight. Weavers express how they weave luxurious silk for others while suffering without clothes or food themselves. Women are forced into prostitution due to dire poverty, and family planning efforts fail because public healthcare lacks beds and resources.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum kooda

Compares the continuous distress of working-class people to the back-and-forth movement of a weaver's shuttle ('Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum').

Metaphor / Mythological Allusion

Kalikaala beeshman naan

The speaker refers to himself as the 'Bhishma of Kali Yuga' to claim ultimate self-control and celibacy.

Irony / Contrast

Pattaadai naeithu vittu katta aadai illaama

Highlights the irony of weavers who produce luxurious silk garments ('Pattaadai naeithu') yet go without basic clothing and suffer in hunger.

Emona / Rhyme (Monai)

Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indha

Initial rhyming/alliteration of letters like 'Vaalu vaalu' and 'Varumaikku' across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, known for introducing sharp socio-political satire into movie songs during the golden era of Tamil cinema. The song reflects Dravidian movement themes such as rationalism, criticism of administrative red tape, and public health access.

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