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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
Details
Orey Vazhi1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karuppu kudaiyin keezhaeUnder the black umbrella
Kanyamudan arasaalumRuling with dignity
Kavalan bangaaruProtector Bangaaru
Chorus :VaazhgaChorus: Long live!
Male :Kannalae endha oru pennaiyum paaradhaMale: Never looking at any woman with lustful eyes
Kalikaala beeshman naanI am the Bhishma of this Kali Yuga
Chorus :VaazhgaChorus: Long live!
Male :Pazhamaiyai thagarthu pudhu nilaimaiyaiMale: Shattering traditions and teaching new ways
Bodhikkum pagutharivaalan naanI am a rationalist
Chorus :Vaazhga vaazhga vaazhgaChorus: Long live, long live, long live!
Male
Hahahaaha …appadiyaHahaha... Is that so?
Seri ungal kuraigalai sollungalAlright, tell me your grievances.
Male
Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum koodaEven as we suffer like a weaver's shuttle
Yendaannnu kepparillaeNo one comes to ask why.
Chorus :Thari naadavai pol naanga paadapadum koodaChorus: Even as we suffer like a weaver's shuttle
Yendaannnu kepparillaeNo one comes to ask why.
Enga pullakutti ezhu naala saapidavillaeOur children haven't eaten for seven days.
Pattaadai naeithu vittu katta aadai illaamaAfter weaving fine silk garments, without basic cloth to wear
Pattiniyaa kidappadhu naangaWe are starving here.
Pattaadai naeithu vittu katta aadai illaamaAfter weaving fine silk garments, without basic cloth to wear
Pattiniyaa kidappadhu naangaWe are starving here.
Male :Engalai panjaiyaai nenaikkiradhu neengaMale: You regard us as mere helpless destitute folk.
Chorus :Engalai panjaiyaai nenaikkiradhu neengaChorus: You regard us as mere helpless destitute folk.
Male
Vaazha pirandha naaduA land born to thrive and flourish
Vaazha pirandha naaduA land born to thrive and flourish
Ippo kozhaithanamaai pochae..aeHas now succumbed to cowardice... oh!
Varumai naale pengalBecause of extreme poverty, women
Thanmanathaiyae vittruSacrificing their dignity and self-respect
Iravu raanigal aaga engum thiriyalaachae…Have turned into night queens, roaming everywhere...
Thiriyalaachae… thiriyalaachae…Roaming everywhere... roaming everywhere...
Male
Karba thadai seiyalaamna oosi poda kaasu illaTo adopt contraception, there is no money for injections
Karba thadai seiyalaamna oosi poda kaasu illaTo adopt contraception, there is no money for injections
Governmentu hospathiriyil osi padukka kedaikkalaFree beds are not available in government hospitals
Governmentu hospathiriyil osi padukka kedaikkalaFree beds are not available in government hospitals
Operation seiya ..office permission kodukkalaOffice permission wasn't granted to undergo the surgery
Operation seiya ..office permission kodukkalaOffice permission wasn't granted to undergo the surgery
Vayasu aruvathu aayum manasa adakka mudiyalaEven at sixty years of age, unable to control bodily desires
Vayasu aruvathu aayum manasa adakka mudiyalaEven at sixty years of age, unable to control bodily desires
Male
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indhaHey smart tail, firebrand tail, tell me
Varumaikku kaaranam solluTell me the cause behind this poverty!
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indhaHey smart tail, firebrand tail, tell me
Varumaikku kaaranam solluTell me the cause behind this poverty!
Vattraadha jeevanadhi paaindhodum thennaaduIn the southern land where perennial rivers flow continuously
Valangundra kaaranam solluTell me why prosperity is diminishing!
Vattraadha jeevanadhi paaindhodum thennaaduIn the southern land where perennial rivers flow continuously
Valangundra kaaranam solluTell me why prosperity is diminishing!
Paalaivanam solaivanamaaagiyum naatilaeEven though deserts turned into lush oases in the land
Pasi vandha kaaranam solluTell me the reason why hunger still strikes!
Pala kodi nottugal achadithum koodaEven after printing crores of currency notes
Pana kastam vandhadhen solluTell me why financial hardships still persist!
Male
Cinemaavil pochaa cellarichu pochaDid it go into cinema, or did termites destroy it?
Cinemaavil pochaa cellarichu pochaDid it go into cinema, or did termites destroy it?
Varumaithanai ottidavae vazhiyonnu solluTell us a way to banish poverty completely!
Vaalu vaalu koluthavaalu vaalu indhaHey smart tail, firebrand tail, tell me
Varumaikku kaaranam solluTell me the cause behind this poverty!
Nee sollu karanam solluYou tell me, tell me the cause!
Male
Kalum yaeri kidaikkindra kaasu panamgalellamOnly when the money hoarded in black vaults
Karaindhaal thaanae varumai theerum theerum ..ohoIs dissolved and distributed, poverty will end, oh ho!
Kalum yaeri kidaikkindra kaasu panamgalellamOnly when the money hoarded in black vaults
Karaindhaal thaanae varumai theerum theerumIs dissolved and distributed, poverty will end!
Appo kattaayamaaga naanum engappa pettikkuThen I will surely go break open my father's safe box
Kadapaarai poda poren paarum paarumUsing a crowbar, just wait and watch!
Ippo kadapaarai poda poren paarum paarumNow I am going to use a crowbar, just wait and watch!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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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