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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kurudarellam Koodi Koothadi

From Paasavalai · 1956

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
C. S. Jayaraman
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Paasavalai1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadiEven if all the ignorant blind gather, dance around, and make noise,
Kookural pottaalum podattumLet them scream if they wish to scream.
Innum thirudi porul serkkum thiranattra somberiThe unskilled sluggards who steal to accumulate wealth,
Thindaadinaalum thindaadattumLet them struggle and suffer if they suffer.
Male
Saadhi veri konda veenargal baedham paesi paesiThe useless fools filled with caste fanaticism who talk of discrimination,
Vilagi poi vaazhndhaalum vaazhattumEven if they live in isolation, let them live so.
Oru varusaikkul nilladha kalasam pol ivarellaamLike a pot that cannot stand upright in a neat row, all these people,
Thalai suttri veezhndhaalum veezhattum andhaEven if their heads spin and they fall down, let them fall, those...
Male
Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadiEven if all the ignorant blind gather, dance around, and make noise,
Kookural pottaalum podattumLet them scream if they wish to scream.
Innum thirudi porul serkkum thiranattra somberiThe unskilled sluggards who steal to accumulate wealth,
Thindaadinaalum thindaadattumLet them struggle and suffer if they suffer.
Male
Keduvaargal endraikkum keduvaarThose who cause harm will ultimately be ruined themselves;
Gunam kudi kondaar inbam thandhiduvarThose who embody good virtues will bring joy to all.
Male
Madhiyattra moodargal vazhukki vazhukki veezhndhuSenseless fools who slip and fall repeatedly in life,
Madhikkapattu ponaalum pogattum innumEven if they lose their respect and honor, let them lose it, and further,
Gadhi ketta kaaligal kaludhaigalai thottuWayward vagrants who mess with donkeys,
Udhaipattu sethaalum saagattum verumEven if they get kicked and die, let them die; like worthless...
Male
Padharaipol ulagathil payanattru thirivoorgalChaff that wanders aimlessly and uselessly in this world,
Edharkiraiyaanalum aagattum mannilWhatever prey they turn into on this earth, let it be.
Adhiga kalvi kattrum mudhukelumbattrorgalThose who lack a moral backbone despite receiving high education,
Anal pattri vendhaalum vaegattum andhaEven if caught in fire and scorched to ashes, let them burn, those...
Male
Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadiEven if all the ignorant blind gather, dance around, and make noise,
Kookural pottaalum podattumLet them scream if they wish to scream.
Innum thirudi porul serkkum thiranattra somberiThe unskilled sluggards who steal to accumulate wealth,
Thindaadinaalum thindaadattumLet them struggle and suffer if they suffer.
Male
Keduvaargal endraikkum keduvaarThose who cause harm will ultimately be ruined themselves;
Gunam kudi kondaar inbam thandhiduvarThose who embody good virtues will bring joy to all.
Male
Aazham theriyaamal kaalai vittoor moozhgiStepping into deep water without knowing its depth and drowning,
Aattrodu poravadi singi azhudhu payan ennadiAnd getting swept away by the river, oh Singi, what is the point of weeping now?
Sondha maanam thanai vittru maandhar muraikettuSelling away their own self-respect, people turn corrupt and degenerate,
Veenaaga azhivaaradi singi meelum vazhi kaanaradiThey perish in vain, oh Singi, and find no way to redeem themselves.
Male
Indha ulutharuendhanaalumEven if these rotten-hearted people exist,
Unmaigalai sonnaalumEven if you preach the truth to them,
Karunthanil kollaaradi singiThey will never take it to heart, oh Singi,
Kandapadi selvaradi mannilThey will wander recklessly as they please on this earth.
Male
Keduvaargal endraikkum keduvaarThose who cause harm will ultimately be ruined themselves;
Gunam kudi kondaar inbam thandhiduvarThose who embody good virtues will bring joy to all.
Male
Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadiEven if all the ignorant blind gather, dance around, and make noise,
Kookural pottaalum podattumLet them scream if they wish to scream.
Innum thirudi porul serkkum thiranattra somberiThe unskilled sluggards who steal to accumulate wealth,
Thindaadinaalum thindaadattumLet them struggle and suffer if they suffer.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a biting social satire composed by the legendary rationalist poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. Through sharp rhetoric, the song condemns social evils such as caste discrimination, laziness, corruption, lack of moral courage among the educated, and willful ignorance. Using metaphorical language and dramatic indifference ('let them perish'), the lyricist emphasizes that individuals who engage in unethical deeds will inevitably face ruin, while those who cultivate good moral character bring enduring happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadi

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Kurudarellam' and 'Thindaadinaalum' or 'Saadhi' and 'Oru'.

Simile (Upamai)

Padharaipol ulagathil payanattru thirivoorgal

Comparing useless, directionless people to lightweight chaff ('Padharaipol') blown around in the world.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kurudarellam koodi koothadi koothadi

Comparing ignorance to blindness ('Kurudar') to highlight people lacking moral and intellectual vision.

Anaphora / Repetition (Sol Pinvarunilai Ani)

Thindaadinaalum thindaadattum

Repetition of suffix patterns like 'podattum', 'thindaadattum', 'vaazhattum', and 'veezhattum' to emphasize dismissive fate.

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Trivia

Written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the 1956 movie 'Paasavalai', this song reflects the strong Dravidian movement ideologies of social reform, anti-casteism, and rationalism prevalent in 1950s Tamil cinema lyrics.

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