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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Little India

From Enemy · 2021

Lyricist
Arivu
Singers
Sarath Santosh, Arivu
Music director
S. S. Thaman
Movie name
Enemy
Movie release year
2021
Lyrics added on
3 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kootaali vaala munna
Kacheri polaam pinna
Athaadi naala pakkam
Namma jenam podum gummaalam
Kattadam vaanam mutta
Kattunom verva sotta
Pattanam undakki dhaan
Vechom inga ellorum vaazha
Heyy eppovo vandhom inga
Ethana sondham anga
Suthura bhoomikkudhaan
Sakkaratha senjom kaiyaala…
Hey akkara seemaiyila
Nikkira kappal pola
Ethana thunbam thandi
Vandhom indha manna ponnakka
Yelaa povom vaala
Vaa pangali nee singaikkara
Yelaa povom vaala
Nee step ah podu semma style ah
Kootaali vaala munna
Kacheri polaam pinna
Athaadi naala pakkam
Namma jenam podum gummaalam
Singapooriyan vandhu
Seenaga nirkindra sooriyan
Indha seemai kattikkatha kalaiyan
Thanga thaerodum veethiku
Verivan sollisai paduven
Macha nee kelu kelu engal sirappu
Singapooru thamizh makkal valarppu
Onna serum bothu perum neruppu…
Looking modernity
Machi kannai kavarnthitta thamizhachi
Mannin sarithiram thondi paru machi
Minnum natchathirangalin ooru
Pangali mela mela mela yaeru
Konadu mela thaalam vechu aadu
Yennaalum marakkathu
Solli kudutha panpaadu
Railodum paadhaikkellaam
Veiyiloda uzhachchom
Kudiyerum nattukuthaan
Kuralaga olichom
Uravoda vaazhum edam
Azhagana ulagam
Varungalam marakkathae
Velakethi vanangum…
Hey eppovo vandhom inga
Ethana sondham anga
Suthura bhoomikku dhaan
Sakkaratha senjom kaiyaala
Hey akkara seemiyila
Nikkira kappal pola
Ethana thunbam thandi
Vandhom indha manna ponnakka
Yelaa povom vaala
Vaa pangali nee singaikkara
Yelaa povom vaala
Nee step ah podu semma style ah….
Come to the front, my friend!
We can hit the concert after!
Oh boy, on all four sides,
Our people are celebrating with joy!
Reaching up to touch the sky,
We built these towers with our sweat!
We built this whole city
So everyone could live well here!
Hey, we arrived here long ago,
Leaving so many loved ones back home.
For this spinning earth of ours,
We crafted the wheels with our own hands!
Hey, in this land across the sea,
Standing tall like anchored ships,
Overcoming countless struggles,
We came to turn this soil into gold!
Hey buddy, let's go, come along!
Come on brother, you are a Singaporean!
Hey buddy, let's go, come along!
Show your dance moves in pure style!
Come to the front, my friend!
We can hit the concert after!
Oh boy, on all four sides,
Our people are celebrating with joy!
Here comes the Singaporean,
Standing bright like the shining sun!
The creator who built and protected this land!
For these streets where golden chariots roll,
I will passionately sing my rap verses!
Brother, listen to our pride and glory!
Raised strong as Singapore Tamils,
When we unite, we are a roaring fire!
Looking sharp and modern,
She's a Tamil girl who caught my eye!
Brother, dig into the history of this land,
This is a place of shining stars!
Brother, keep climbing higher and higher!
Celebrate and dance to the beat of the drums!
We will never ever forget
The rich culture handed down to us!
For every path the trains run on,
We toiled under the blazing sun!
For this country where we settled,
We rang out as its powerful voice!
A place where we live with our loved ones
Is truly a beautiful world!
The future will never forget us,
It will light a lamp and honour our name!
Hey, we arrived here long ago,
Leaving so many loved ones back home.
For this spinning earth of ours,
We crafted the wheels with our own hands!
Hey, in this land across the sea,
Standing tall like anchored ships,
Overcoming countless struggles,
We came to turn this soil into gold!
Hey buddy, let's go, come along!
Come on brother, you are a Singaporean!
Hey buddy, let's go, come along!
Show your dance moves in pure style!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This high-energy track from the movie 'Enemy' (2021) celebrates the history, resilience, hard work, and vibrant culture of the Tamil diaspora in Singapore. Written and performed by Arivu alongside Sarath Santosh with music by S. S. Thaman, the song pays homage to early Tamil migrants who labored in extreme heat to build Singapore's infrastructure, from railway lines to soaring skyscrapers, transforming the land into a prosperous global metropolis. Beyond honoring physical labor and historical legacy, the song acts as a joyful anthem of community pride and cultural preservation. It highlights how the diaspora maintains its traditional Tamil heritage and values while thriving in a modern, cosmopolitan setting, urging listeners to celebrate their identity with style, unity, and pride.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kattadam vaanam mutta / Kattunom verva sotta / Pattanam undakki dhaan”

Matching of the second consonant sound across lines ('tta' in Kattadam, Kattunom, Pattanam), creating poetic rhythm.

Metaphor

“Onna serum bothu perum neruppu…”

Comparing the unity of the community directly to a massive fire ('perum neruppu') to emphasize strength and passion.

Simile

“Nikkira kappal pola”

Using 'pola' (like) to compare their steadfast presence in a distant land to a grand ship standing tall.

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Seenaga nirkindra sooriyan”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('S' sound in Seenaga, Sooriyan) for melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song specifically highlights the historical connection between Tamil migrants and the modern development of Singapore. Lyricist-singer Arivu, known for weaving working-class history and diaspora pride into mainstream Tamil cinema and independent hip-hop, crafted this song to blend global urban rap sensibilities with traditional Tamil rhythmic celebration.

Keep listening

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