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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalaiyittom Pongalittom

From Kaalam Vellum · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Kaalam Vellum1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maalaiyittom pongalyittomWe offered garlands and prepared sweet pongal
Manasaara poojaiyittomWe worshipped wholeheartedly
Maalaiyittom pongalyittomWe offered garlands and prepared sweet pongal
Manasaara poojaiyittomWe worshipped wholeheartedly
Kaaval thara vendumadi gangaiyammaO Mother Gangai, you must grant us protection
Engal kaalam vella vendumadi gangaiyammaO Mother Gangai, our time must triumph
Male
Devi unnai paarkka thedi varum bothuWhen we come searching to see you, Goddess
Thirayai pottu maraikkuraaru poosaariThe priest puts up a curtain and hides you
Nee kodutha boomi vilanju varum bothuWhen the land given by you yields a harvest
Yeghabogam pannuraaru aasaamiThat powerful fellow enjoys total luxury
Nee kodutha boomi vilanju varum bothuWhen the land given by you yields a harvest
Yeghabogam pannuraaru aasaamiThat powerful fellow enjoys total luxury
Female
Avan nelathukaranaamThey say he owns the land
Rombha balathukaranaamThey say he is very influential and strong
Avan nelathukaranaamThey say he owns the land
Rombha balathukaranaamThey say he is very influential and strong
Nee ninaichiyinna avanumippoIf you had willed it, would he
PozhaichirupaanaHave survived until now?
Nee ninaichiyinna avanumippoIf you had willed it, would he
PozhaichirupaanaHave survived until now?
Male
Maalaiyittom pongalyittomWe offered garlands and prepared sweet pongal
Manasaara poojaiyittomWe worshipped wholeheartedly
Male
Vettai naaigaloru kaattu muyalaiyaeA pack of hunting dogs is chasing a wild rabbit
Virattudhu gangaiyamma ammaIt is chasing, O Mother Gangai, Mother
Virattudhu gangaiyammaIt is chasing, O Mother Gangai
Female :Andha kaattu muyalippoFemale: Now that wild rabbit
Vettai naaigaalai thurathuthuIs chasing back the hunting dogs
Gangaiyamma amma thurathuthu gangaiyammaMother Gangai, Mother, it is chasing back, O Mother Gangai
Male
Indha sakthi vandhadhunaaleBecause this strength has arrived
Undhan bakthiyulladhanaaleBecause of devotion toward you
Indha sakthi vandhadhunaaleBecause this strength has arrived
Undhan bakthiyulladhanaaleBecause of devotion toward you
Male :Maalaiyittom pongalyittomMale: We offered garlands and prepared sweet pongal
Manasaara poojaiyittomWe worshipped wholeheartedly
Male
Kattai kooda koluthumadiEven a piece of wood burns bright
Un karppora thattu kayavar kottam ozhiyumadiYour camphor tray shall destroy the crowd of evil ones
Un kann jadai pattu pattuWith a mere glance of your eyes
Female
Veettu pennai kakakum padiTo protect the woman of the house
Neeye soodiya malarmottuYou yourself wore the flower bud
Both :Vellum kaalam vellum enbomBoth: We declare that time shall triumph
Aanai un melyittuSwearing an oath upon you
Male :Aanai un melyittuMale: Swearing an oath upon you
Male
Thaai paartha paarvaiyai thaanThe look that the mother cast
Partha ullame thannai marandhadhammaThe heart that witnessed it forgot itself, Mother
Sharmathin deivamae sakthi unO Goddess of Dharma, Sakthi
Kannilae marmam purindhadhammaI understood the mystery in your eyes, Mother
Male
Sivandha un kangalaalaeWith your reddened eyes
Seeruvaai enadhu thaayeYou shall pounce furiously, my Mother
Nadanthathum unmai thaayeWhat happened was the truth, Mother
Nadappadhum nanmai thaayeWhat is to happen is for the good, Mother
Male
Maalaiyittom pongalyittomWe offered garlands and prepared sweet pongal
Manasaara poojaiyittomWe worshipped wholeheartedly
Kaaval thara vendumadi gangaiyammaO Mother Gangai, you must grant us protection
Engal kaalam vella vendumadi gangaiyammaO Mother Gangai, our time must triumph

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a devotional and uplifting anthem dedicated to the village deity Gangaiyamma. The devotees pray to the goddess for justice, protection, and liberation from oppression caused by wealthy and ruthless landowners. Through metaphorical imagery like the hunted rabbit turning back to chase the hunting dogs, the lyrics symbolize the rise of the weak against powerful oppressors through divine strength and righteous devotion. The worshippers express faith that time ('Kaalam') will ultimately bring victory to truth and goodness. They affirm that divine intervention and righteousness will prevail over wickedness, ensuring that what happened was true and what lies ahead will bring good fortune.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maalaiyittom pongalyittom / Manasaara poojaiyittom

The second letters 'lai' in 'Maalaiyittom' and 'na' in 'Manasaara' maintain rhythmic harmony across devotional lines.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vettai naaigaloru kaattu muyalaiyae / Virattudhu gangaiyamma

'Kaattu muyal' (wild rabbit) and 'vettai naaigal' (hunting dogs) serve as metaphors for the oppressed weak villagers and the powerful ruthless oppressors respectively.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaaval thara vendumadi gangaiyamma / Engal kaalam vella vendumadi gangaiyamma

Repetition of 'gangaiyamma' at the line ends creates a chant-like devotional cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Sankar Ganesh with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song from 'Kaalam Vellum' (1970) features a rare high-energy duet between Seerkazhi Govindarajan and L. R. Eswari, blending folk devotional fervor with social justice themes.

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