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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machi Machi

From Kathirukka Neramillai · 1993

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kathirukka Neramillai1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haei adadada dadaHey, adadada dada!
Male
Kudisaikkulla velakku illaThere is no lamp inside the hut,
Veedhi engum tube light daaYet there are tube lights all over the street!
Male
Anga kuzhal vilakku alangarippuThe grand decoration of tube lights there
Ezhai makkal thandhadhukku daaIs built upon what the poor people gave!
Male
Eduthu cholla uruppadiyaaTo properly speak up and voice this,
Oruthan illaeThere isn't a single worthy person.
Yaarukkenna kettu pochu daaWho cares about anyone else? Who lost out?
Male
Ingae uzhaikkravanHere, the livelihood of the working man
Pozhappu mattumIs the only thing
Thattu kettu ninnu pochu daaThat has faltered and come to a halt!
Male
Irukkuravan thaanaagaThe wealthy man on his own
Thara maattaanWill never give anything away.
Male
Eduthu vandhu ellorkkumWe must seize it and bring it
Thara venumTo distribute to everyone.
Male
Adhula varum inbathaThe happiness that comes from doing so,
pera venumWe must attain!
Male
Adippavanai odippavangaThose who fight back and chase away the oppressor
Aanmai ulla aambalainga doiAre the truly courageous men, hey!
Ada adipaninju kedappavangaOh, those who bow down and stay subservient
Meesa vecha pombalainga doiAre merely women with mustaches, hey!
Male
Idhu varaikkum eliyavanai valiyavangaUntil now, the strong manipulated the weak,
Aatti vecha kaalam pochu doiThose days of controlling them are gone, hey!
Uzhaikkum indha karangalilae vilangugalaiLocking up these hardworking hands in handcuffs,
Pootti vecha kaalam pochu doiThose days of bondage are gone, hey!
Male
Enakku yejamaanMy own master
Endrum naan thaanIs always myself.
Enakku thunaiyaeMy only true support
Endhan thol thaanIs my own shoulder.
Enadhu uravae indha oor thaanMy true kin is this entire town,
Dhinamum enakku thirunaal thaanEvery day is a festive day for me!
Male
Irukkum mattumAs long as we live,
Aanandha pallu paaduSing songs of joyous victory!
Irakkum podhumEven when death comes,
Anjaamal kannai mooduClose your eyes without fear!
Ulagil naama kondaandhadhenna pochuWhat did we celebrate and take with us in this world?
Sudhandhiram thaan nammoda uyir moochuFreedom alone is our very life breath!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy revolutionary anthem that addresses socio-economic inequality and class exploitation. The lyricist highlights the stark irony of poor workers living in dark huts while their labor powers the brightly lit streets. He criticizes passive acceptance of poverty and the lack of leaders fighting for the working class, urging the oppressed to take initiative and demand their fair share of wealth and resources.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aatti vecha kaalam pochu doi / Pootti vecha kaalam pochu doi

Repetition of the phrase 'kaalam pochu doi' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic emphasis on the theme that the era of oppression is over.

Contrast / Hyperbole

Kudisaikkulla velakku illa / Veedhi engum tube light daa

The lyrics contrast the lack of basic lighting in poor huts with lavish tube lights on streets to sharply criticize economic inequality.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Irukkum mattum / Irakkum podhum

The second consonant ('ra') matches across lines, adhering to traditional Tamil prosody rules.

Metaphor / Irony

Ada adipaninju kedappavanga / Meesa vecha pombalainga doi

'Women with mustaches' is used as a metaphor to mock men who passively submit to oppression without courage.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the prominent Tamil poet and politician Pulamaipithan, the song carries strong socialist and Dravidian reformist themes typical of his motivational, working-class anthems written across the 1970s through the 1990s.

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