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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madhi Ketta

From Enga Ooru Kannagi · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Enga Ooru Kannagi1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Female
On thaayum pombalaithaanYour mother is a woman too,
On thangaiyum pombalaithaanYour sister is a woman too,
Nainaa anniya ponnaiHey buddy, whenever you spot another woman,
Kannila kandaa peyaa alaiyiriyaeYou wander around like a possessed ghost!
Moodaa naaya thiriyiriyaeFool, you roam around like a stray dog!
Female
On thaayum pombalaithaanYour mother is a woman too,
On thangaiyum pombalaithaanYour sister is a woman too,
Nainaa anniya ponnaiHey buddy, whenever you spot another woman,
Kannila kandaa peyaa alaiyiriyaeYou wander around like a possessed ghost!
Moodaa naaya thiriyiriyaeFool, you roam around like a stray dog!
Female
Kanda pengalai pendaattiyaagaEven a donkey wouldn't think of treating
Kazhudhaiyum ninaikkaadhuAny random woman as its wife!
Kaali deviyaai maariduvenI will transform into Goddess Kali,
On baachaa palikkaadhu on aattamum nadakkaadhuYour words won't work, and your games won't run here anymore!
Female
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.
Female
On panamum sellaadhuYour money will not work here,
On padhaviyum thaangaadhuYour position will not shield you,
Naina thoonul kooda podavaiyai kandaaHey buddy, if you see even a pillar draped in a saree,
Thottu paarkkiriyaeYou reach out to touch it!
Moodaa suthi thiriyiriyaeFool, you wander around endlessly!
Female
On panamum sellaadhuYour money will not work here,
On padhaviyum thaangaadhuYour position will not shield you,
Naina thoonul kooda podavaiyai kandaaHey buddy, if you see even a pillar draped in a saree,
Thottu paarkkiriyaeYou reach out to touch it!
Moodaa suthi thiriyiriyaeFool, you wander around endlessly!
Female
Aniyaayathai engae kandaalumWherever I witness injustice taking place,
Angae naan iruppenI will be right there!
Andha kaalathu krishnan polaeLike Lord Krishna of ancient times,
Avadhaaram eduppenI will take an incarnation,
Naan pen maanam kaappenAnd I will protect the honor of women!
Female
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.
Female
Ingu sattam unnidamaaDoes the law belong only to you here?
Illai dharmam unnidamaaOr does righteousness belong to you?
Naina vallavanukku vallava oruthiHey buddy, a powerful woman superior to the mighty has arrived,
Vandha paathukkaiyaaWatch out now!
Moodaa thandhen vaangikaiyaaFool, I have dealt you a blow, take it!
Female
Ingu sattam unnidamaaDoes the law belong only to you here?
Illai dharmam unnidamaaOr does righteousness belong to you?
Naina vallavanukku vallava oruthiHey buddy, a powerful woman superior to the mighty has arrived,
Vandha paathukkaiyaaWatch out now!
Moodaa thandhen vaangikaiyaaFool, I have dealt you a blow, take it!
Female
Amma peru ennaannu nenachaeWhat did you think my mother's name was?
Aayiram thalai vaangi akkiramathaiTaking a thousand evil heads, always opposing injustice,
Eppavum edhithu nikkira sumaithaanghiI am the pillar of support standing against atrocities,
Naan naveena lalithaanghi…….I am modern Lalithangi!
Female
Madhi ketta mogam nayinaaHey buddy, this senseless lust,
Odhai pattaa theerumWill be cured only when you get kicked!
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.
Idhuthaanyaa idhuthaanyaaThis is it, this is it,
Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyamThe medicine I prescribe for this town.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This fiery song is a bold societal critique directed at men who harass women and act with unrestrained lust and arrogance. The female protagonist severely scolds men for failing to respect women, reminding them that their own mothers and sisters are women as well. She warns that wealth, status, or power will not save them from retribution.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Indha oorukku naan seiyum vaithiyam

Comparing physical retribution ('Odhai' - kick) to 'vaithiyam' (medical treatment) prescribed for lustful behavior.

Simile (Uvamai)

Andha kaalathu krishnan polae

Comparing the urge to protect women's honor to Lord Krishna taking an avatar to uphold righteousness.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Aayiram thalai vaangi akkiramathai

Exaggerating the protagonist's wrath by claiming she will take a thousand heads of evil-doers like a goddess.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

On panamum sellaadhu / On padhaviyum thaangaadhu

The second consonant sound 'n' is repeated across consecutive lines ('panamum' / 'padhaviyum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Ooru Kannagi (1981) features powerful female-centric themes, and lyricist Kannadasan used contemporary Madras slang ('Nayinaa') combined with classical allegories (Kali, Krishna) to create an influential socio-political anthem sung with intense energy by L. R. Eswari.

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