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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mahamaayi Aankala Deviye

From Raja Rajan · 1957

Lyricist
Muthukoothan
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, Chorus
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Raja Rajan1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aayi magamaayi aangaara dheviyae…O Mother Magamaayi, furious Goddess...
Abiraamasundhari ongaari roobiyae…Beautiful Abirami, embodiment of sacred sound...
Chorus
Aa haangAh ha!
Male
Maayi magamaayi neeYou are Mother Magamaayi
Malai kanni thaayaeGoddess of the mountain peak
Mani mandhirasaegariMaster of gems and sacred chants
Arul purivaayae… ae… ae…..Grant us your divine grace...
Male
Oyaadha bali kollumO Shining Muthu Maari
Oli muthu maariyaeWho constantly accepts sacrifices
Oru singameedhaerumO Great Kaali Mother
Maakaali ammaiyaeWho rides upon a lion
Chorus
Ammaa…O Mother...
Male
Paei pilli sooniyamO Neeli who commands black magic
Kondaadum neeliyaeGhosts and sorcery
Paechiyennum saamundiChamundi called Paechi
Sadaichiyae odi vaadi…O matted-haired Goddess, run and come...
Chorus
Aa… aa… aa… arogaraaAh... ah... ah... Arohara!
Male
Baalan polambaradhuHear this child's plea
Male
Ae… aruvaamana vettaruvaaHey... a sharp curved billhook knife
Aani suthi athanaiyumWith hammers and all surrounding tools
Irumbaakka vallavadaaI am capable of turning everything into solid iron
Em paeru kanniyadaaMy name is Kanniyan, my friend
Ae… pacha karuvaattaHey... amidst raw dried fish
Karum poonai mathiyilaeAnd black cats
Achu kolaiyaamaeWithout losing shape or form
Appadiyae moodi vaichaaIf kept covered just as it is
Kaaval kaakka vallavadaaI am capable of guarding it well
Kaayaam poo maeniyadaa aaa…My body is dark blue like the Kayaam flower...
Male
Kodi nila varikkumIn a spacious house with hall
Koodamulla veettilammaaExtending up to ten moon-levels
Naadi pitha saettai polaLike a surge of bile and feverish madness
Naayagiyae neeyalaindhuO heroine, you wandered around
Mella paduthu panju methaiyilaeAnd lay down softly on a cotton mattress
Thoongum podhuWhen you were sleeping
Kolaaru soppanangaDisturbing bad dreams
Kozhappamaa thonudhammaaAppeared in confusion, O lady
Nadandhadhu athanaiyumEverything that happened there
Naanariven dheviyaraeI know well, O Goddesses
Kadandha vishayamellaamAll the past events
Kachidhamaai solli vaarenI shall narrate accurately
Male
Aranmanai andhappuramFrom the royal palace harem
Aaru rendu kallu thaandiCrossing eight miles of distance
Irundha idathai vittuLeaving the place where you were
Engoyil naadiyalloYou sought our temple, didn't you?
Muthu pallakkaeri moi kuzhalaeRiding a pearl palanquin, O lady with lush hair
Nee vandhaaiYou arrived here
Chorus
Undunnaa undunnuIf it's true say yes
Illaennaa illaennuIf it's not say no
Male
Othaiyadi paadhaiyoramAlong the narrow foot track
Olinjirundha veerarellaamAll the warriors who hid in wait
Pallakkai thaaniruthaTo stop the palanquin
Paaindhu vandhaarappodhuCame pouncing upon you then
Chorus
Undunnaa undunnuIf it's true say yes
Illaennaa illaennuIf it's not say no
Male
Mm…Mm...
Male
Urunda thalaigalRolling severed heads
Onnu rendu moonuOne, two, three
Undaa solluTell me if it happened
Male
Ada aamaam poduAh, say yes, say yes
Chorus
AamaamYes
Male
Meranda pasangaThe frightened men
Verundu odinaarFled in terror
Undaa solluTell me if it happened
Chorus
Ada aamaam podu aamaamAh, say yes, say yes
Male
Andha naerathilaeAt that moment
Angoruthan vandhaanSomeone arrived there
Undaa solluTell me if it happened
Chorus
Ada aamaam podu aamaamAh, say yes, say yes
Male
Pandhu pola kudhithuLeaping like a ball
Vandhavar nadungaMaking the onlookers tremble
Pattaakkatthiyai eduthaanHe drew a sharp sword
Chorus
Aamaa pattaakkathiyai eduthaanYes, he drew a sharp sword
Male
Pambaram polae suthi suzhandruSpinning around like a top
Pagaiyai viratti adichaanHe chased away and struck the enemies
Chorus
Aamaa pagaiyai viratti adichaanYes, he chased away and struck the enemies
Male
Vandhanamaiyaa vandhanamaiyaaSalutations sir, salutations
Vandhanamaiyaa vandhanamSalutations sir, salutations
Mundhiyariyaa engalai kaappaathaWithout prior acquaintance, to save us
Mun vandha veerarae nee yaaruO brave hero who came forward, who are you?
Endru nee ketka vandhavan unnidamWhen you asked this, the man who came to you
Irandha manidha aaviyendraeSaid he was the ghost of a dead man
Sonnadhum un thalai suthiyae pallakkilAs soon as he said that, your head spun and in the palanquin
Sorndhu vizhundhadhu meiyallavoIs it not true that you fainted and fell?
Chorus
Undunnaa undunnuIf it's true say yes
Illaennaa illaennuIf it's not say no
Male
Aang… aaviyendru sonnadhellaamAang... all that about being a ghost
Athanaiyum poiyammaaIt is all a lie, my lady
Chorus
Athanaiyum poiyammaaIt is all a lie, my lady
Male
Aaliruppadhu meiyammaaThere is a real living man there
Chorus
Aaliruppadhu meiyammaaThere is a real living man there
Male
Paavi paya oruthanaalaeBecause of one sinful fellow
Paradhesiyaanaam maaHe became a destitute wanderer, lady
ParadhesiyaanaammaaHe became a destitute wanderer
Bayappada venaammaa… aaDo not be afraid...
Chorus
Payappada venaammaaDo not be afraid
Male
Aalum pala vaesham kattiWearing many disguises
Alainjumae vaaraammaaHe wanders and comes along, lady
Chorus
Alainjumae vaaraammaaHe wanders and comes along
Male
Aanazhagan thaanammaaHe is a handsome hero, lady
Chorus
Aanazhagan thaanammaaHe is a handsome hero, lady
Male
Maalai poo vaadumunnaeBefore the flower garland fades
Malaiyaera poremmaaHe will climb the mountain and go, lady
Malaiyaera poremmaaHe will climb the mountain and go
Mana kavalai venaammaaDo not worry in your mind
Mana kavalai venaammaaDo not worry in your mind
Male
Mana kavalai venaammaaDo not worry in your mind
Unakku mana kavalai venaammaa…You need not worry in your mind...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Raja Rajan (1957) is a dramatic street-play style narrative performance. It opens with intense invocations to various fiercely protective forms of the Mother Goddess such as Magamaayi, Abirami, Mariamman, and Chamundi, pleading for divine protection and blessings. The performer then adopts a fortune-teller persona to recount a terrifying yet heroically resolved past event experienced by the noble lady listening. The narrative describes how the lady left the palace in a pearl palanquin and was ambushed by bandits on a narrow path. Just when terror struck, a mysterious hero jumped in like a bouncing ball, twirled his broadsword like a spinning top, and routed the attackers. Although the hero initially claimed to be a ghost—causing the lady to faint in fear—the narrator reveals that he was actually a living, noble prince forced into disguise and hardship due to a villain's plot. The song concludes on a comforting note, reassuring the lady that her protector is a true hero who will succeed before the flowers wither.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Paei pilli sooniyam / Paechiyennum saamundi

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines for rhythm.

Simile (Upamai)

Pandhu pola kudhithu

Comparing the hero's athletic entry to a ball bouncing.

Simile (Upamai)

Pambaram polae suthi suzhandru

Comparing the hero's swift sword-spinning motion to a top.

Refrain / Chorus Repetition

Undunnaa undunnu / Illaennaa illaennu

Rhythmic call-and-response phrase repeated to engage the listener.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raja Rajan (1957) is a Tamil swashbuckler film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and P. Bhanumathi. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics for this folk-narrative song were penned by Muthukoothan.

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