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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaya Porattala

From Ivan Veramathiri · 2013

Lyricist
Viveka
Singers
Tippu, Hyde Karty, Bizmac
Music director
C. Sathya
Details
Ivan Veramathiri2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Malaya porattalaI didn't topple mountains
Kadala thaandalaI didn't cross oceans
Kaatha niruthalaI didn't stop the wind
Nelava kizhikalaI didn't tear open the moon
Male
Neruppil nadakkalaI didn't walk on fire
Nelatha madikkalaI didn't fold the earth
Uyira kudukkalaI didn't give up my life
Onnumae puriyalaI don't understand anything at all
Chorus
{Ulagam enna{What about the world
Male :Puthusa paakuthuMale: It looks at me anew
Chorus :Oorae ennaChorus: What about the town
Male :Yaarunu kekuthuMale: It asks who I am
Chorus :Nizhalae koodaChorus: Even my shadow
Male :Nenja nimithuthuMale: Stands tall with pride
Nyaayam thirumbuthu} (2)Justice turns back around} (2)
Male
Saamy aatam aadi paathenI tried playing god
Saathaanoda sanda pottenI fought with the devil
Saaku pokku sollaamalaeWithout making any excuses
Chorus
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Male :Othaikki oththaMale: One-on-one
Ninnu saachenI stood my ground and fought
Chorus
…………………………………..…………………………………..
Male
Naan irukkum ooru kullaIn the town where I live
Raaja yevanoo kavala illaI don't care who the king is
Villanaaga oruvan vanthaalIf someone comes as a villain
Avanai vittu vaipathil nyaayam illaLeaving him spared is not justice
Chorus
Bayathai kayattiStripping away fear
Thoora pottaalAnd throwing it far away
Baambu puthil kai vidalaamOne can even reach into a snake hole
Sariyaa paathuObserving carefully
Thittam pottaalAnd making a plan
Sulayaai vetri petridalaamVictory can be won effortlessly
Male
Othungi povathuStepping aside
Sari allaIs not right
Olinju mothidu thavar allaHiding and striking is not wrong
Chorus :Nenachen mudichen jeichenChorus: I thought, I finished, I won
Male
Malaya porattalaI didn't topple mountains
Kadala thaandalaI didn't cross oceans
Kaatha niruthalaI didn't stop the wind
Nelava kizhikalaI didn't tear open the moon
Male
Puthusa paakuthuLooking at me anew
Yaarunu kekuthuAsking who I am
Nenja nimithuthuStanding tall with pride
Nyaayam thirumbuthuJustice turns back around
Male
Saamy aatam aadi paathenI tried playing god
Chorus :Aadi paathen pathenChorus: Played and saw, saw
Male :Saathaanoda sanda pottenMale: I fought with the devil
Chorus :Sanda potten pottenChorus: Fought, fought
Potten pottenFought, fought
Male :Saaku pokku sollaamalaeMale: Without making excuses
Chorus
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Othaikki oththaOne-on-one
Male :Othaikki oththaMale: One-on-one
Ninnu saachenI stood my ground and fought

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Othaikki Oththa' from Ivan Veramathiri portrays the internal drive and raw conviction of an ordinary young man who turns into a vigilante. He starts by acknowledging that he possesses no superhuman powers—he cannot move mountains, stop winds, or walk on fire—yet the world looks at him with newfound respect because he refused to remain silent in the face of injustice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Malaya porattala / Kadala thaandala / Kaatha niruthala / Nelava kizhikala

The lyrics use impossible superhuman feats like moving mountains, stopping the wind, and tearing open the moon to contrast with the protagonist's ordinary nature.

Metaphor

Saamy aatam aadi paathen / Saathaanoda sanda potten

Confronting a powerful villain is metaphorically compared to battling the devil ('Saathaanoda sanda potten') and taking on a divine trance ('Saamy aatam').

Repetition (Epizeuxis)

Othaikki oththa / Othaikki oththa

The term 'Othaikki oththa' (One-on-one) is repeated continuously to emphasize direct, uncompromising confrontation and to build rhythmic energy.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Malaya porattala / Kadala thaandala / Kaatha niruthala / Nelava kizhikala

The song employs clear end-rhyme across the opening lines using the '-la' negative suffix ending.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by C. Sathya with lyrics by Viveka, 'Othaikki Oththa' serves as the action-packed vigilante anthem in M. Saravanan's thriller Ivan Veramathiri (2013), capturing the protagonist's determination to fight corruption.

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