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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maligaiyile Vasikkum Manithargal

From Raja Malaiya Simman · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. B. Sreenivas, G. K. Venkatesh
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Raja Malaiya Simman1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maaligaiyilae vasikkum…Those who live in palaces...
Male :AhaaAhaa
Male :Manidhrgal ellorumAll those human beings,
Male :OhooOhoo
Male :Velai thavaraamal vila vedikka thindraalaumEven if they eat extravagantly to bursting point without missing a meal,
Male
Haaa..a.aa….aaa…aa….[Vocalizing]
Ohoho hooOhoho hoo
Indha ezhaigal pol nimmadhiyaai irukka mudiyaadhaeThey cannot live peacefully like these poor folk.
Male
Irukkum panathaalae oru sugamum kidaiyaadhaeBecause of the money they possess, there is no real joy.
Male
Thirudar bayathaalaae imiaglaum moodaadhaeDue to fear of thieves, they cannot even close their eyelids.
Haa…aaa…aaa…aa…[Vocalizing]
Male
Annaathae aalai aalae sapidum kaalamHey brother! This is an era where human exploits human,
Idhu thaan kali kaalamThis is indeed the dark age of Kali Yuga,
All :Idhu thaan kali kaalamThis is indeed the dark age of Kali Yuga!
Male
Haa..a.aa.a…a……….[Vocalizing]
Male
Haaa..a.aa….aaa…aa….[Vocalizing]
Male
Haa..a.aa.a…a……….[Vocalizing]
Annaathae aalai aalae sapidum kaalamHey brother! This is an era where human exploits human,
All :Idhu thaan kali kaalamThis is indeed the dark age of Kali Yuga!
Yaaryenum asanthaa kannilIf anyone lowers their guard for a moment,
Mannai thoovi seiyum jagajaalamThey play tricks and throw dust in their eyes.
Male
Hahahahaa[Laughter]
Male :Oolai sadhai pidichi ubbi peruthavangaThose who put on excessive flabby weight and swell up,
Naalukkoru vaithiyarai naadi alaiyuraangaWander around seeking a doctor every passing day.
Male
Namakku oozhai sadhdaiyum illaeFor us, there is no flabby fat,
Vaithiyar udhaviyum thevai illaiNor is there any need for a doctor's cure.
Koozhai kudichaalum namma kushikkuEven if we drink simple porridge, for our happiness,
Oru kuraichalumillaeThere is no lack or shortcoming whatsoever!
Male
Haa..a.aa.a…a……….annaathae…..[Vocalizing] Hey brother...
Naalai nadakkaum nadappai pattriAbout what will happen tomorrow,
All :Kavalai namakku illaiWe have no worries at all!
Ahaaahaa kavalai namakku illaiAha ha, we have no worries!
Male
Haa..a.aa.a…a……….annaathae…..[Vocalizing] Hey brother...
Naalai nadakkaum nadappai pattriAbout what will happen tomorrow,
All :Kavalai namakku illaiWe have no worries at all!
Annaathae…..aalai kedukkum panamum illaeHey brother! We do not possess money that corrupts a man,
Adhanaal bayam illaeTherefore, we have no fear!
Male :Hahaahahaa[Laughter]
Male
Kottai katti vaazhndhaalum kondaattam pottaalumEven if they build palatial forts and live in celebration,
Thaettai pottu aduthaaraiyae thindaada seidhaalumEven if they scheme and cause distress to others,
Male
Kottu kiliyallavoo andha kudi keduporellorumAren't those family-destroyers merely caged parrots?
Naanga kattu paravaigal pol ingaeWhile we, like wild birds in nature,
Kavalaiyattru vaazhugiromLive here without a single worry!
Kosuvin gaanathukku yettrapadiIn tune with the humming song of mosquitoes,
Thaalangal kooda podugiromWe even keep rhythm and beat time!
Male
Anaathae…..Hey brother...
Koorai namakku aagaasam thaanOur roof is the open sky itself,
Panjanai thariyae thaanOur soft mattress is the bare ground itself!
Seemangal yaarum endrum kaana inbamA bliss that even rich lords never experience,
Undu namakkae thaanIs possessed truly by us alone!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This philosophical folk-style song from Raja Malaiya Simman (1959) contrasts the deceptive, anxiety-ridden lives of the wealthy with the carefree, joyful existence of the poor. It highlights how the rich suffer from greed, paranoia over thieves, and health issues caused by overindulgence. In contrast, the destitute live happily with simple porridge, sleeping under the open sky and taking comfort in complete freedom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvamaanam)

Naanga kattu paravaigal pol ingae

Compares wealthy trapped people to caged parrots (kottu kili) and carefree poor people to wild free birds (kattu paravaigal).

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kottai katti vaazhndhaalum kondaattam pottaalum

Matching second consonants across lines ('Koorai' and 'Panjanai' / 'Kottai' and 'Thaettai').

Irony / Satire

Kosuvin gaanathukku yettrapadi thaalangal kooda podugirom

Humorously treating the annoyance of mosquito buzzing as music to keep rhythm to.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, this song features an ensemble rendition by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. B. Sreenivas, and G. K. Venkatesh, showcasing rhythmic folk vocalizations ('Annaathae').

Keep listening

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