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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mooda Nambikaiyale

From Jathagam · 1953

Lyricist
T. K. Sundara Vadhyar
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Jathagam1953

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mooda nambikkaiyaleDue to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human
Mooda nambikkaiyaleDue to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human
Idhai aadumaadu polaeLike cattle and beasts
Ariyaamal vaazhalaamaShould one live without knowing this truth?
Idhai aadumaadu polaeLike cattle and beasts
Ariyaamal vaazhalaamaShould one live without knowing this truth?
Verum mooda nambikkaiyaleMerely due to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human
Male
Perum moodu paniyai polaeLike a heavy dense fog
Unai moodi maraikkum madamaiIgnorance covers and hides you
Moodu paniyai polaeLike a dense fog
Unai moodi maraikkum madamaiIgnorance covers and hides you
Arivodu edhaiyum neeyaeWith intellect, you yourself
Aaraaya venum manidhaMust analyze everything, O human
Pagutharivodu edhaiyum neeyaeWith rational thinking, you yourself
Aaraaya venum manidhaMust analyze everything, O human
Male
Malaiyodu modhi modhiCrashing against the mountain again and again
Malaiyodu modhi modhiCrashing against the mountain again and again
Kalaindhodum megham polaeLike clouds that scatter away
Nilaiyaadha poiyai nambhiBelieving in unstable lies
Alaiyaadhae veenil manidhaDo not wander aimlessly in vain, O human
Verum mooda nambikkaiyaleMerely due to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human
Male
Irul kandu boodham endruSeeing darkness and fearing it to be a ghost
Marulgindra mooda manidhaO foolish human who gets terrified
Irul kandu boodham endruSeeing darkness and fearing it to be a ghost
Marulgindra mooda manidhaO foolish human who gets terrified
Irul endru kanda pinnaeOnce you realize it is just darkness
Marulgindra boodham engaeWhere is the ghost that terrified you?
Irul endru kanda pinnaeOnce you realize it is just darkness
Marulgindra boodham engaeWhere is the ghost that terrified you?
Male
Vidhiyendru enni enniRepeatedly thinking it is fate
Vidhiyendru enni enniRepeatedly thinking it is fate
Melivaagi nondhidaathaeDo not grow weak and suffer
Edhir nindra edhaiyum vellumWhich can conquer whatever stands in front of it
Madhi undu paedhai manidhaYou possess intellect, O foolish human
Male
Verum mooda nambikkaiyaleMerely due to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human
Idhai aadumaadu polaeLike cattle and beasts
Ariyaamal vaazhalaamaShould one live without knowing this truth?
Verum mooda nambikkaiyaleMerely due to blind belief
Pala kedu vilaiyum manidhaMany evils will result, O human

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mooda Nambikkaiyale from the 1953 film Jathagam is a social reform anthem advocating against superstition and blind faith. The lyrics call upon humans to stop living mindlessly like cattle and instead use rational thinking (pagutharivu) to analyze the world around them. It compares ignorance to a heavy fog that blinds reason and lies to fleeting clouds that scatter when faced with real obstacles. The song specifically dismantles fears born of darkness and fatalism, pointing out that 'ghosts' vanish once the truth of darkness is understood, and fate can be overcome using human intellect (madhi). overall, it serves as a powerful call for intellectual awakening and self-reliance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Idhai aadumaadu polae

Compares humans living blindly without critical thought to cattle ('aadumaadu polae').

Simile (Upamai)

Perum moodu paniyai polae

Compares ignorance that clouds human reasoning to a heavy fog ('Perum moodu paniyai polae').

Simile (Upamai)

Kalaindhodum megham polae

Compares transient lies to clouds scattering after colliding with mountains ('Kalaindhodum megham polae').

Repetition / Reduplication (Adukkuthodar)

Malaiyodu modhi modhi

Repeating words like 'modhi modhi' and 'enni enni' to emphasize persistent, habitual mistakes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Jathagam (1953), directed by R. Nagendra Rao, is a satirical comedy-drama centered around astrology and superstitions. The song 'Mooda Nambikkaiyale' strongly echoes the rationalist ideology (Pagutharivu) promoted by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and the Dravidian movement, which heavily influenced Tamil cinema during the 1950s.

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