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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Petha Magane

From Mayil · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Mayil1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………Oh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaI am telling what needs to be told, you thief!
Solluratha solluraendaa kalavaaniyaeListen to what is asked, you rascal!
Kekkuratha kelu padavaa neeOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaThe doctor seduced your mother,
Female
Vaiththiyan ungammaava mayakkipputtaanAnd left her pregnant!
Vaayum vayirumaa aakkipputtaanThe doctor seduced your mother,
Vaiththiyan ungammaava mayakkipputtaanAnd left her pregnant!
Vaayum vayirumaa aakkipputtaanWhen asked for a sacred marriage thread, he mocked her,
Thaali kettaa avan keli senjaanWhen asked for a sacred marriage thread, he mocked her,
Thaali kettaa avan keli senjaanYou are the sole witness to this case, my dear child!
Intha case-kku needhaandaa saatchi kannaaOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaI am telling what needs to be told, you thief!
Solluratha solluraendaa kalavaaniyaeListen to what is asked, you rascal!
Kekkuratha kelu padavaa neeOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaFoxes wag their tails around the cow,
Female
Pasu pakkam nariyellaam vaalaattuthuWithout understanding this, the sacrificial goat nods its head.
Adhu puriyaamaa paliyaadu thalaiyaattuthuFoxes wag their tails around the cow,
Pasu pakkam nariyellaam vaalaattuthuWithout understanding this, the sacrificial goat nods its head.
Adhu puriyaamaa paliyaadu thalaiyaattuthuIf it nods its head, the predator tastes the prey,
Thalaiyaattinaa adhu rushi paarkkuthuIf it nods its head, the predator tastes the prey,
Thalaiyaattinaa adhu rushi paarkkuthuOnce its hunger is satisfied, it flees away!
Adhan pasi theernthaa pinnaalae paranthoduthuOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaA good time will come for us too, my boy,
Female
Namakkunnu oru kaalam irukkuthadaaThat faith will surely win!
Antha nampikkai nichchayam jeyikkumadaaHey, a good time will come for us too, my boy,
Dei namakkunnu oru kaalam irukkuthadaaThat faith will surely win!
Antha nampikkai nichchayam jeyikkumadaaInjustice will not prevail here,
Akkiramam ingu nilaikakathadaaInjustice will not prevail here,
Akkiramam ingu nilaikakathadaaEven if it goes to the High Court, it won't stand!
Athu highcourt ponaalum sellaathadaaOh my born son, palm-nut head!
Female
Naan peththa mavanae panangkotta thalaiyaaMoney made from selling a dog won't bark, my dear!
Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaaI am telling what needs to be told, you thief!
Solluratha solluraendaa kalavaaniyaeListen to what is asked, you rascal!
Kekkuratha kelu padavaa nee….I am telling what needs to be told, you thief!
Solluratha solluraendaa kalavaaniyaeListen to what is asked, you rascal!
Kekkuratha kelu padavaa nee…..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk song is a raw, emotional narrative sung by a mother addressing her young child. She recounts her painful past where a doctor seduced her, got her pregnant, and then mocked her when she demanded marriage (thaali). Using colloquial terms and rural idioms, she calls her child her ultimate witness and warns him about the deceptive nature of opportunistic people through vivid metaphors of foxes and sacrificial goats. Despite the suffering and betrayal, the song transitions into a strong message of hope, resilience, and faith in ultimate justice. The mother reassures her son that injustice will never last in the end, expressing firm conviction that better days are ahead for them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pazhamozhi (Proverb / Folk Metaphor)

Naai viththa kaasu kolaikakathu nainaa

Uses a traditional Tamil folk proverb implying that ill-gotten gains or unfair means will not yield true benefit.

Metaphor / Allegory

Pasu pakkam nariyellaam vaalaattuthu... paliyaadu thalaiyaattuthu

Compares cunning deceivers to foxes around cows and gullible victims to unsuspecting sacrificial goats.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Naan peththa mavanae / Naai viththa kaasu

Rhyming of the second letter across lines ('peththa' and 'viththa').

Colloquial Idiom

Vaayum vayirumaa aakkipputtaan

Uses rural dialect idioms like 'Vaayum vayirumaa' to refer to pregnancy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar-Ganesh and written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, this song stands out for its authentic rural Tamil slang and raw storytelling. S. P. Sailaja provided a distinct vocal delivery that seamlessly blends maternal affection with rustic defiance.

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