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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadodi Nadodi

From Anbe Vaa · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anbe Vaa1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aei…Hey...
Chorus :Aei…Chorus: Hey...
Male :Naadodi…Male: Nomad...
Chorus :Naadodi…Chorus: Nomad...
Male :Poga vendum ododi…Male: Must go running...
Chorus :Ododi…Chorus: Running...
Male
Yae…Hey...
Chorus :Yae…Chorus: Hey...
Male :Vaayaadi…Male: Chatterbox...
Chorus :Vaayaadi…Chorus: Chatterbox...
Male :Poga vaippom poraadi…Male: We will make you leave by fighting...
Chorus :Poraadi…Chorus: Fighting...
Male and Chorus :Male and Chorus:
Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…
Oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho…
Male
Aei…Hey...
Chorus :Aei…Chorus: Hey...
Male :Naadodi…Male: Nomad...
Chorus :Naadodi…Chorus: Nomad...
Male :Poga vendum ododi…Male: Must go running...
Chorus :Ododi…Chorus: Running...
Male
Yae…Hey...
Chorus :Yae…Chorus: Hey...
Male :Vaayaadi…Male: Chatterbox...
Chorus :Vaayaadi…Chorus: Chatterbox...
Male :Poga vaippom poraadi…Male: We will make you leave by fighting...
Chorus :Poraadi…Chorus: Fighting...
Male and Chorus :Male and Chorus:
Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…
Oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho…
Male
Vachaa kudumi adichaa mottaiIf controlled, we tame; if struck, we shave clean;
Ellaam engal kaiyilaeEverything is in our hands.
Pidichaa paithiyam mudichaa vaithiyamMadness if caught, remedy if bound;
Ellaam engal paiyilaeEverything is in our bag.
Mandhiravaadhi thandhiravaadhiMagicians, tricksters,
Yanthiravaadhi endra jaadhiThe caste called technocrats;
Engalodu potti poda vaa…Come to compete with us!
Nee kaal madakki kai madakkiBending your legs, folding your arms,
Moochadakki pechadakkiHolding your breath, hushing your talk,
Engalodu aattam aada vaaCome to dance with us!
Male
Haei… endha oorHey… which town?
Enna perWhat name?
Endha collegeWhich college?
Enna groupWhich group?
Male
Twist dance theriyumaa…Do you know the twist dance?
Test match puriyumaa…Do you understand a test match?
Aattam aadi vazhakkamaaAre you used to dancing?
Paattu paadi pazhakkamaaAre you practiced in singing?
Kavinjanaa rasiganaaAre you a poet or a fan?
Kambanaa kombanaa nee…Are you Kamban or someone formidable?
Male
What a lucky day…What a lucky day…
Chorus :What a lucky day…Chorus: What a lucky day…
What a lucky day…What a lucky day…
Female
Haei…Hey…
Chorus :Haei…Chorus: Hey…
Female :Naadodi…Female: Nomad…
Chorus :Naadodi…Chorus: Nomad…
Female :Poga vendum ododi…Female: Must go running…
Chorus :Ododi…Chorus: Running…
Female
Hae haeHae hae
Chorus :Hae hae…Chorus: Hae hae…
Female :Vaayaadi…Female: Chatterbox…
Chorus :Vaayaadi…Chorus: Chatterbox…
Female :Poga vaippom poraadi…Female: We will make you leave by fighting…
Chorus :Poraadi…Chorus: Fighting…
Female and Chorus :Female and Chorus:
Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…Aahaa… oho… oho… oho…
Oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho…
Female
Sirichaa sirippomIf you smile, we smile;
Moraichaa moraippomIf you glare, we glare;
Ellaam engal kannilaeEverything is in our eyes.
Nenachaa nenaippomIf we think it, we feel it;
Marandhaa marappomIf we forget, we move on;
Ellaam engal nenjilaeEverything is in our heart.
Female
Aa… raaman enna beeman ennaAh… who is Rama, who is Bhima?
Kannan enna mannan ennaWho is Krishna, who is the king?
Pengaloda potti poda vaaCome to compete with women!
Aa… thaenirukkum mozhi irukkumAh… sweet words like honey will be there,
Meenirukum vizhiyirukkumFish-like eyes will be there,
Engaloda aattam aada vaaCome to dance with us!
Chorus
What a lucky day…What a lucky day…
What a lucky day…What a lucky day…
What a lucky day…What a lucky day…
Male
Puliyai paar nadaiyilaeLook at the tiger in the walk,
Puyalai paar seyalilaeLook at the storm in the action,
Puriyum paar mudivilaeLook and understand in the end result,
Virattinaal mudiyumaaCan you achieve anything by chasing?
Mirattinaal padiyumaaWill anyone yield by threatening?
Male
Ulagil ulla naadugalilAmong the countries in the world,
En kangal padaadha idamillaiThere is no place my eyes haven't seen.
Ungalai polae kumbalum koochalumA crowd and noise like yours,
Paarvaiyil idhuvarai padavillaiHas never met my sight until now.
Chorus
Oho… oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho… oho…
Oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho…
Male
Puliyai paar nadaiyilaeLook at the tiger in the walk,
Puyalai paar seyalilaeLook at the storm in the action,
Puriyum paar mudivilaeLook and understand in the end result,
Virattinaal mudiyumaaCan you achieve anything by chasing?
Mirattinaal padiyumaaWill anyone yield by threatening?
Male
Ungal oor… endha oorYour town… which town?
Andha oor enadhu oorThat town is my town.
Naan yaar theriyumaaDo you know who I am?
Eduthu chonnaal puriyumaaWill you understand if I explain?
Kanneduthu paarungalLook with your eyes,
Kaadheduthu kelungalListen with your ears,
Nallavarkku nallavanI am good to the good,
Kettavarkku kettavan naan…And bad to the bad!
Male
Twist dance paarungalWatch the twist dance,
Twist dance paarungalWatch the twist dance,
Test match paarungal…Watch the test match…
Naanum andru maanavanI too was a student back then,
Naalum kattru therindhavanWell-versed in learning every day,
Paravai pol parandhavanFlew free like a bird,
Kavalaigal marandhavan naanI am one who forgot all worries.
Male
Aei…Hey…
Chorus :Aei…Chorus: Hey…
Male :Naadodi…Male: Nomad…
Chorus :Naadodi…Chorus: Nomad…
Male :Poga vendum ododi…Male: Must go running…
Chorus :Ododi…Chorus: Running…
Male
Vevvae…Vevvae…
Chorus :Vevvae…Chorus: Vevvae…
Male :Vaayaadi…Male: Chatterbox…
Chorus :Vaayaadi…Chorus: Chatterbox…
Male :Poga vaippen poraadi…Male: I will make you leave by fighting…
Chorus : Poraadi…Chorus: Fighting…
Male and Chorus :Male and Chorus:
Ohoo… oho… oho… oho…Ohoo… oho… oho… oho…
Oho… oho… oho…Oho… oho… oho…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the 1966 romantic comedy classic 'Anbe Vaa' captures a playful rivalry and battle of wits between the hero and heroine along with their respective groups. Through rhythmic banter, teasing rhymes, and high-energy exchanges, both sides express pride in their cleverness, independence, and charisma. The lyrics by Vaali artfully blend traditional Tamil poetic tropes and epic mythological references (Rama, Bhima, Krishna, Kamban) with contemporary 1960s pop culture, referencing western twist dance, college groups, and test match cricket. Ultimately, the song celebrates youthfulness, freedom, and the lighthearted clash of romance disguised as combat.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Puliyai paar nadaiyilae / Puyalai paar seyalilae / Puriyum paar mudivilae

The second consonant 'li' / 'ya' in Puliyai, Puyalai, and Puriyum creates a strong internal rhythm across consecutive lines.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Puliyai paar nadaiyilae / Puyalai paar seyalilae

Matching starting syllables ('Pu-') in 'Puliyai', 'Puyalai', and 'Puriyum' give structural harmony to the stanza.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Mandhiravaadhi thandhiravaadhi / Yanthiravaadhi endra jaadhi

Matching end sounds (-vaadhi) across successive lines establish a fast, bouncy rhythm ideal for a dance duet.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Puliyai paar nadaiyilae / Puyalai paar seyalilae

Comparing a majestic walk to a tiger and energetic action to a storm to depict strength and vigor.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anbe Vaa' (1966), produced by AVM Productions and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali. The film was largely shot in Shimla and featured dynamic westernized music and dance styles, such as the Twist, making this track immensely popular among college students during the late 1960s.

Keep listening

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