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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nanbargale Nanbargale

From Kazhugumalai Kallan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Prabhakar
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Kazhugumalai Kallan1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalaeFriends, oh friends
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Male
Yokkiyanum pogiraai saami azhaichchaaEven an honest man leaves when God calls
Pokkiriyum saagiraar thedhi kurichchaaEven a rogue dies when the fixed date arrives
Idhil veedu enna kaadu ennadaWhat is a home and what is a forest in this, my friend?
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalaeFriends, oh friends
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Male
Yokkiyanum pogiraai saami azhaichchaaEven an honest man leaves when God calls
Pokkiriyum saagiraar thedhi kurichchaaEven a rogue dies when the fixed date arrives
Idhil veedu enna kaadu ennadaWhat is a home and what is a forest in this, my friend?
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalae…Friends, oh friends...
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Vaazhkkaiyilae….In life...
Male
Oo….oo….kaayapatta nenjamellaamOh... oh... all the wounded hearts
Kaattukullae vaazhuthuAre living inside the forest
Kaalamingu pottu vachchaTrapped in the cage set by time
Koottukullae vaaduthuThey wither away
Male
Naadu oru kaadu pol maariyirukkuThe country has transformed into a wild jungle
Narigalellaam medaiyil yaeriyirukkuFoxes have mounted the high stage
Thottaththaiyae velithaan meya ninaichhcaaIf the fence itself decides to graze on the garden
Idhil needhi enna nermai ennadaaWhat justice or honesty remains here, my friend?
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalae…Friends, oh friends...
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Vaazhkkaiyilae….In life...
Male
Oo….oo….aadu puli aattamonnuOh... oh... a game of goat and tiger
Naattukullae nadakkuthuIs taking place inside the nation
Pavappatta aadugalthaanOnly the poor, helpless goats
Vettuppattu kedakkuthuLie slaughtered around
Male
Aattaththaiyae maaththalaam naama nenaichchaaIf we think about changing this game
Aalamaram saanjidum idi idichchaaEven a giant banyan tree falls when thunder strikes
Vaazhum varai veeramaa vaazhaTo live courageously as long as one lives
Ada veeran endrum thottrathillaiyaeAh, a true warrior never loses!
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalaeFriends, oh friends
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Male
Yokkiyanum pogiraai saami azhaichchaaEven an honest man leaves when God calls
Pokkiriyum saagiraar thedhi kurichchaaEven a rogue dies when the fixed date arrives
Idhil veedu enna kaadu ennadaWhat is a home and what is a forest in this, my friend?
Male
Nanpargalae nanpargalae…Friends, oh friends...
Nandri solla vaarththaiyillaThere are no words to say thanks
Naanayam pol rendu pakkamLike two sides of a coin
Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilaeJoy and sorrow exist in life
Vaazhkkaiyilae….In life...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

this philosophical and reflective song addresses companionship, mortality, and the unjust state of society. The speaker addresses his friends, reminding them that life is a coin with two sides—happiness and sorrow—and that mortality comes for both the righteous and the wicked alike. No one can escape the inevitable call of destiny. The song further critiques societal corruption, comparing society to a lawless jungle where sly foxes rule, the protective fence devours the garden, and innocent people are treated like goats in a tiger game. Despite these grim realities, it urges resilience and courage, asserting that a true warrior never succumbs to defeat.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Naanayam pol rendu pakkam

Comparing joy and sorrow in human life to the two opposite sides of a single coin.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Narigalellaam medaiyil yaeriyirukku

Metaphorically describing cunning politicians or corrupt rulers as foxes taking over public stages.

Proverbial Allusion / Idiom

Thottaththaiyae velithaan meya ninaichhcaa

Utilizing the classic Tamil proverb about the fence eating the crop to symbolize betrayal by protectors.

Egedhurai (Antithesis)

Inba thunbam vaazhkkaiyilae

Juxtaposition of opposites: the righteous man (Yokkiyan) vs the rogue (Pokkiri), and joy (Inba) vs sorrow (Thunbam).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kazhugumalai Kallan' is an action-drama movie released in 1988 starring Charan Raj. The lyrics were penned by the legendary lyricist Vaali, who frequently incorporated deep philosophical commentary and sociopolitical metaphors into commercial movie songs.

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