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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nandoorudhu Nariyoorudhu

From Bairavi · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Bairavi1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling
Male
Aadudhu thottil ondruA cradle is rocking
Pillai illai angaeBut there is no child there
Aagaayam kaathirukkaWhile the sky is waiting
Vennilavu engaeWhere is the silver moon?
Paadidum poonguyilinThe singing sweet cuckoo
Jaadhi engae sendraalWhere has her kind gone?
Pallaakkil irandu vagai oThere are two types of palanquins
Ondril yeri kondaalShe has boarded one of them
Vaazhthungal endru vaanagam ponaalSeeking blessings, she went to the heavens
Vaanaga thaevarellaam varaverkavae…For the gods in heaven to welcome her...
Male
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Naalukku naal uzhaithaenDay after day I toiled hard
Nandri illai angaeThere was no gratitude there
Nallavan vaazhvadharkkuFor a good man to live peacefully
Nyaayam illai ingaeThere is no justice here
Ezhaikku ulagam endruThe one who wrote that the world belongs to the poor,
Ezhudhiyavan engaeWhere is he now?
Eduppadhai edutha pin thaanOnly after taking back what was stolen
Needhi varum ingaeWill justice be served here
Male
Thaai mel aanai thangai mel aanaiI swear on my mother, I swear on my sister
Thaai mel aanai thangai mel aanaiI swear on my mother, I swear on my sister
Dharmam jeyikkum endru naan kaattuven…I will prove that righteousness wins in the end...
Male
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling
Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhuThe pet parrot I raised sways before my eyes
En kannil aadudhuDances before my eyes
Male
Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhuCrabs are crawling, foxes are crawling
NandoorudhuCrabs are crawling

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the deep grief and righteous fury of a loving brother who has lost his beloved sister ('sella kili'). He remembers her fondly while lamenting her tragic death, comparing the journey to heaven on a funeral palanquin. He vents his frustration at a harsh, ungrateful world where honest work goes unrewarded and the poor suffer injustice. The song turns into a fierce pledge as he swears upon his mother and sister to take revenge, reclaim justice, and prove that righteousness ('dharmam') ultimately triumphs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Nandoorudhu nariyoorudhu

Repetition of the initial 'Na' sound across words creates a rhythmic folk cadence.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Naan valatha sella kili kannil aadudhu

Refers fondly to his affectionate sister as a 'sella kili' (pet parrot).

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aadudhu thottil ondru / Pillai illai angae

Matching second consonant 'l' in successive lines ('Aadudhu' / 'Pillai' / 'Aagaayam').

Contrast / Euphemism

Pallaakkil irandu vagai o / Ondril yeri kondaal

Contrasts a wedding palanquin with a bier (funeral palanquin) to metaphorically describe her death.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bairavi' (1978) marked Rajinikanth's debut as a solo lead actor. Distributor Kalaipuli S. Thanu coined and bestowed the famous title 'Superstar' on Rajinikanth during the film's release promotion.

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