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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nillappa Konjam

From Nathaiyil Muthu · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Nathaiyil Muthu
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nillappaa konjam nillappaa
Nillappaa konjam nillappaa
Naan ketkum kelvikku
Neeyaachchum sinthichchu sollappaa
Badhil sollappaa
Naan ketkum kelvikku
Neeyaachchum sinthichchu sollappaa
Badhil sollappaa
Nillappaa konjam nillappaa
Ayaiyainthu aandaachu yaaryaaro aandaachchu
Harisana munneatram ennaachchu
Adhu thaengiya neeraattam ninnaachchu
Ayaiyainthu aandaachu yaaryaaro aandaachchu
Harisana munneatram ennaachchu
Adhu thaengiya neeraattam ninnaachchu
Antha harisanam per solli karisanam kaattiya
Vegujanam munnaeri poyaachchu
Intha oru inam thaniyaaga aayaachchu
Yaenappaa idhu yaenappaa
Ada chellappaa badhil sollappaa
Pallu paraigalum padikkanum endruthaan
Pallikoodangal undaachchu
Thaazhthappattorkku mudhalidam endraachchu
Intha payan kondu munnaeri palan kanda pergalai
Viral kondu ennanum velappaa
Intha vedhanai yaenendru kelappaa
Intha vedhanai yaenendru kelappaa
Nillappaa konjam nillappaa
Palluparai endru sollakoodaathendru
Sattangal pottaanga yaettilae
Pala sugaigal thanthaanga naattilae
Aanaal ellaarkkum vayirittu yaeraamalthaan mattum
Irukkindra yaeni pol thaenappaa
Intha inam mattum iruppathu yaenappaa
Arasiyal saasanam aakki aliththa
Nam Ambedkar jadhiyil harisanam
Avar arivu kalanjiyam ariyanum
Arasiyal saasanam aakki aliththa
Nam Ambedkar jadhiyil harisanam
Avar arivu kalanjiyam ariyanum
Innum ariyaarum puriyaarum siriyaarum periyaarum
Karadiyaai kaththiyum ennappaa
Adhai karuthinil kollaatti veenappaa
Nillappaa konjam nillappaa
Than saathiyillaamal un jaadhiyil vanthu
Penjaadhi kondaanae kuththammaa
Oor pesi odhunguthu moththammaa
Than saathiyillaamal un jaadhiyil vanthu
Penjaadhi kondaanae kuththammaa
Oor pesi odhunguthu moththammaa
Avalai thottaalum dhosham kaippattaalum
Paavam ena kattodu solvathu yaenappaa
Idhai kattaayam nee yosi thaenappaa
Naan ketkum kelvikku
Neeyaachchum sinthichchu sollappaa
Badhil sollappaa….
Stop for a moment, my friend, stop for a moment.
Stop for a moment, my friend, stop for a moment.
To the question I am asking,
at least you think about it and tell me,
give me an answer.
To the question I am asking,
at least you think about it and tell me,
give me an answer.
Stop for a moment, my friend, stop for a moment.
Twenty-five years have passed, and all kinds of leaders have ruled,
what has become of the progress of the oppressed?
It has come to a standstill like stagnant water!
Twenty-five years have passed, and all kinds of leaders have ruled,
what has become of the progress of the oppressed?
It has come to a standstill like stagnant water!
Using the name of the oppressed and showing fake concern,
the privileged crowd has moved ahead,
while this one community has been left behind all alone!
Why is this, my friend, why is this?
Oh Chellappa, give me an answer!
So that the downtrodden too could be educated,
schools were established,
and the oppressed were promised first priority!
Yet those who took advantage and truly moved ahead
can be counted on one's fingers, Velappa!
Ask yourself why this agony exists, my friend!
Ask yourself why this agony exists, my friend!
Stop for a moment, my friend, stop for a moment.
Ruling that caste names must not be used as slurs,
laws were written in the books,
and many benefits were granted in the country.
Yet, like a ladder that helps everyone else climb
while remaining stuck in the very same place, my friend,
why is this community alone left behind like that?
The one who framed and gave us our Constitution,
our Ambedkar, was born into this oppressed caste!
You must realize that he was a treasure trove of wisdom!
The one who framed and gave us our Constitution,
our Ambedkar, was born into this oppressed caste!
You must realize that he was a treasure trove of wisdom!
Even when great leaders and common folk shouted themselves hoarse,
what is the use of crying out at the top of your lungs, my friend,
if people do not take it to heart? It is all in vain!
Stop for a moment, my friend, stop for a moment.
Instead of his own caste, if he entered your caste
and married a woman, is that a crime?
The whole village gossips and shuns them completely!
Instead of his own caste, if he entered your caste
and married a woman, is that a crime?
The whole village gossips and shuns them completely!
Saying that touching her brings pollution
and even brushing against her is a sin, why do they strictly enforce this?
You must definitely think about this, my dear friend!
To the question I am asking,
at least you think about it and tell me,
give me an answer...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This powerful social-reform song from the film 'Nathaiyil Muthu' (1973) is a direct, impassioned questioning of social inequality and caste discrimination in independent India. The narrator calls upon a friend—and society at large—to pause and reflect on why, despite twenty-five years of independence and political promises, the socio-economic advancement of the downtrodden remains stagnant like static water. The lyricist highlights how political actors use the rhetoric of uplifting marginalized communities for their own gain while leaving the people isolated.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Adhu thaengiya neeraattam ninnaachchu

Compares the stagnant state of social progress for oppressed communities directly to standing, stagnant water.

Metaphor / Analogy (Uruvagam)

Irukkindra yaeni pol thaenappaa

Compares the oppressed community to a ladder (yaeni), which helps others climb up to higher positions while itself remaining at the bottom.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end schemes)

Ayaiyainthu aandaachu yaaryaaro aandaachchu / Harisana munneatram ennaachchu

The deliberate use of ending rhymes ('aandaachchu', 'ennaachchu', 'ninnaachchu') creates a rhythmic, persuasive tone typical of Tamil philosophical/social reform songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nathaiyil Muthu' (1973) featured music by the veteran composer duo Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali. Sung with deep emotive force by T. M. Soundararajan, this song stands out as a rare, explicit socio-political commentary in Tamil cinema that directly invokes Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and touches upon inter-caste marriage and social untouchability.

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