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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nizhaledhu Inge Nijamedhu

From Kavalan Avan Kovalan · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, M. Jayachandran
Music director
Vijay Anand
Details
Kavalan Avan Kovalan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nizhaledhu ingae nijamedhuWhich is the shadow here, and which is the reality?
Ninaikkaiyil manda kuzhambuthuWhen I think about it, my mind gets totally confused.
Ennai pola irukkuraeYou look just like me!
Rompa paadu paduththuraeYou are causing me so much trouble!
Male
Ada maanga madaiyaa vidhiyaa vinaiyaaHey fool, is this fate or karma?
Mayakkangal theliyalaiyaeThis dizziness/confusion hasn't cleared up at all!
Idhu vittalaachaaryaa marmakkadhiyaaIs this a mysterious Vittalacharya fantasy story?
Enakkonnum puriyalaiyaeI don't understand a single thing!
Male
Hae….enakkunthaan un pol mayakkanthaanHey... I too feel dazed just like you!
Kalakkanthaan manda kozhappamthaanI am agitated and my head is confused!
Unna pola irukkuraenI look just like you,
Ippa maatti muzhikkiraenAnd now I am caught blinking in confusion!
Male
Ada naai vaal thannai nimirnthida nenachchenHey, I thought the dog's tail would straighten itself,
Kaikalai kadichchathaiyyaaInstead it bit my hands, oh sir!
En kadhal kaniyai gramakiliyaeOh village parrot, my sweet love-fruit,
Enai vittu pirichchathiyya hae haeiIt separated her from me, oh dear!
Male
Enakunthaan un pol mayakkanthaanI too am as confused as you are!
Male
Maappillai unga maamanaaru naanSon-in-law! I am your father-in-law,
Udhavikku varalaamaaMay I come to help you?
Neengal nadaththum sandai kaatchiyiIn this fight scene you both are putting on,
Yosanai tharalaamaaMay I give you some advice?
Male
Iruvarukkullae enna pirachchanaiWhat is the issue between you two?
Engitta sollalaamaaCan you tell me?
Samman illaama aajar aaguraenI appear without a summons,
En sollai thallalaamaaCan you reject my words?
Male
Poonaithaan puliyai polA cat is roaming around the town,
Oorilae thiriyuthuBehaving like a tiger!
Male :Poonaiyai puliyumthaanMale: Seeing the cat, why is the tiger,
Paaththu yaen nadunguthu hoiTrembling in fear, hey!
Male :Oththi podaa unnaal thalaivaliMale: Move aside, man! You are giving me a headache!
Male
Original saathaa originalAre you original, or just ordinary duplicate?
Unmai sol nee yaar unmai solTell the truth, who are you? Tell the truth!
Male :Intha kelvi yaenunga naan gramaththaanungaMale: Why this question, sir? I am a villager, sir!
Male
Ada en pol neeyum un pol naanumHey, you looking like me and me looking like you,
Iruppathu sangadamthaanIs a real embarrassment!
Ingu poosal vanthaal idaiyil pugunthuIf a fight breaks out here, intervening in between,
Thaduppathu en kadanthaanAnd stopping it is my duty!
Male
Nee vantha velai thookam pochchudaaEver since you arrived, my sleep is gone, man!
Nimmathi enakkillaI have no peace of mind!
Male :Nee panna vela thappu kaariyamMale: The wrong deed that you committed,
Ellaam en melaeHas all fallen on my head!
Male
Kattiya manaivi sandai poduraaMy wedded wife is fighting with me,
Nee senja vinaithaanaeIsn't it because of your karma?
Male :Kadhali enaiyae vittu odinaaMale: My lover ran away leaving me,
Kaaranam needhaanae poeiyyaAren't you the reason, you liar?
Male
Iruvarai ondru polWhy should God create two people,
Iraivan yaen padaikkanumLooking exactly the same?
Male :Oruththanin pazhigaliMale: Should the blame of one person,
Aduththavan sumakkanumBe borne by the next person?
Vittu thallu ellaam thalaivithiLet it go, it's all fate!
Male
Nijamedhu ingae nizhaledhuWhich is reality here, and which is shadow?
Male :Ninaikkaiyil manda kuzhambuthuMale: When thinking about it, my head gets confused!
Male :Ennai pola irukkuraeMale: You look just like me!
Male :Rompa paadu paduthuraeMale: You make me suffer so much!
Male
Ada eththanai kaalam ippadi unnaalOh, how long like this because of you,
Kavalaiyil midhappenoWill I float in sorrow?
Male :En daughter matter watter koodaMale: My daughter matter... will I even,
Inmael kudippenoDrink water hereafter?
Male
Nijamedhu ingae nizhalethu….hoi….Which is reality here, and which is shadow... hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This comedic duet from the film 'Kavalan Avan Kovalan' expresses the utter confusion and chaotic hilarity that ensues when two identical lookalikes encounter each other. Both characters find themselves entangled in mistaken identity troubles, where the actions and misdeeds of one affect the peace, marriage, and romantic life of the other. They question fate and God for creating duplicate human beings and complain about the endless headaches and blunders brought upon them by this resemblance. As the dialogue-style song progresses, family members and bystanders get drawn into the comical dispute, trying to figure out who is 'original' and who is 'ordinary.' Through playful banter, metaphors, and humorous laments, the song highlights the absurd consequences of double identity in classic comedic Tamil cinema style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Nizhaledhu ingae nijamedhu / Ninaikkaiyil manda kuzhambuthu

The second consonant sound 'zh'/'n' matches rhythmically in the opening lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Mayakkangal theliyalaiyae / Enakkonnum puriyalaiyae

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix 'alaiyae'.

Simile / Metaphor

Poonaithaan puliyai pol / Oorilae thiriyuthu

Compares a weak or fake person to a cat roaming around acting like a brave tiger ('puliyai pol').

Cultural Allusion

Idhu vittalaachaaryaa marmakkadhiyaa

Refers to Vittalacharya, the famous film director known for his fantasy, magic, and mystery movies.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kavalan Avan Kovalan' (1987) features Prabhu in dual roles, playing out a classic comedy of errors centered on mistaken identities. The music was composed by Vijayanand, with lyrics written by legendary lyricist Vaali, known for crafting witty, conversational, and situational songs that perfectly fit double-role comedy sequences.

Keep listening

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