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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

O Amma O Ayya

From Malaikkallan · 1954

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
Periyanayagi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Malaikkallan1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oo….ooo….oo….ho….oo….Oo....ooo....oo....ho....oo....
Oo….ammae…oo….aiyae….oo….saamiOh mother... oh father... oh master...
Masiyaa vaelaikellamFor all work requiring magic potion,
Marunthirukku paarungaLook, there is a medicine available!
Masiyaa masiyaaMagic potion, magic potion!
Masiyaa vaelaikellamFor all work requiring magic potion,
Marunthirukku paarungaLook, there is a medicine available!
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyungaIf you buy and try it as you wish, you will understand.
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyungaIf you buy and try it as you wish, you will understand.
Female
Vaaichchaalum vaachchathungaA rare and finest find indeed,
Vasiya marunthungaAn enchanting potion of attraction!
Vaaichchaalum vaachchathungaA rare and finest find indeed,
Vasiya marunthungaAn enchanting potion of attraction!
Valiyoda ponaalum vanthu serungaEven if you are walking along the street, come and join.
Valiyoda ponaalum vanthu serungaEven if you are walking along the street, come and join.
Vanangaatha aampullaiyumEven unyielding, arrogant men
Thathuginaththom poduvaangaWill dance to your tune!
Vanangaatha aampullaiyumEven unyielding, arrogant men
Thathuginaththom poduvaangaWill dance to your tune!
Female
Masiyaa vaelaikellamFor all work requiring magic potion,
Marunthirukku paarungaLook, there is a medicine available!
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyungaIf you buy and try it as you wish, you will understand.
Female
Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamalWithout getting food in one's own country,
Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamalWithout getting food in one's own country,
Sonthu kidappathu edhanaalaeWhy are people lying down exhausted and weak?
Paazhum panakaasum paakka mudiyumaaCan one even catch a glimpse of wretched money?
Padhungi vittathu athanaalae….That is because it has gone into hiding!
Paazhum panakaasum paakka mudiyumaaCan one even catch a glimpse of wretched money?
Padhungi vittathu athanaalae….That is because it has gone into hiding!
Female
Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthuIn this country, many political parties appearing
Aattam poduvathu edhanaalaeAnd making a grand show, why is that so?
Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthuIn this country, many political parties appearing
Aattam poduvathu edhanaalaeAnd making a grand show, why is that so?
Koottathilae thannai vilambaram seithidaTo publicize themselves in the crowd,
Kurukku vazhiyaagum adhanaaleBecause this is the shortcut!
Koottathilae thannai vilambaram seithidaTo publicize advertisement in the crowd,
Kurukku vazhiyaagum adhanaaleBecause this is the shortcut!
Female
Kadavul illaiyena kandapadi pesiSpeaking recklessly that God does not exist
Kaththugindraarae edhanaaleAnd shouting loudly, why is that so?
Kadavul illaiyena kandapadi pesiSpeaking recklessly that God does not exist
Kaththugindraarae edhanaaleAnd shouting loudly, why is that so?
Kaalam kaalamaai kaaththirunthumEven after waiting for ages and ages,
Avar kaatchi kodukkavillae athanaalaeBecause He did not grant them a divine vision!
Kaalam kaalamaai kaaththirunthumEven after waiting for ages and ages,
Avar kaatchi kodukkavillae athanaalaeBecause He did not grant them a divine vision!
Female
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalaeWhatever happens to the world, what do we care, thillaalae!
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalaeWhatever happens to the world, what do we care, thillaalae!
Yaelae maama thilaalaeHey uncle, thillaalae!
Yaelo maama thilaalaeOh uncle, thillaalae!
Yaelaelangadi thilaalaeYaelaelangadi thillaalae!
Yaelolangadi thilaalaeYaelolangadi thillaalae!
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalaeLet us work hard and labor well, thillaalae!
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalaeLet us work hard and labor well, thillaalae!
Female
Rendu perum paadupattaa thillaalaeIf both of us put in hard work, thillaalae!
Rendu perum paadupattaa thillaalaeIf both of us put in hard work, thillaalae!
Yaelae maama thilaalaeHey uncle, thillaalae!
Yaelo maama thilaalaeOh uncle, thillaalae!
Yaelaelangadi thilaalaeYaelaelangadi thillaalae!
Yaelolangadi thilaalaeYaelolangadi thillaalae!
Eppadiyum vaayiru rompum thillaalae….One way or another, our stomach will be filled, thillaalae!
Eppadiyum vaayiru rompum thillaalae….One way or another, our stomach will be filled, thillaalae!
Female
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalaeWhatever happens to the world, what do we care, thillaalae!
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalaeLet us work hard and labor well, thillaalae!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song opens as a street vendor's pitch promoting a magical potion (vasiya marunthu) that promises to tame even the most stubborn individuals. As the narrative progresses, it shifts from playful street banter to sharp socio-political satire, posing rhetorical questions about poverty, hidden wealth, self-serving politicians seeking quick fame, and public debates surrounding faith and atheism. Ultimately, the song arrives at a grounded, pragmatic resolution: regardless of political chaos or philosophical arguments in society, honest hard work and self-reliance remain the only reliable means to feed oneself and sustain life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Masiyaa / Vasiya

The second consonant sound 'si' creates a rhythmic harmony between Masiyaa and Vasiya.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamal

Repetition of the initial 'S' sound ('Sondha' and 'soru') enhances the poetic cadence.

Rhetorical Question

Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthu / Aattam poduvathu edhanaalae

Posing 'why is it so?' to critique opportunistic political parties rather than seeking an actual answer.

Refrain / Folk Chorus

Yaelae maama thilaalae / Yaelo maama thilaalae

Folk rhythmic vocables used to maintain tempo, typical of Tamil street singer or working-class songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

Malaikkallan (1954), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, was a massive commercial success that was remade in five other Indian languages, including the Hindi hit 'Azad' starring Dilip Kumar. The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.

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