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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Odudhu Paar

From Needhi · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Needhi1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Dialogue…………………….Dialogue...
Female
Odudhu paar nalla padamLook, a good movie is playing!
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnuIt is a young girl operating it.
Potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on the box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyilIn the young girl's hand,
Kaasa podungaPut some money!
Female
Odudhu paar nalla padamLook, a good movie is playing!
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnuIt is a young girl operating it.
Potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on the box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyilIn the young girl's hand,
Kaasa podungaPut some money!
Female
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhuMonkeys are running around in Courtallam.
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhuThe Mahamaham festival is happening in Kumbakonam.
Female
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhuMonkeys are running around in Courtallam.
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhuThe Mahamaham festival is happening in Kumbakonam.
Thoothukkudiyil muthu kulikkiraPearl diving in Thoothukudi,
Kaatchiyai paarungaLook at that sight!
Female
Indha potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on this box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podungaPut money in the young girl's hand!
Male
Dialogue …………………..Dialogue...
Female
Vangaalathil saenai pogum vaegam paarungaLook at the speed of the army moving in Bengal!
Indhraa gaandhi angae paesum maedai paarungaLook at the stage where Indira Gandhi speaks over there!
Kaamaraajar pinnaal nirkkum koottam paarungaLook at the crowd standing behind Kamarajar!
Karma veerar pakkam nirkkum sivaaji paarungaLook at Sivaji standing beside the tireless worker (Karma Veerar)!
Kaamaraajar pinnaal nirkkum koottam paarungaLook at the crowd standing behind Kamarajar!
Karma veerar pakkam nirkkum sivaaji paarungaLook at Sivaji standing beside the tireless worker (Karma Veerar)!
Female
Chandhra mandala kappal pogudhuA spaceship is heading to the Moon.
Thathuvam paadum sippigal aadudhuShells are dancing while singing philosophy.
Mandhiri sabaighal ovvoru naalumEvery single day, the cabinet of ministers...
Maarudhu paarungaLook, it keeps changing!
Female
Indha potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on this box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podungaPut money in the young girl's hand!
Female
Pirandha naalil thalaivar podumPut up by the leader on his birthday,
Poster paarungaLook at the poster!
Poster podum vaelai thanilaeWhile doing the job of putting up posters,
Master paarungaLook at the master!
Jayithu vandha MLA vin sirippai paarungaLook at the smile of the winning MLA!
Jayitha pinnae katchi maarum azhaga paarungaLook at the beauty of party-hopping after winning!
Female
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhuMonkeys are running around in Courtallam.
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhuThe Mahamaham festival is happening in Kumbakonam.
Thoothukkudiyil muthu kulikkiraPearl diving in Thoothukudi,
Kaatchiyai paarungaLook at that sight!
Female
Indha potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on this box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podungaPut money in the young girl's hand!
Female
Odudhu paar nalla padamLook, a good movie is playing!
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnuIt is a young girl operating it.
Potti melae kanna podungaKeep your eyes on the box!
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podungaPut money in the young girl's hand!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a street-vendor style bioscope show presentation where a young girl showcases various pictures inside a peep-show box to attract onlookers and earn small coins. Kannadasan crafts the lyrics to capture both famous regional highlights (like Courtallam waterfalls, Kumbakonam Mahamaham, and Thoothukudi pearl diving) and the major political events and figures of the era.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhu

Repetition of the initial 'Ku' sound in Kuthaalathil and kurangugal.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Kaatchiyai paarunga / koottam paarunga

Repetition of the ending word 'paarunga' across multiple lines to create a rhythmic call-to-action.

Satire (Sarcasm / Irony)

Jayitha pinnae katchi maarum azhaga paarunga

A sharp political satire mocking politicians who defect from their party immediately after winning an election.

Did you know?

Trivia

Needhi (1972) was directed by C. V. Rajendran and starred Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The lyrics directly reference real-life contemporary political figures including K. Kamaraj (referred to as 'Karma Veerar'), Indira Gandhi, and Sivaji Ganesan's real-life support for Kamaraj.

Keep listening

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