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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Odudhu Paar

From Needhi · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Needhi
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
29 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Dialogue…………………….
Odudhu paar nalla padam
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnu
Potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil
Kaasa podunga
Odudhu paar nalla padam
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnu
Potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil
Kaasa podunga
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhu
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhu
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhu
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhu
Thoothukkudiyil muthu kulikkira
Kaatchiyai paarunga
Indha potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podunga
Dialogue …………………..
Vangaalathil saenai pogum vaegam paarunga
Indhraa gaandhi angae paesum maedai paarunga
Kaamaraajar pinnaal nirkkum koottam paarunga
Karma veerar pakkam nirkkum sivaaji paarunga
Kaamaraajar pinnaal nirkkum koottam paarunga
Karma veerar pakkam nirkkum sivaaji paarunga
Chandhra mandala kappal pogudhu
Thathuvam paadum sippigal aadudhu
Mandhiri sabaighal ovvoru naalum
Maarudhu paarunga
Indha potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podunga
Pirandha naalil thalaivar podum
Poster paarunga
Poster podum vaelai thanilae
Master paarunga
Jayithu vandha MLA vin sirippai paarunga
Jayitha pinnae katchi maarum azhaga paarunga
Kuthaalathil kurangugal odudhu
Kumbakonathil maamaangam nadakkudhu
Thoothukkudiyil muthu kulikkira
Kaatchiyai paarunga
Indha potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podunga
Odudhu paar nalla padam
Ottuvadhu chinna ponnu
Potti melae kanna podunga
Chinna ponnu kaiyil kaasa podunga
[Dialogue]
Look, a fine show is running!
It is a little girl running it!
Put your eyes to the peep-box,
and into the little girl's hands,
drop some coins!
Look, a fine show is running!
It is a little girl running it!
Put your eyes to the peep-box,
and into the little girl's hands,
drop some coins!
Monkeys are scampering in Courtallam!
The Mahamaham festival is underway in Kumbakonam!
Monkeys are scampering in Courtallam!
The Mahamaham festival is underway in Kumbakonam!
Diving for pearls in Tuticorin—
just look at that scene!
Put your eyes to this peep-box,
and drop some coins into the little girl's hands!
[Dialogue]
Look at the speed of the army marching in Bengal!
Look at the stage where Indira Gandhi speaks!
Look at the crowd standing behind Kamarajar!
Look at Sivaji standing beside the tireless leader!
Look at the crowd standing behind Kamarajar!
Look at Sivaji standing beside the tireless leader!
A spaceship is flying to the moon!
Shells singing life's wisdom are dancing!
Cabinets of ministers, every single day—
look how they keep changing!
Put your eyes to this peep-box,
and drop some coins into the little girl's hands!
On birthdays, the posters put up for the leader—
just look at those posters!
In the craft of pasting posters,
look at the master at work!
Look at the winning MLA's wide smile!
Look at the way they switch parties after winning!
Monkeys are scampering in Courtallam!
The Mahamaham festival is underway in Kumbakonam!
Diving for pearls in Tuticorin—
just look at that scene!
Put your eyes to this peep-box,
and drop some coins into the little girl's hands!
Look, a fine show is running!
It is a little girl running it!
Put your eyes to the peep-box,
and drop some coins into the little girl's hands!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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