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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Onnu Rendu

From Iraivi · 2016

Lyricist
Vivek
Singer
S. J. Surya
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Iraivi2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Onnu rendu moonu naaluOne, two, three, four
Anju aaru bore-uFive and six are boring
Edutha eduppil eighth-u round-uRight from the start, I'm going straight to the eighth round
Poga poren paaruJust watch me go now
Male
Hmm hmm..Chorus :Aahaaa..Hmm hmm.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Moonu Naalu..Chorus :Aahaaa..Three, four.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Hmm hmm..Chorus :Aahaaa..Hmm hmm.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Ezhu.uhh..Chorus :Aahaaa..Seven.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Male
Weight aana vedhalamA heavy demon (Vedhalam)
Thala mela onnu yethikittenI mounted right onto my head
Doubt yellam ketalumEven if doubts arose
Clear panni ulla oothikittenI cleared them all and poured it inside me
Male
Padutha manasu ezhuppa paakudhuMy resting mind tries to wake up
Ezhuppi theliya vachi adikka paakudhuWaking me up, making me sober, it tries to beat me down
Adichi..adutha nimisham sirichi paakudhuAfter beating me, the very next second it tries to laugh
Sirichi kalutha kavvi kadikka paakudhu..uh..uh..uhLaughing, it grips my neck and tries to bite me..
Male
Waste-u waste-u ..Chorus :Bottle-uWaste, waste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Taste-u taste-u…Chorus :Bottle-uTaste, taste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Taste-u Taste-u..Chorus :Bottle-uTaste, taste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Ghost-u ghost-u ..Chorus :Bottle-uGhost, ghost.. Chorus: Bottle!
Male
Onnu rendu..Chorus :Aahaaa..One, two.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Moonu naalu…Chorus :Aahaaa..Three, four.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Anju aaru…Chorus :Aahaaa..Five, six.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Ezhu.uhhh….Chorus :Aahaaa..Seven.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Chorus
Bottle-u… bottle-uBottle... bottle
Bottle-u… bottle-uBottle... bottle
Male
Nalla thaanae kalla kattiIt was running smoothly, but tying a stone to it
Ooduchi en vandiMy vehicle broke down completely
Endha puliya marathil uttenInto which tamarind tree did I crash?
Rendu wheel-u nondiLimping along on two broken wheels
Male
Veththu vettu list-u la thaanOnly in the list of good-for-nothings
Seranum naan poyiMust I go and join now?
Vendha punnila vettu potuSlashing deeper into an already burnt wound
Sirichudhu andha peiThat ghost stood there and laughed
Male
Padutha manasu ezhuppa paakudhuMy resting mind tries to wake up
Ezhuppi theliya vachi adikka paakudhuWaking me up, making me sober, it tries to beat me down
Adichi..adutha nimisham sirichi paakudhuAfter beating me, the very next second it tries to laugh
Sirichi kalutha kavvi kadikka paakudhu..uh..uh..uhLaughing, it grips my neck and tries to bite me..
Male
Waste-u waste-u ..Chorus :Bottle-uWaste, waste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Taste-u taste-u…Chorus :Bottle-uTaste, taste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Taste-u Taste-u..Chorus :Bottle-uTaste, taste.. Chorus: Bottle!
Ghost-u ghost-u ..Chorus :Bottle-uGhost, ghost.. Chorus: Bottle!
Male
Onnu rendu moonu naaluOne, two, three, four
Anju aaru bore-uFive and six are boring
Edutha eduppil eighth-u round-uRight from the start, I'm going straight to the eighth round
Poga poren paaruJust watch me go now
Male
Hmm hmm..Chorus :Aahaaa..Hmm hmm.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Moonu Naalu..Chorus :Aahaaa..Three, four.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Hmm hmm..Chorus :Aahaaa..Hmm hmm.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Ezhu.uhh..Chorus :Aahaaa..Seven.. Chorus: Aahaaa..
Male
Onnu rendu..Chorus :Bottle-uOne, two.. Chorus: Bottle!
Moonu naalu..Chorus :Bottle-uThree, four.. Chorus: Bottle!
Anju aaru…Chorus :Bottle-uFive, six.. Chorus: Bottle!
Ezhu..uh..Chorus :Bottle-uSeven.. Chorus: Bottle!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song portrays a manic, self-destructive descent into severe alcoholism and existential frustration. Skipping the initial drinks and jumping straight to heavy intoxication ('eighth round'), the protagonist seeks an escape from his life's failures. He views alcohol as an oppressive demon ('Vedhalam') riding on his head, echoing the folklore of King Vikramaditya and the corpse-demon, continuously tormenting his mind. Throughout the track, the bottle acts as both a source of comfort and a haunting ghost ('Pei') that mocks his downfall. Life is metaphorically described as a broken cart limping on ruined wheels after crashing into obstacles. Ultimately, the song serves as a grim reflection of how addiction feeds on grief, leaving the protagonist trapped in a vicious cycle of temporary numbness and tormenting reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Mythological Allusion

Weight aana vedhalam / Thala mela onnu yethikitten

Alcohol/addiction is metaphorically represented as a heavy Vedhalam (demon) sitting on the protagonist's head, alluding to the folklore where a demon burdens Vikramaditya.

Tamil Proverb / Idiom

Vendha punnila vettu potu

Uses the Tamil idiom 'vendha punnil vettu' (cutting open an already burnt wound), equivalent to 'rubbing salt in the wound' or adding insult to injury.

Metaphor

Ooduchi en vandi ... Rendu wheel-u nondi

Metaphorically compares the protagonist's ruined life and choices to a broken-down vehicle limping on damaged wheels.

Iyaipu (Rhyming)

Waste-u waste-u / Taste-u taste-u / Ghost-u ghost-u

Uses end-rhyming loan words ('Waste-u', 'Taste-u', 'Ghost-u') ending in the same suffix sound to create a rhythmic, chant-like hook.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 2016 film 'Iraivi' directed by Karthik Subbaraj, this track features music composed and sung by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Vivek. The song plays during pivotal scenes depicting the male characters' self-destructive coping mechanisms through alcohol, mirroring the film's core themes of toxic masculinity, societal burden, and emotional turmoil.

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