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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oorukullae Naandhaan

From Sivappu Malli · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, T. L. Maharajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sivappu Malli1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oorukullae naanthaan maharajaIn this town, I am the king!
Raththirikku venum pudhu rojaaI need a fresh rose for the night!
Oorukullae naanthaan maharajaIn this town, I am the king!
Raththirikku venum pudhu rojaaI need a fresh rose for the night!
Ennai oru pokkiri endruCalling me a rogue,
Oorellam solvaanga ellarum vaivaanagaThe whole town will talk, and everyone will scold me.
Male
Oorukullae naanthaan maharajaIn this town, I am the king!
Raththirikku venum pudhu rojaaI need a fresh rose for the night!
Male
Naan pollaathaavan mei sollaathavanI am a wicked man, one who does not speak the truth,
Naan pollaathaavan mei sollaathavanI am a wicked man, one who does not speak the truth,
Male
Naan dharmaththai kuzhi thondi kollaathavanYet I am not one who buries righteousness underground to kill it,
Naan theriyaamal kolai seiyya kallaathavanI am not one who learned to commit murder in secret.
Samsaaram yaaraalam pirar kanneer saaraayamFamilies in abundance, and others' tears are my alcohol,
Male
Oru paavam illaathavanA person devoid of any sin,
Endrum vazhi maari sellaathavanOne who never strays off his path,
Oru paavam illaathavanA person devoid of any sin,
Endrum vazhi maari sellaathavanOne who never strays off his path.
Male
Aalaanaalum aaluThough I am just one man,
Naan azhuththamaana aaluI am a formidable and tough man!
Aalaanaalum aaluThough I am just one man,
Naan azhuththamaana aaluI am a formidable and tough man!
Male
Michcham vevaram vaenumunnaaIf you want the remaining details,
Naadakaththa nallaa paaru paaruWatch the play/drama carefully!
Michcham vevaram vaenumunnaaIf you want the remaining details,
Naadakaththa nallaa paaru paaruWatch the play/drama carefully!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song serves as a dramatic character portrait of a morally corrupt, brazen character within the narrative of the film. He proudly proclaims his dominance over the town as a self-styled king who indulges in hedonistic pleasures without shame. He acknowledges that society views him as a rogue and a liar, yet he cynically defends himself by claiming he doesn't engage in secret cowardice or hypocrisy like others. Through a mix of arrogance, dark humor, and defiance, the speaker accepts his villainous reputation while asserting his tough demeanor. He concludes by breaking the fourth wall, inviting the audience to watch the rest of the unfolding drama to witness his full story and actions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Naan pollaathaavan mei sollaathavan... kollaathavan... kallaathavan

The lyrics use repeating end-rhyme suffixes (-aathavan) across multiple consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, chant-like cadence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Aalaanaalum aalu / Naan azhuththamaana aalu

The second consonant sound ('zh' / 'l' family) creates phonetic harmony between lines.

Irony / Sarcasm

Oru paavam illaathavan / Endrum vazhi maari sellaathavan

The speaker sarcastically calls himself 'sinless' and 'one who never strays' immediately after boasting about his wicked deeds and drinking others' tears.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sivappu Malli (1981) was a prominent revolutionary-themed film directed by Rama Narayanan, starring Vijayakanth and Chandrasekar. The music for the film was composed by the popular duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The movie was a major success that established Vijayakanth's image as an action hero fighting against socio-economic oppression.

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