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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ozhaikka Porandha Chinna

From Melam Kottu Thaali Kattu · 1988

Lyricist
Thirupathooran
Singers
Mano, Krishnaraj, R. Sulakhchana
Music director
Premasrikemadasa
Details
Melam Kottu Thaali Kattu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhiLittle brother born to toil,
Unakku oru saedhiHere is a message for you.
Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilaeIn your life of continuous hard work,
Kandadhenna needhiWhat justice have you seen?
Male
Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhiLittle brother born to toil,
Unakku oru saedhiHere is a message for you.
Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilaeIn your life of continuous hard work,
Kandadhenna needhiWhat justice have you seen?
Male
Ada ottu pottu thalaivarnnu yethukittadhaalaeJust because we voted and accepted someone as a leader,
Ippa maattikkittom innum kooda valaralaiyae moolaNow we are trapped; our brain/wisdom still hasn't grown.
Innum porumai enna urimai ketka nimirthikadaa thozhaWhy remain patient anymore? Stand tall and demand your rights, comrade!
Male
Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhiLittle brother born to toil,
Unakku oru saedhiHere is a message for you.
Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilaeIn your life of continuous hard work,
Kandadhenna needhiWhat justice have you seen?
Male
Annae annae konjam iruBrother, brother, wait a moment,
Naan aaranju muttaayi kondu varenI will bring orange candies.
Male
Aandukku oru murai nadakkudhannaeThis happens only once a year, brother!
Dei deiHey, hey!
Aaranju muttaaiyi ketkkudhannaeHe is asking for orange candy!
Vaanginadha thinga vidu neeLet us eat what we got,
Venumunnu unnoda panga eduTake your rightful share as needed!
Male
Eesan vandhu padiyalandhaThe times when God provided daily sustenance
Kaalam ellam pochu adaAre all gone, oh brother!
Ration vandhu padiyalakkum kaalam ippo aachuNow is the era where the ration shop measures and gives sustenance!
Eesan vandhu padiyalandhaThe times when God provided daily sustenance
Kaalam ellam pochu adaAre all gone, oh brother!
Ration vandhu padiyalakkum kaalam ippo aachuNow is the era where the ration shop measures and gives sustenance!
Male
Raama raama raghuraama ingaRama, Rama, Raghurama, here...
Naanga mattum kastapatta saridhaanaIs it fair that only we suffer?
Male
Inga panakkaaran veetilathaanHere, only in the rich man's house
Bagavaana serthu vechaanHave they accumulated the Almighty wealth.
Female
Ettu kallu poo manakkumFlowers smell sweet like jasmine,
Ennazhagil oor mayangumThe whole town is entranced by my beauty.
Naan kattikka thaan aasappattuDesiring to marry me,
Andha karna raasa vandhu ninnaanThat King Karna came and stood.
Othukada othikadaStep aside, step aside!
Uruthula en manasu pathikkumadaMy heart will settle on a worthy person!
Male
Veedhiyila jaadhi peraiSalutations for removing
Azhichadhukku vanakkamCaste names on the streets!
Adhu palliyilae azhiyalaiyaeWhy hasn't it been erased in schools yet?
Angae enna kozhappamWhat confusion is going on there?
Veedhiyila jaadhi peraiSalutations for removing
Azhichadhukku vanakkamCaste names on the streets!
Adhu palliyilae azhiyalaiyaeWhy hasn't it been erased in schools yet?
Angae enna kozhappamWhat confusion is going on there?
Male
Enniki ozhiyuradhu lanja leelaiWhen will the game of bribery end?
Adhu idiyaappa munaiya thedura velaIt's like searching for the end/tip of an idiyappam (string hopper)!
Ada mudiyadhavan odhungi nilluHey, those who cannot do it, stand aside!
Mudikka poren vaazhthu solluI am going to finish it, give your blessings!
Male
Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhiLittle brother born to toil,
Unakku oru saedhiHere is a message for you.
Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilaeIn your life of continuous hard work,
Kandadhenna needhiWhat justice have you seen?
Male
Ada ottu pottu thalaivarnnu yethukittadhaalaeJust because we voted and accepted someone as a leader,
Ippa maattikkittom innum kooda valaralaiyae moolaNow we are trapped; our brain/wisdom still hasn't grown.
Innum porumai enna urimai ketka nimirthikadaa thozhaWhy remain patient anymore? Stand tall and demand your rights, comrade!
Male
Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhiLittle brother born to toil,
Unakku oru saedhiHere is a message for you.
Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilaeIn your life of continuous hard work,
Kandadhenna needhiWhat justice have you seen?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This social commentary song highlights the struggles of the working class, questioning political leaders who make grand promises during election times (offering cheap bribery like 'orange candies') but abandon the common people afterward. It emphasizes the shift from reliance on divine providence to the reality of government ration systems, critiques wealth inequality, and questions ongoing caste discrimination in educational institutions as well as pervasive corruption. Ultimately, it serves as a rallying call for workers to stand tall, think critically, and demand their rights.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ozhaikka porandha chinna thambhi / Nee ozhachu ozhachu vazhkaiyilae

Rhyming of the second consonant 'zha' in 'Ozhaikka' and 'ozhachu'.

Metaphor

Adhu idiyaappa munaiya thedura vela

Comparing the impossible task of untangling corruption/bribery to finding the end strand of an idiyappam (string hopper).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaalam ellam pochu ada / Ration vandhu padiyalakkum kaalam ippo aachu

Matching end rhymes 'pochu' and 'aachu' across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Premasrikemadasa, a Sri Lankan composer who worked on select Tamil film tracks during the late 1980s.

Keep listening

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