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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paal Kudikkum Pillai Idhu

From Elan Kandru · 1985

Lyricist
Kanmani Subbu
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Elan Kandru1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Nanmai nadakkum konjam naal pidikkumGood things will happen, it will take a few days
Ilangandru naalaikku kalaiyedukkumTomorrow this young calf will weed out the evil
Andru inam kandu edhirigal thalaiyedukkumOn that day, recognizing their fate, enemies will bow their heads
Male
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Male
Thaai ivalo azhuthazhuthu kadharivittaalThis mother wept and cried out in agony
Than thaaipaalai tharaiyellaam sithara vittaalShe spilled her mother's milk all over the ground
Irukindra pillai adhuvum theriyavillaiShe does not even realize the presence of her child
Kanavan illai endra kadhaiyai ival ariyavillaiShe does not know the reality that her husband is no more
Male
Soozhchiyinaal dharmam endrum azhiyaathuRighteousness will never be destroyed by conspiracy
Ada sooriyanai poththi vaikka mudiyaathuHey, you cannot keep the sun covered up
Male
Thanthaiyinai vanjaganae eriththuvittaanThe treacherous villain burned down the father
Thayidaththil kandrai avan piriththuvittaanHe separated the young calf from its mother
Kaala dhevan indru mattum sirippai vittaanThe God of Time laughed only for today
Ivan kodumikku oru thedhi indru kuriththuvittaanHe marked a date today for this tyrant's cruelty
Male
Soozhchiyinaal dharmam endrum azhiyaathuRighteousness will never be destroyed by conspiracy
Ada sooriyanai poththi vaikka mudiyaathuHey, you cannot keep the sun covered up
Male
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Male
……………....
Male
Pulikandru nari kugaiyil valarnthathammaaA tiger cub grew up in a fox's cave, oh mother
Athan pujam kandu malaikooda malaiththathammaSeeing its strong shoulders, even the mountain was astonished, oh mother
Kaalamennum sakkarangal urundathammaaThe wheels of time rolled on, oh mother
Antha ilang kandru kaalaiyena thirandathammaaThat young calf transformed into a strong bull, oh mother
Male
Soozhchiyinaal dharmam endrum azhiyaathuRighteousness will never be destroyed by conspiracy
Ada sooriyanai poththi vaikka mudiyaathuHey, you cannot keep the sun covered up
Male
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkumThis milk-drinking child will hold a spear
Nanmai nadakkum konjam naal pidikkumGood things will happen, it will take a few days
Ilangandru naalaikku kalaiyedukkumTomorrow this young calf will weed out the evil
Andru inam kandu edhirigal thalaiyedukkumOn that day, recognizing their fate, enemies will bow their heads
Male
………………...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Paal kudikkum pillai idhu vel pidikkum' serves as an expressive narrative foretelling the rise of an innocent infant into a powerful savior of justice. Despite being born into tragic circumstances where his father is killed through evil schemes and his mother is overcome by grief, the child is destined to overcome all odds. The lyrics emphasize that deceit can never permanently triumph over righteousness, just as the sun cannot be hidden under a cloth. As time rolls on, the young child grows up like a tiger cub raised in adversity, maturing into a formidable force. The song reassures that evil has a fixed expiration date, and the hero will inevitably return to eliminate villains, restore justice, and reclaim his rightful path.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Metaphor)

Pulikandru nari kugaiyil valarnthathammaa

The line compares the young hero to a tiger cub ('Pulikandru') growing up in adversity ('Nari kugaiyil') and a young calf turning into a strong bull ('Kaalaiyena').

Asooriyanai / Sun Metaphor

Ada sooriyanai poththi vaikka mudiyaathu

Comparing truth/righteousness to the sun, illustrating that villainy ('Soozhchi') cannot permanently hide or suppress truth.

Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance/Rhyme)

Thaai ivalo azhuthazhuthu kadharivittaal / Than thaaipaalai tharaiyellaam sithara vittaal

The second letters of 'Thaai' and 'Than' rhyme across adjacent lines ('aa').

Personification

Kaala dhevan indru mattum sirippai vittaan

Time is personified as a deity ('Kaala dhevan') who smiles temporarily and assigns a date of doom for evil.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Kanmani Subbu is the son of the legendary Tamil writer, lyricist, and director Kothamangalam Subbu (author of the classic novel 'Thillana Mohanambal'). Kanmani Subbu is renowned for his rhythmic and classical Tamil lyrical structures in Tamil cinema.

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