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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pallandu Pallandu

From Muhammad bin Tughluq · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Muhammad bin Tughluq1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Pallaandu pallaandu pallaayirathaanduFor many years, many thousands of years,
Palakodi nooraayiramMany millions and hundreds of thousands of years,
Mallaandathin thol maamannaaO great king with broad, mighty shoulders!
Mugamathu pin thuklak vaazhga thuklak vaazhgaLong live Muhammad bin Tughluq, long live Tughluq!
Chorus
Mazhai pottrum allaavinSinging the praise of Allah who bestows rain,
Isai paadi thisai nokkiFacing the sacred direction in prayer,
Thozhgindra thuklak vaazhga thuklak vaazhgaWorshiping, long live Tughluq, long live Tughluq!
Female
IndhraaO Indra!
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikkaEven Indra and the divine gods welcome you,
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukkaWhile the great city of Delhi ruled by you stands,
Mandrugal kandrugal pallaakku thookkaWith halls and people carrying your palanquin,
Manam pola arasaandaYou who ruled as your heart desired,
Than manam pol arasaandaWho ruled according to his own whims,
Mannavanae varuga mamannavanae varuga….Welcome O King, welcome O Great King!
Female
IndhraaO Indra!
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikkaEven Indra and the divine gods welcome you,
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukkaWhile the great city of Delhi ruled by you stands,
Female
Thurupidikkaamal irupatharkkaagaTo prevent things from getting rusted,
Tholaal aadaiyum thanthavanaeO one who gave clothing made out of leather!
Seedhakaathi pol selvathaiyellaamGiving away all riches like the patron Seethakathi,
Eliyavar nalam pera thanthavanaeO one who gave so that the poor may prosper!
Eliyavar nalam pera thanthavanaeO one who gave so that the poor may prosper!
Female
IndhraaO Indra!
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikkaEven Indra and the divine gods welcome you,
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukkaWhile the great city of Delhi ruled by you stands,
Female
Long leave long leave tughluqLong live, long live Tughluq!
We wish you wish you wish you goodluckWe wish you, wish you, wish you good luck!
Goodluck goodluck thuklakGood luck, good luck Tughluq!
Female
Mirugathai polae manitharai ellaamLike wild beasts, hunting down all human beings,
Vettaiyadiya veeran neeYou are the warrior who hunted them down!
Male :Rajkaboorin nadaiyil vaaMale: Come in the stylish walk of Raj Kapoor!
Female :Oh dhilipkumaarin udaiyil vaaFemale: Oh come dressed in the attire of Dilip Kumar!
Male and Female :Male and Female:
Vaa vaa vaa vaa vaa vaa Oohhoh….Come, come, come, come, come, come, Oohhoh!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Cho Ramaswamy's political satire 'Muhammad bin Tughluq' is a hilarious and sharp parody of traditional praise songs (stuti) used for kings and gods. It opens with phrasing reminiscent of Periyazhwar's sacred devotional hymn 'Pallandu', but quickly twists into absurdly praising the erratic and tyrannical decisions of Muhammad bin Tughluq, such as issuing leather currency/attire to prevent 'rusting' and hunting humans like animals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parody / Satire

Pallaandu pallaandu pallaayirathaandu

The lyrics subvert classic Tamil devotional literature (specifically Periyazhwar's Thirupallandu) to satirize autocratic political rulers and eccentric historical decisions.

Simile (Uvamai)

Mirugathai polae manitharai ellaam / Vettaiyadiya veeran nee

Compares Tughluq's brutal cruelty toward people to hunting wild animals.

Alliteration (Moonaai / Etukai)

Pallaandu pallaandu pallaayirathaandu

Repetition of initial and second consonant sounds across lines (e.g., Pallaandu / Palakodi / Mallaandathin).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Muhammad bin Tughluq' (1971), directed by Cho Ramaswamy and based on his stage play of the same name, is one of Tamil cinema's most famous political satires. The song mixes classical Tamil, Islamic imagery, Western phrases, and contemporary Bollywood references (Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar) to highlight the bizarre, timeless nature of political demagoguery.

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