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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
Movie name
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
11 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pallaandu pallaandu pallaayirathaandu
Palakodi nooraayiram
Mallaandathin thol maamannaa
Mugamathu pin thuklak vaazhga thuklak vaazhga
Mazhai pottrum allaavin
Isai paadi thisai nokki
Thozhgindra thuklak vaazhga thuklak vaazhga
Indhraa
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikka
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukka
Mandrugal kandrugal pallaakku thookka
Manam pola arasaanda
Than manam pol arasaanda
Mannavanae varuga mamannavanae varuga….
Indhraa
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikka
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukka
Thurupidikkaamal irupatharkkaaga
Tholaal aadaiyum thanthavanae
Seedhakaathi pol selvathaiyellaam
Eliyavar nalam pera thanthavanae
Eliyavar nalam pera thanthavanae
Indhraa
Indhiraathi devargalum edhirkondu azhaikka
Neeyaanda thilli maanagaramum irukka
Long leave long leave tughluq
We wish you wish you wish you goodluck
Goodluck goodluck thuklak
Mirugathai polae manitharai ellaam
Vettaiyadiya veeran nee
Male :Rajkaboorin nadaiyil vaa
Female :Oh dhilipkumaarin udaiyil vaa
Male and Female :
Vaa vaa vaa vaa vaa vaa Oohhoh….
For many years, many years, for many thousands of years,
For millions and hundreds of thousands of years,
O great king with mighty broad shoulders,
Long live Muhammad bin Tughluq, long live Tughluq!
Singing praises to Allah who blesses with rain,
Facing the sacred direction to offer worship,
Long live Tughluq who bows in prayer, long live Tughluq!
Indra!
With Indra and the gods coming forward to welcome you,
While the great city of Delhi you once ruled still stands,
With followers carrying your palanquin aloft,
You who ruled as your heart pleased,
Ruling entirely by your own whim,
Welcome, O King! Welcome, O Great King...
Indra!
With Indra and the gods coming forward to welcome you,
While the great city of Delhi you once ruled still stands,
To prevent anything from ever rusting,
You gave us clothes made of leather!
Like the generous Seethakkathi, giving all your wealth,
So that the poor would prosper,
Giving generously so the poor would thrive!
Indra!
With Indra and the gods coming forward to welcome you,
While the great city of Delhi you once ruled still stands,
Long live, long live, Tughluq!
We wish you, wish you, wish you good luck!
Good luck, good luck, Tughluq!
Hunting down human beings,
As if they were wild animals, you mighty hero!
[Male]: Come walking with Raj Kapoor's swagger!
[Female]: Oh, come dressed like Dilip Kumar!
[Male & Female]:
Come, come, come, come, come, come, oh-ho...
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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