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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pathirikkai Anbargale

From Oorai Therinjikitten · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Oorai Therinjikitten1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paththirikkai anbaralae panbaana nanparkaleDear friends from the press, courteous friends,
Kisu kisu ezhuthugira penaa mannargalaeKings of the pen who write gossip columns,
Sollattumaa en kathaiya soodaaga kelungaShall I tell my story? Listen attentively while it is fresh and hot!
Naan chinna paiyan aanaalum kettikkaara aalungaEven though I am a young fellow, I am a very clever guy.
Male
Ullatha sollapporaen ungakitta,,,,I am going to tell you the truth...
Chorus :SollungannaeChorus: Tell us, brother!
Male :Uththaman illa naanum oththukittaenMale: I admit that I am no saint.
Chorus :AamaangannaeChorus: Yes, brother!
Male :Thangaiya ennaiththaan kanneer vittenMale: I shed tears only for my little sister,
Chinna poo vaadaama thanneer vittenI poured water so the delicate little flower wouldn't wither.
Male
Enga thaayum thanthaiyumaaMy mother and father,
Rendu kuruvi irunthuchchuWere like a pair of sparrows.
Onnu paranthu poyiduchchuOne flew away,
Innumonnu iranthu poyiduchchuAnd the other passed away.
Naan thaniyaa…naenAnd so I was left all alone...
Male
Ullatha sollapporaen ungakitta,,,,I am going to tell you the truth...
Chorus :SollungannaeChorus: Tell us, brother!
Male :Uththaman illa naanum oththukittaenMale: I admit that I am no saint.
Chorus :AamaangannaeChorus: Yes, brother!
Male :Thangaiya ennaiththaan kanneer vittenMale: I shed tears only for my little sister,
Chinna poo vaadaama thanneer vittenI poured water so the delicate little flower wouldn't wither.
Male
Yaelak kadaiyilaththaanAt the auction shop,
Yaelam vittu paaththaengaI tried setting up an auction,
Yaeralamaa saethengaAnd made quite a lot of money!
Ooraan kalyaanaththula moi ezhutha ponaengaI went to write gift records at someone else's wedding,
Poi ezhuthi vachchengaAnd ended up keeping false accounts!
Male
Yaelak kadaiyilaththaanAt the auction shop,
Yaelam vittu paaththaengaI tried setting up an auction,
Yaeralamaa saethengaAnd made quite a lot of money!
Ooraan kalyaanaththula moi ezhutha ponaengaI went to write gift records at someone else's wedding,
Poi ezhuthi vachchengaAnd ended up keeping false accounts!
Male
Koyil pullaiyaaraiAlong with the temple's Lord Ganesha,
Koottaaga saerththaengaWe joined together,
Kaasa undiyalail kanakkaaga pottaengaAnd placed the money accurately into the temple collection box.
Saami saththiyamaa intha bhoomi saththiyamaI swear on God, I swear on this Earth,
Inga gandhi polaCan any human being here,
Manushan yaarum vaazha mudiyumaaTruly live like Mahatma Gandhi?
Male
Ullatha sollapporaen ungakitta,,,,I am going to tell you the truth...
Chorus :SollungannaeChorus: Tell us, brother!
Male :Uththaman illa naanum oththukittaenMale: I admit that I am no saint.
Chorus :AamaangannaeChorus: Yes, brother!
Male :Thangaiya ennaiththaan kanneer vittenMale: I shed tears only for my little sister,
Chinna poo vaadaama thanneer vittenI poured water so the delicate little flower wouldn't wither.
Male
Yaarum pirappaala thirudanuna aagalaNobody is born a thief,
Dhisai maari pogalaNor do they lose their direction by default.
Vaazhum samuthaayam yaezhaigalai paakkalaThe society we live in does not look after the poor,
Ennaannuthaan ketkalaNor does it care to ask how they are.
Male
Hae yaarum pirappaala thirudanuna aagalaHey, nobody is born a thief,
Dhisai maari pogalaNor do they lose their direction by default.
Vaazhum samuthaayam yaezhaigalai paakkalaThe society we live in does not look after the poor,
Ennaannuthaan ketkalaNor does it care to ask how they are.
Male
Pasichchaa sorilla paduththaakka paayillaWhen hungry there is no food, when lying down there is no mat;
Kettaa tharamaatten eduththaakka thappillaIf asked they won't give, so if taken, there's nothing wrong!
Naanum kettathukku oru kaaranam irukkuThere is a specific reason why I turned bad,
Adhu anjaam number sannathi theruIt is No. 5 Sannadhi Street,
ThiruvallikkeniTriplicane!
Male
Haan ullatha sollapputtaen ungakitta,,,,Ah, I have told you the truth...
Chorus :SollungannaeChorus: Tell us, brother!
Male :Uththaman illa naanum oththukittaenMale: I admit that I am no saint.
Chorus :AamaangannaeChorus: Yes, brother!
Male :Thangaiya ennaiththaan kanneer vittenMale: I shed tears only for my little sister,
Chinna poo vaadaama thanneer vittenI poured water so the delicate little flower wouldn't wither.
Chorus
Nampa annan kettathukkuFor our brother to turn bad,
Oru kaaranam irukkuThere is a specific reason,
Adhu anjaam number sannathi theruIt is No. 5 Sannadhi Street,
ThiruvallikkeniTriplicane!
Adhu anjaam number sannathi theruIt is No. 5 Sannadhi Street,
ThiruvallikkeniTriplicane!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a candid, lively monologue by the protagonist addressing journalists and the public. He acknowledges that he is not a righteous saint and has resorted to petty scams and thefts to survive. However, he explains that his actions are driven by tragic circumstances—having lost both parents early, leaving him to single-handedly care for his young sister, whom he metaphorically nurtures like a delicate flower. He critiques society's indifference toward the poor, pointing out that no one is born a criminal, but poverty and lack of compassion force people onto wrong paths.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Chinna poo vaadaama thanneer vitten

Compares the protagonist's younger sister to a delicate little flower ('Chinna poo') requiring care and water so as not to wither.

Simile

Rendu kuruvi irunthuchchu

Compares his parents to a pair of sparrows ('Rendu kuruvi irunthuchchu').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Pasichchaa sorilla paduththaakka paayilla

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('P') in 'Pasichchaa' and 'paduththaakka'.

Rhyme (Edhukai)

Uththaman illa naanum oththukittaen

Second letter rhyming with 'Uththaman' and 'Thangaiya' (rhyming 'th' sound in colloquial flow).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although titled under this context, this track features the iconic composition of Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vaali from the blockbuster Rajinikanth movie 'Padikkadavan' (1985), sung by Malaysia Vasudevan. The track uniquely combines street-smart folk rhythms with socio-political commentary about urban poverty in Chennai.

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