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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Periyanayaki Petition

From Ivargal Indiyargal · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Details
Ivargal Indiyargal1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Male
Oorukkaaga uzhaippaaShe will work hard for the welfare of the town
Onnu ninachchaa adhai mudippaaIf she sets her mind on something, she will accomplish it
Thiruttuthanangal nadanthaalIf any fraudulent or illegal acts take place
Adhai thuninji ava thaduppaaShe will stand up courageously and stop it
Male
Oorukkaaga uzhaippaaShe will work hard for the welfare of the town
Onnu ninachchaa adhai mudippaaIf she sets her mind on something, she will accomplish it
Thiruttuthanangal nadanthaalIf any fraudulent or illegal acts take place
Adhai thuninji ava thaduppaaShe will stand up courageously and stop it
Male
Oorukkaaga uzhaippaaShe will work hard for the welfare of the town
Onnu ninachchaa adhai mudippaaIf she sets her mind on something, she will accomplish it
Thiruttuthanangal nadanthaalIf any fraudulent or illegal acts take place
Adhai thuninji ava thaduppaaShe will stand up courageously and stop it
Male
Yaedhaachchum thapputhandaaIf she sees anyone doing something wrong or unlawful
Evanaachchum seiyya kandaaIf she catches anyone committing a misdeed
Edhukkaala vanthu nippaaShe will come and stand directly in front of them
Edhirppaa neruppaa iruppaaShe will confront them like a fiery flame
Male
Oorukkaaga uzhaippaaShe will work hard for the welfare of the town
Onnu ninachchaa adhai mudippaaIf she sets her mind on something, she will accomplish it
Thiruttuthanangal nadanthaalIf any fraudulent or illegal acts take place
Adhai thuninji ava thaduppaaShe will stand up courageously and stop it
Male
Bungalow-il thaanirunthumEven though she lives in a grand bungalow
Panbudanae vaazhvaalaamShe lives with great humility and character
Pallakku pol car irunthumEven though she owns a car luxurious as a palanquin
Pallavanil povaalaamShe still travels on public Pallavan buses
Female
Pettaiyilae kuraigalai keppaalaeShe listens to the grievances of the local neighborhood
Kodi parakkura kottaiyilaeAt the fort where the state flag flies high
Manthiriyai paarppaalaeShe meets with government ministers directly
Female
Naalthorum kuppaikoolamEvery day amidst garbage and waste
Naduvaalae saeri sanamThe slum dwellers live their daily lives
Thaaipola vaazhum vidhamTo help them live with dignity like a mother
Ivathaan ezhuthi koduppaaShe writes and submits petitions on their behalf
Male
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Male
Corporation thanni varaWaiting for the corporation water to arrive
Kaal kadukka kaaththirukkumStanding for hours until legs ache
Thaaikulaththa paarththaalaeWhen she sees the mothers waiting in distress
Thaangi kolla maattaalaeShe cannot tolerate their suffering
Male
Phone eduththu pesiduvaaShe picks up the phone and makes calls
Penn puli pol seeriduvaalShe roars like a fierce tigress
Pongi varum gangaiyai polLike the overflowing, gushing Ganges river
Thanni kotta senjiduvaaShe makes sure water flows out to everyone
Male
Eliyorkku uzhichchidaTo labor and serve the poor and needy
Ival pol yaarWho else is there like her?
Thunai purivathil pala perkkuIn providing aid and support to many people
Ivaloru MGRShe is like MGR to them
Male
Ooraare sonthaminnuTreating all townspeople as her own family
Uravaadum panthaminnuBonding with everyone like close kin
Raththaththin raththaminnuCalling them the blood of her blood
Nenaippaa adhupol nadappaaShe thinks of them that way and acts accordingly
Male
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Male
Entha kada aanaalumNo matter which shop or business it is
Entha porul vittraalumNo matter what items are being sold
Thappu edai pottaalaeIf faulty weights or bad measures are used
Oppukolla maattaalaeShe will never accept or tolerate it
Male
Niyaayavilai ennaannuAsking what the actual fair price list is
Pattiyalai ketppaalaeShe demands to see the price schedule
Kanda vilai sonnaakkaIf someone charges exorbitant rates
Kambi enna vaippaalaeShe will make sure they count bars in prison
Male
Ooyaathu ivalathu podhu sevaiHer public service never ceases or rests
Oru pozhuthilum saayaathuHer direct, truthful gaze never swerves or bends
Ivalathu nerpaarvaiHas righteousness itself taken a female form?
Male
Tharumamthaan pennaanathoHas divinity become her watchful eye?
Dheiveegam kannaanathoAh! How can I put her greatness into words?
Adadaa naan en solvathoShe is a truly modern and novel creation
Ivalor pudhumai padaippuPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Male
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiShe will work hard for the welfare of the town
Male
Oorukkaaga uzhaippaaIf she sets her mind on something, she will accomplish it
Onnu ninachchaa adhai mudippaaIf any fraudulent or illegal acts take place
Thiruttuthanangal nadanthaalShe will stand up courageously and stop it
Adhai thuninji ava thaduppaaIf she sees anyone doing something wrong or unlawful
Male
Yaedhaachchum thapputhandaaIf she catches anyone committing a misdeed
Evanaachchum seiyya kandaaShe will come and stand directly in front of them
Edhukkaala vanthu nippaaShe will confront them like a fiery flame
Edhirppaa neruppaa iruppaaPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Male
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagiPeriyanayagi, the petition Periyanayagi
Periyanaayagi petition periyanaayagi

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song celebrates 'Petition Periyanayagi', a courageous, selfless, and activist-minded woman dedicated to social reform and public service. Despite living a life of privilege in a bungalow and owning luxury cars, she prefers public transport and remains grounded among working-class people, raising her voice against municipal neglect, price-gouging, and civic injustice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Penn puli pol seeriduvaal

Comparing her fiery roar for justice to a female tiger ('Penn puli pol seeriduvaal') and comparing the flow of water to the gushing river Ganges ('Pongi varum gangaiyai pol').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Etukai)

Pallakku pol car irunthum

In lines like 'Pallakku pol car irunthum / Pallavanil povaalaam', the usage of matching letters (Pa) adds a catchy rhythm to the lyric structure.

Metaphor / Allusion

Ivaloru MGR

Comparing her philanthropic and protective social work to M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), who was famed for his humanitarian screen persona and social leadership.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song portrays a classic public service heroine trope popular in late 80s Tamil cinema, referencing 'Pallavan' buses (the former name of Chennai city public transport buses) and M.G. Ramachandran's famous political catchphrase 'Raththaththin raththam' (Blood of my blood).

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