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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pollathavan Purushankaran

From Thalai Magan · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Thalai Magan1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pollathaavan purshankaaranMy husband is a wicked man,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Pollathaavan purshankaaranMy husband is a wicked man,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Rathiriyil oothikuvaanHe gulps down alcohol at night,
Bodhaithaan yaethikuvaanHe raises his level of intoxication.
Paduthara paadu thaangala saamiOh God, I cannot bear the torture he inflicts,
Pombala odambu porukala saamiOh God, my woman's body cannot endure it anymore.
Female
Romba pollathaavan purshankaaranHe is a very wicked man, my husband,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Rathiriyil oothikuvaanHe gulps down alcohol at night,
Bodhaithaan yaethikuvaanHe raises his level of intoxication.
Female
Dosa vachcha aappam ketpaanIf I serve dosa, he demands aappam,
Aappam vecha thotu paappanIf I serve aappam, he merely touches it to check,
Dosa vachcha aappam ketpaanIf I serve dosa, he demands aappam,
Aappam vecha thotu paappanIf I serve aappam, he merely touches it to check,
Female
Soodathaan ilaennu kaalala othappaanComplaining it's not hot, he kicks me with his feet,
Soodathaan ilaennu kaalala othappaanComplaining it's not hot, he kicks me with his feet.
Female
Kunijaalum adipaan nimirunthaalum idippaanWhether I stoop down he beats me, or stand up he bumps into me,
Kudikara paiyathan korangaatam kuthippaanThat drunken guy jumps around like a monkey!
Ammamaa appapaa ennatha solluvaenOh mother, oh father, what can I even say?
Female
Pollathaavan purshankaaranMy husband is a wicked man,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Rathiriyil oothikuvaanHe gulps down alcohol at night,
Bodhaithaan yaethikuvaanHe raises his level of intoxication.
Female
Kaithu kattil poda sollvaanHe asks me to lay out a coir bed,
Vaa machan vaa paada sollvaanHe demands that I sing 'Vaa Machan Vaa',
Kaithu kattil poda sollvaanHe asks me to lay out a coir bed,
Vaa machan vaa paada sollvaanHe demands that I sing 'Vaa Machan Vaa',
Female
Silukkatatam aadanum selaiye izhupaanHe demands I dance like Silk Smitha and pulls my saree,
Silukkatatam aadanum selaiye izhupaanHe demands I dance like Silk Smitha and pulls my saree.
Munthaana viripean mamannu azhaipaenI spread the pallu of my saree and call him affectionately,
Vidinjaalum madayan tharai melae kidapaanYet until dawn breaks, that fool lies passed out on the floor!
Vetkatha thukatha yaar melae soluvaenTo whom can I express my shame and sorrow?
Female
Pollathavan purshankaaranMy husband is a wicked man,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Rathiriyil oothikuvaanHe gulps down alcohol at night,
Bodhaithaan yaethikuvaanHe raises his level of intoxication.
Female
Vootta uttu odi vanthaenI ran away leaving the house,
Aaru kulam theadi vanthenI came searching for rivers and ponds,
Vootta uttu odi vanthaenI ran away leaving the house,
Aaru kulam theadi vanthenI came searching for rivers and ponds.
Female
Avan kooda porada ennala aavaathuI can no longer fight and cope with him,
Avan kooda porada ennala aavaathuI can no longer fight and cope with him.
Othavaatha purushan sagavaasam edhukuWhat is the point of living with a good-for-nothing husband?
Odnjichachu idupu avanaala enakuMy back and waist are broken because of him!
Kanaalam kattithaan ennatha kandaengaWhat did I gain by getting married?
Female
Pollathaavan purshankaaranMy husband is a wicked man,
En purshankaaranMy husband!
Rathiriyil oothikuvaanHe gulps down alcohol at night,
Bodhaithaan yaethikuvaanHe raises his level of intoxication.
Paduthura padu thangala samiOh God, I cannot bear the torture he inflicts,
Pombala udambu porukala samiOh God, my woman's body cannot endure it anymore.
Female
Romba pollathaavan purshankaaranHe is a very wicked man, my husband,
En purshankaaranMy husband!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style song from the 1983 film 'Thalai Magan' portrays a frustrated wife lamenting her marital grief caused by her alcoholic, unreasonable husband. She humorously yet tragically details his absurd night-time antics—ranging from demanding different food only to kick her, asking her to perform seductive dances like Silk Smitha, and then falling unconscious on the floor till morning due to intoxication. Overwhelmed by physical suffering, embarrassment, and despair, she flees her home seeking relief near water bodies. The lyrics capture the harsh social reality of domestic distress mixed with folk humor, expressing a woman's exasperation at marriage to an unreliable partner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Kudikara paiyathan korangaatam kuthippaan

Comparing the intoxicated husband's erratic jumping and behavior to that of a monkey ('korangaatam kuthippaan').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paduthara paadu thaangala saami / Pombala odambu porukala saami

The second letters 'd' ('ti') in 'Paduthara' and 'Pombala' rhyme, creating rhythmic coherence.

Monaai (Alliteration / First-letter Rhyme)

Silukkatatam aadanum selaiye izhupaan

Repetition of the initial sound 'S' in 'Soodathaan', 'Silukkatatam', and 'selaiye'.

Pop Culture Allusion

Silukkatatam aadanum selaiye izhupaan

Direct reference to contemporary pop icons and songs ('Silk Smitha' and the hit song 'Vaa Machan Vaa') to ground the song in popular contemporary cinema culture.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song references 'Silk Smitha', who was an immensely popular dance icon in Tamil cinema during the early 1980s. Mentioning her name in folk/gaana styled movie tracks was a popular comedic trope used by lyricist Vaali to evoke instant audience familiarity and humor.

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