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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Porappathum Porathum

From Kaaval Deivam · 1969

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Devarajan
Details
Kaaval Deivam1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa aa aa haa aa aaHaa aa aa haa aa aa
Allavin thayavaleBy Allah's grace,
Nallathellaam koodi varumAll good things will come together.
Allalellaam alai polaeAll troubles, like ocean waves,
Nillaamal odi vidumWill run away without stopping.
Allavin thayavaleBy Allah's grace,
Nallathellaam koodi varumAll good things will come together.
Allalellaam alai polaeAll troubles, like ocean waves,
Nillaamal odi vidumWill run away without stopping.
Male
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.
Male
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.
Chorus
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.
Male
Pachai ilia pazhuthuvidum marathinilaeA green leaf turns yellow on the tree,
Andha pazhutha ilia uthirnthidumorr thinathinilaeAnd on a day, that yellowed leaf falls off.
Pachai ilia pazhuthuvidum marathinilaeA green leaf turns yellow on the tree,
Andha pazhutha ilia uthirnthidumorr thinathinilaeAnd on a day, that yellowed leaf falls off.
Ichaiyinaal vandha indha vazhkaiyilaeIn this life born out of desire,
Ennai ennennavoo seiya veithaan vegathilaeHe made me do all sorts of things in rash haste.
Ichaiyinaal vandha indha vazhkaiyilaeIn this life born out of desire,
Ennai ennennavoo seiya veithaan vegathilaeHe made me do all sorts of things in rash haste.
Chorus
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.
Male
Thaayanindhu magizhndhu udhavum oru kayiruA mother happily adorns a protective string (rope),
Ennai thaalatta vandhadhuvum oru kayiruA rope is what came to rock me in my cradle,
Thaayanindhu magizhndhu udhavum oru kayiruA mother happily adorns a protective string (rope),
Ennai thaalatta vandhadhuvum oru kayiruA rope is what came to rock me in my cradle,
Thennai panai yeridavum oru kayiruA rope is used to climb coconut and palm trees,
Indru thookilida varuvadhuvum oru kayiruAnd today, what comes to hang me is also a rope.
Thennai panai yeridavum oru kayiruA rope is used to climb coconut and palm trees,
Indru thookilida varuvadhuvum oru kayiruAnd today, what comes to hang me is also a rope.
Chorus
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.
Male
Yeraadha marangale illaiyappaThere is no tree I haven't climbed, sir;
Enakku edhir varum thookku maram thurumbhae aiyaaThe gallows facing me now is mere straw to me, sir.
Yeraadha marangale illaiyappaThere is no tree I haven't climbed, sir;
Enakku edhir varum thookku maram thurumbhae aiyaaThe gallows facing me now is mere straw to me, sir.
Maaraadha theerppu avan theerppae aiyaaThe ultimate, unchangeable judgment is God's judgment, sir;
Adhai maatra veru theerppu undo solungaiyaaTell me, sir, is there any other verdict that can change it?
Maaraadha theerppu avan theerppae aiyaaThe ultimate, unchangeable judgment is God's judgment, sir;
Adhai maatra veru theerppu undo solungaiyaaTell me, sir, is there any other verdict that can change it?
Male
Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkaiEnduring and departing are nature's way,
Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkaiPraising by some and belittling by others is artificial.
Parappadhum paaivadhum vetkkaiSpreading wings and leaping around is mere desire,
Pani purindhadhum oivadhu vaazhkkaiResting after performing one's duty is life.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This deeply philosophical song from 'Kaaval Deivam' (1969) reflects on the inevitability of death, human fate, and divine will. A condemned man facing execution contemplates life's cyclical nature: how a green leaf turns yellow and falls, how praise and blame are fleeting human constructs, and how duty culminates in eternal rest.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Allalellaam alai polae

Troubles disappearing without stopping are explicitly compared to ocean waves in 'Allalellaam alai polae'.

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

Poruppadhum poradhum iyarkai / Silar pugazhvadhum igazhvadhum seyarkkai

Contrasting natural laws against human artificiality ('iyarkai' vs 'seyarkkai'), and praise vs blame ('pugazhvadhum' vs 'igazhvadhum').

Polysemy / Repetition of motif (Kayiru Motif)

Thaayanindhu magizhndhu udhavum oru kayiru ... Indru thookilida varuvadhuvum oru kayiru

The word 'kayiru' (rope/string) is repeated to illustrate life's stages: a waist-thread adornment, cradle string, tree-climbing aid, and finally the executioner's noose.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by legendary Malayalam composer G. Devarajan (in one of his rare Tamil film ventures), 'Kaaval Deivam' featured Sivaji Ganesan in a guest role and starred TS Balaiah and Jaishankar. The song is renowned for Mayavanathan's poignant lyrics sung with profound emotion by T. M. Soundararajan.

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