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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raja Vandhaar

From Kanavan Manaivi · 1976

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Kanavan Manaivi1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………....
Male
Raja vanthaar rottoramaaThe king came along the roadside,
Rajaththi vanthaalae oorkolamaaiAnd the queen arrived in a grand procession!
Oorum rodum un sonthamaaDo you own this whole town and the road?
Un vegam ennidam sellaathammaaYour pride and speed won't work with me, woman!
Male
Raja vanthaar rottoramaaThe king came along the roadside,
Rajaththi vanthaalae oorkolamaaiAnd the queen arrived in a grand procession!
Oorum rodum un sonthamaaDo you own this whole town and the road?
Un vegam ennidam sellaathammaaYour pride and speed won't work with me, woman!
Male
Paaththram saainthaal paalaethammaaIf the vessel tilts, what happens to the milk?
Aaththiram migunthaal arivethammaaIf anger overflows, what happens to wisdom?
Paaththram saainthaal paalaethammaaIf the vessel tilts, what happens to the milk?
Aaththiram migunthaal arivethammaaIf anger overflows, what happens to wisdom?
Yae…..seethaa…..ae……..radha vaarungalaenHey Sita... hey Radha, please come along!
Immaanai pen maanaaga maattrungalaenTransform this deer-like wild woman into a gentle deer!
Male
Achcham kettaal naanam kettaalIf fear is lost, if modesty is lost,
Micham enna pennaeWhat is left in a woman, my girl?
Oru annamena sornamenaThink of yourself like a swan or like pure gold,
Unnai ninai kannaeKeep that in mind, my dear!
Male
Achcham kettaal naanam kettaalIf fear is lost, if modesty is lost,
Micham enna pennaeWhat is left in a woman, my girl?
Oru annamena sornamenaThink of yourself like a swan or like pure gold,
Unnai ninai kannaeKeep that in mind, my dear!
Male
Kalyaanam aagaatha munnaeBefore getting married,
Penn kallaaga koodaathu pennaeA woman should not turn hard as a stone, girl!
Yae……seethaa…..ae……..radha vaarungalaenHey Sita... hey Radha, please come along!
Immaanai pen maanaaga maattrungalaenTransform this deer-like wild woman into a gentle deer!
Male
Raja vanthaar rottoramaaThe king came along the roadside,
Rajaththi vanthaalae oorkolamaaiAnd the queen arrived in a grand procession!
Oorum rodum un sonthamaaDo you own this whole town and the road?
Un vegam ennidam sellaathammaaYour pride and speed won't work with me, woman!
Male
Karumbbu eppothu irumbaachchuWhen did sweet sugarcane turn into hard iron?
Kalaimaan eppothu puliyaachchuWhen did a gentle deer turn into a fierce tiger?
Karumbbu eppothu irumbaachchuWhen did sweet sugarcane turn into hard iron?
Kalaimaan eppothu puliyaachchuWhen did a gentle deer turn into a fierce tiger?
Yae……seethaa…..ae……..radha vaarungalaenHey Sita... hey Radha, please come along!
Immaanai pen maanaaga maattrungalaenTransform this deer-like wild woman into a gentle deer!
Male
Kondaiyittu thandaiyittuAdorned with hair buns and anklets,
Konjum inam vanji avalShe belongs to a gentle, affectionate species;
Sandaiyittaal odividumIf she starts fighting,
Saamigalum anjiEven the gods will run away in fear!
Male
Kondaiyittu thandaiyittuAdorned with hair buns and anklets,
Konjum inam vanji avalShe belongs to a gentle, affectionate species;
Sandaiyittaal odividumIf she starts fighting,
Saamigalum anjiEven the gods will run away in fear!
Male
Aduppinilae valaiyattumae iduppu nallaMay her waist bend gracefully while working at the stove,
Adakkaththaiyum kodukattumae padippuAnd may her education instill proper humility!
Aduppinilae valaiyattumae iduppu nallaMay her waist bend gracefully while working at the stove,
Adakkaththaiyum kodukattumae padippuAnd may her education instill proper humility!
Yae……seethaa…..ae……..radha vaarungalaenHey Sita... hey Radha, please come along!
Immaanai pen maanaaga maattrungalaenTransform this deer-like wild woman into a gentle deer!
Male
Raja vanthaar rottoramaaThe king came along the roadside,
Rajaththi vanthaalae oorkolamaaiAnd the queen arrived in a grand procession!
Oorum rodum un sonthamaaDo you own this whole town and the road?
Un vegam ennidam sellaathammaaYour pride and speed won't work with me, woman!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and moralizing song from the film 'Kanavan Manaivi' (1976) features the male protagonist teasing and counseling an overly aggressive and arrogant young woman. He sarcastically compares her public grandiosity to a queen's procession and warns her that unchecked temper destroys intelligence, just as a tilted pot spills milk. Calling upon mythological ideals of womanhood like Sita and Radha, he urges her to retain traditional feminine virtues such as modesty, grace, and humility instead of turning fierce like a tiger or tough like iron.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor & Contrast (உவமை மற்றும் முரண்)

Karumbbu eppothu irumbaachchu / Kalaimaan eppothu puliyaachchu

Contrasts sweet sugarcane ('Karumbu') with hard iron ('Irumbu'), and a gentle deer ('Kalaimaan') with a wild tiger ('Puli') to emphasize unnatural behavioral change.

Second-Letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Ethukai)

Paaththram saainthaal paalaethammaa / Aaththiram migunthaal arivethammaa

The second consonant 'th' matches between 'Paaththram' and 'Aaththiram', creating rhythmic flow.

Simile (உவமையணி)

Oru annamena sornamena / Unnai ninai kannae

Compares how a ideal woman should be like a graceful swan ('Annam') or shining gold ('Sornam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Music director V. Kumar was known for his memorable collaborations with lyricist Vaali and singer T. M. Soundararajan. In 'Kanavan Manaivi' (1976), this track served as a classic 'hero teasing heroine' situational song that echoed social attitudes towards gender roles and modesty prevalent in 1970s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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