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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rameswaram Parameswaram

From Thanga Kalasam · 1988

Lyricist
London Gopal
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thanga Kalasam1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sindhuveli kanda thamizh naaareegamaeOh Tamil civilization that was witnessed in the Indus Valley,
Sangam valarththa thamizh perum panpaadeOh great Tamil culture fostered by the Sangam academies,
Mootharignarum perum thalaivarumThe grand elders and great leaders,
Periyaar vazhi vantha perarignarum kalaignarumThe great scholar (Anna) and artist (Karunanidhi) who came in the path of Periyar,
Puratchi thalaivarumAnd the revolutionary leader (MGR),
Kalai valarththu nallaatchchi kanda thamazhagamae…Oh Tamil Nadu that nurtured art and witnessed good governance...
En thaayagamae idhuthaanaa un kalai mogam…Oh my motherland, is this your passion for art...
Male
Rameshwaram parameshwaramRameshwaram and Parameshwaram (Holy places and divine dance),
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara (erotic play),
Haan rameshwaram parameshwaramAha Rameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Male
Ramar kadhai kanda bharathamIndia which witnessed the story of Lord Rama,
Kambaramayanam thantha thaayagamThe motherland that bestowed Kamba Ramayanam,
Ramar kadhai kanda bharathamIndia which witnessed the story of Lord Rama,
Kambaramayanam thantha thaayagamThe motherland that bestowed Kamba Ramayanam,
Male
Rameshwaram parameshwaramRameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Male
Kooththaanadiya thaandavam parameshwaramThe cosmic dance performed by Lord Shiva is divine (Parameshwaram),
Kudiyan aadiya dancethaan kamaeshvaramThe dance performed by a drunkard is lustful (Kameshwara),
Kooththaanadiya thaandavam parameshwaramThe cosmic dance performed by Lord Shiva is divine (Parameshwaram),
Kudiyan aadiya dancethaan kamaeshvaramThe dance performed by a drunkard is lustful (Kameshwara),
Male
Kooththadippathu naattiyamena kudiththavan sollaWhen a drunkard claims that his flailing around is classic dance,
Paarththiliththu rasipathenbathu padiththavan seyalaaIs watching, giggling, and enjoying it worthy action for an educated person?
Kooththadippathu naattiyamena kudiththavan sollaWhen a drunkard claims that his flailing around is classic dance,
Paarththiliththu rasipathenbathu padiththavan seyalaaIs watching, giggling, and enjoying it worthy action for an educated person?
Male
Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthagaRhythmic vocal beats (Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga)
Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthagaRhythmic vocal beats (Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga)
Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thai thai thaa……Rhythmic vocal beats (Thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thinthaga thai thai thaa...)
Male
Rameshwaram parameshwaramRameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Male
Aattakkari aadumpothuWhen the dancer woman dances,
Aadai kazhatti erivaangaThey strip off clothes and throw them,
Koottaththodu koodiyirunthuGathered together in a crowd,
Kolam paarththu rasippaangaThey watch and enjoy the spectacle,
Male
Naanam achcham madam payirppuModesty, fear, innocence, and delicateness (traditional feminine virtues),
Naalum vittu poyaachchuAll four have been discarded,
Manam eenam panbu perumaiSelf-respect, shame, character, and dignity,
Yeadhum vendaam silarukkuSome people do not care for any of these anymore,
Male
Rameshwaram parameshwaramRameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Ada….Rameshwaram parameshwaramOh... Rameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Male
…………………....
Male
I love you you kiss meI love you, you kiss me,
Society hai socitySociety, oh high society,
I love you you kiss meI love you, you kiss me,
Society hai socitySociety, oh high society,
Male
Pazhamai panpaadu niraintha kalaiyinguThe art filled with ancient culture here,
Rasippathillai adhai virumbavillaiIs neither appreciated nor liked anymore,
Pazhamai panpaadu niraintha kalaiyinguThe art filled with ancient culture here,
Rasippathillai adhai virumpavillaiIs neither appreciated nor liked anymore,
Male
Meale naattin mogaththil magizhnthiduvarThey rejoice in the obsession for Western culture,
Pudhumai thempodu aadidanumWanting to dance with modern vigor,
Meale naattin mogaththil magizhnthiduvarThey rejoice in the obsession for Western culture,
Pudhumai thempodu aadidanumWanting to dance with modern vigor,
Male
Paalroom dance disco dance break danceBallroom dance, disco dance, break dance,
Paalroom dance disco dance break danceBallroom dance, disco dance, break dance,
Male
Podu….Rameshwaram parameshwaramHit it... Rameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaramIf one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara,
Ada….Rameshwaram parameshwaramOh... Rameshwaram and Parameshwaram,
Kudichchaa kaamaeshwaram kama leelaeshwaram…haei….If one drinks alcohol, it becomes Kameshwara and Kama Leeleshwara... hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a social satire and lamentation over the decline of traditional Tamil arts, cultural values, and morality under the influence of alcoholism and Westernization. It contrasts the glorious heritage of Tamil Nadu—highlighting its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization, the Sangam era, literature like Kamba Ramayanam, and political icons like Periyar, Anna, Karunanidhi, and MGR—with the contemporary degradation where sacred traditions are corrupted by modern vices.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kooththaanadiya thaandavam parameshwaram / Kudiyan aadiya dancethaan kamaeshvaram

Matching second consonants across successive lines, such as 'Sindhuveli' and 'Sangam' or 'Kooththaanadiya' and 'Kudiyan'.

Contrast / Antithesis

Kooththaanadiya thaandavam parameshwaram / Kudiyan aadiya dancethaan kamaeshvaram

Contrasting divine cosmic dance (Parameshwaram) with drunkard flailing (Kameshwara), and traditional heritage with modern westernized dance.

Irony and Satire

Kooththadippathu naattiyamena kudiththavan solla / Paarththiliththu rasipathenbathu padiththavan seyalaa

Satirizing society for mistaking drunken vulgarity for art and abandoning rich traditional values for western dance fads.

Enumeration / Literary Allusion

Naanam achcham madam payirppu

Listing traditional Tamil virtues ('Naanam achcham madam payirppu') and historical leaders to emphasize lost pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics refer to 'Naanam, achcham, madam, payirppu', which are four classic moral attributes ascribed to women in traditional Tamil literature (Tolkappiyam). The song also explicitly references key 20th-century political icons of Tamil Nadu: Periyar, Arignar Anna, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, and Puratchi Thalaivar M.G. Ramachandran.

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