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Isaimozhi
Imayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sakthi Ennada

From Imayam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Imayam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
10 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sakthi ennadaa…
Sakthi ennadaa
Un buthi ennadaa
Sathiyam jeyikka endru
Kattru konda ennidathil
Kattra vithai kaatta vandha
Buthi ketta maanidanae po daa
Ethanaiyo maedhaigalin
Thatthuvangal kettavan naan
Athanaiyum nee ariyum
Aayul unakkillaiyadaa po daa
Sakthi illaiyaa
Yen buthi illaiyaa
Haan…
Sakthi illaiyaa
Yen buthi illaiyaa
Naan aaduven vilaiyaaduven
Oru maedai yaedhum indri
Naan paaduven kavi paaduven
Oru baashai yaedhum indri
Naan aaduven vilaiyaaduven
Oru maedai yaedhum indri
Naan paaduven kavi paaduven
Oru baashai yaedhum indri
Nee enna yaar enna
Oor enna ulagenna
Thottadhai jeyippadharkku
Ettu vazhi naanariven
Endha vazhi nee varinum
Andha vazhi maattri vaippen
Yaar nee
Kattidathai nee arivaai
Vaasalgalai naanariven
Kaatchigalai nee arivaai
Saatchigalai naanariven
Yaar nee aahaa
Thoonumirukkum
Narasingam irukkum
Thoonumirukkum
Narasingam irukkum
Madhi kaattinaan nilai naattinaan
Oru kaala naeram kandu
Naan kaattuven unnai maattuven
Mana kolam kaanum munbu
Madhi kaattinaan nilai naattinaan
Oru kaala naeram kandu
Naan kaattuven unnai maattuven
Mana kolam kaanum munbu
Aanadhu aagattum ponadhu pogattum
Sakthi ennadaa
Un buthi ennadaa
Sathiyam jeyikka endru
Kattru konda ennidathil
Kattra vithai kaatta vandha
Buthi ketta maanidanae po daa
Ethanaiyo maedhaigalin
Thatthuvangal kettavan naan
Athanaiyum nee ariyum
Aayul unakkillaiyadaa po daa
Vivaegamullavan
Naan veeram ullavan
Vivaegamullavan
Naan veeram ullavan
Idhu thandhiram raaja thandhiram
Idhai vella yaarumillai
Naan velluven badhil solluven
Ini vaeru velai illai
Odiya maan ondru
Raamanai yaeithadhu
Kannanin kaavalin
Baaradham vendradhu
Aandavanai ennidathil
Thaandavangal aada vaippen
Aana varai naan nadathi
Vaanavarai saatchi vaippen yaar nee
Raavananin vaarthai idhu
Naalai unai veezhuthuvadhu
Needhiyattra aanavathai
Yaaridathil kaattuvadhu po daa
Sakthi ennadaa un buthi ennadaa
Sakthi ennadaa un buthi ennadaa
What strength do you have?...
What strength do you have?
What intellect do you have?
To me, who has mastered it all so truth may win,
you have come to show off your cheap tricks?
You senseless mortal, get lost!
Get lost, you fool!
From countless great minds,
I have heard profound philosophies.
For you to understand all of that,
a lifetime is not enough, get lost!
Do I lack strength?
Why, do I lack intellect?
Haan...
Do I lack strength?
Why, do I lack intellect?
I will dance and play,
without needing any stage!
I will sing and make poetry,
without needing any language!
I will dance and play,
without needing any stage!
I will sing and make poetry,
without needing any language!
What are you? Who is anyone?
What is this town? What is this world?
To triumph in whatever I take up,
I know eight different ways!
Whichever path you take,
I will turn that path upside down!
Who are you?
You may know the building,
but I know every doorway!
You may know the scenes,
but I know all the witnesses!
Who are you? Aha!
The pillar will be there,
and Narasimha (the lion-god) will be there too!
The pillar will be there,
and Narasimha (the lion-god) will be there too!
He proved his wits and stood his ground,
waiting for the right time and moment.
I will show you my power and trap you,
before your dream plans can take shape!
He proved his wits and stood his ground,
waiting for the right time and moment.
I will show you my power and trap you,
before your dream plans can take shape!
Come what may, let bygones be bygones!
What strength do you have?
What intellect do you have?
To make truth triumph,
before me, who has mastered it all,
you dare come to show off your tricks?
You senseless mortal, get lost!
From countless great minds,
I have learned deep philosophies.
For you to understand all of that,
a lifetime is not enough, get lost!
I have wisdom!
I have courage!
I have wisdom!
I have courage!
This is strategy, a master game of politics!
There is no one who can defeat this!
I will win and give you my answer,
I have no other business left now!
A single fleeing deer
once deceived Lord Rama!
Under Krishna's watchful protection,
the Mahabharata war was won!
Even God Almighty himself,
I can make dance to my rhythm!
Taking this contest as far as it can go,
I will make the gods my witness! Who are you?
These are the boastful words of Ravana,
that will destroy you tomorrow!
Such lawless, unjust arrogance,
who are you daring to show it to? Get lost!
What strength do you have? What intellect do you have?
What strength do you have? What intellect do you have?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This dramatic track from the movie 'Imayam' (1979) presents an intense verbal and philosophical duel between two confident rivals. One speaker arrogantly dismisses the other's knowledge, strength, and lifespan, claiming supreme mastery over all philosophy and truth. The responding speaker counters with quick wit, agility, and tactical expertise, declaring that true wisdom needs no stage or formal language, and boasting an ability to outsmart any move the adversary makes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Alliteration)

Sakthi ennadaa... / Sathiyam jeyikka endru

Matching initial sounds across lines, such as 'Sakthi' and 'Sathiyam', or 'Vivaegamullavan' and 'Veeram ullavan', enhancing rhythmic flow.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattru konda ennidathil / Kattra vithai kaatta vandha

The second consonant sound matches between adjacent lines, e.g., 'Kattru konda' and 'Kattra vithai'.

Mythological Allusion (Puranic Metaphor)

Thoonumirukkum Narasingam irukkum

Kannadasan invokes classical Indian epic stories—Narasimha emerging from the pillar, Maricha the golden deer tricking Rama, and Krishna steering the Pandavas to victory in Mahabharata—to symbolize strategy, deception, and divine retribution.

Antithesis / Contrast

Kattidathai nee arivaai / Vaasalgalai naanariven

The lines contrast contrasting perspectives ('You know the building, I know the exits; You know the scenes, I know the witnesses') to build a battle of wits.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1979 film 'Imayam' was directed by Muktha Srinivasan, starring Sivaji Ganesan, Jaiganesh, and Sripriya, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song showcase his signature literary style of incorporating classical mythological allegories (Ramayana and Mahabharata) directly into modern cinematic verbal clashes.

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