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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sami Sathiyam Sollurathu

From Nadagame Ulagam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Nadagame Ulagam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
20 Aug 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aalai kandu mayangaathae
Oodhukamalae
Aaraainju paakurappo onnumaeyillai
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilae
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppo
Sollu mayilae
Saami sathiyam aama
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvam
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Bodhaiyilae aandavan thaan padachuputtanae
Illa urupadiya irundhathuthaan odachuputtaana
Bodhaiyilae aandavan thaan padachuputtanae
Illa urupadiya irundhathuthaan odachuputtaana
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvam
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Maedaiyiale pesarappo gandhi gyabagam
Silar maedaiyilae pesarappo gandhi gyabagam
Konjam velakku vecha manasula thaan brandhi gyabagam
Oorukkaaga uzhaippadhaaga kotti muzhakkuraar
Haa oorukkaaga uzhaippadhaaga kotti muzhakkuraar
Avar oor panathil veedu vaasal katti mudikkiraar
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilae
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppo
Sollu mayilae
Viralukku thagundhapadi veengaatha pondaatti
Varavukku aal thedi vazhi maari povadhundu
Pondatti irukkaiyilae
Purushan ellam raman appa
Ava porandha veedu poyirundha
Indhiranin jaathiyappa
Naagareega mogam vandhu naalum kettadhu
Adhu aambalaiyo pombalaiyo yaarai vittadhu
Kutchi naaya kulipaatti kundha vachaalum
Adhu echillaikku aasaippattu oodum ennaalum
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvam
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Kannu rendum illaennu
Kai neetti kekkiravan
Kaasu pottaa sellumannu
Kann thorandhu paakuraanae
Kannagiyaal perumaiyellaam
Vaai kizhiya pesuravan
Pen oruthi thanichirundha
Vilasatha kekkuranae
Seriyilae ethainaiyo kudisai irukkudhu
Andha kudisaikkoru katchi katti kodiyum parakkudhu
Onnaayirundha makkalai thaan katchi pirikkudhu
Onnaayirundha makkalai thaan katchi pirikkudhu
Aana orumaippaadu kosham mattum
kaadhai thulaikkudhu
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilae
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppo
Sollu mayilae
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilae
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppo
Sollu mayilae
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvam
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan
Do not be fooled by outward appearances,
Oodhukamale!
When you look closely, there is nothing genuine inside!
O colourful peacock, mount of Lord Murugan,
When will all these false disguises fall apart?
Tell me, O peacock!
I swear to God, it is true,
I swear to God, what I say is the truth of life!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
Did God create this world in a drunken haze?
Or did He shatter something that was once whole and good?
Did God create this world in a drunken haze?
Or did He shatter something that was once whole and good?
I swear to God, what I say is the truth of life!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
While speaking on stage, he remembers Gandhi,
Some, while speaking on stage, remember Gandhi,
Yet once dusk falls, his mind only craves brandy!
He loudly proclaims that he works tirelessly for the people,
Ha, he loudly proclaims that he works tirelessly for the people,
Yet using the public's money, he builds a mansion for himself!
O colourful peacock, mount of Lord Murugan,
When will all these false disguises fall apart?
Tell me, O peacock!
A wife who refuses to live within her family's means
May stray down the wrong path chasing after money!
As long as his wife is right beside him,
Every husband pretends to be as virtuous as Rama!
But the moment she visits her parents' house,
He turns into a pleasure-seeking Indra!
This craze for modern ways has ruined everyday life;
Has it spared anyone, whether man or woman?
Even if you bathe a street dog and seat it comfortably,
It will still run after discarded food leaves any day!
I swear to God, what I say is the truth of life!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
Claiming he has lost both his eyes,
A beggar stretches out his hands,
Yet when someone drops a coin, to see if it is good,
He opens his eyes wide and checks it!
A man who boasts loudly at the top of his voice
About the legendary virtue of Kannagi,
The moment he finds a woman all alone,
Eagerly asks for her home address!
In the slums, there are so many little huts,
And for every hut, a political party rises and a flag flies!
These political parties divide people who once lived as one,
These political parties divide people who once lived as one,
Yet their hollow slogans of unity
Never stop piercing our ears!
O colourful peacock, mount of Lord Murugan,
When will all these false disguises fall apart?
Tell me, O peacock!
O colourful peacock, mount of Lord Murugan,
When will all these false disguises fall apart?
Tell me, O peacock!
I swear to God, what I say is the truth of life!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
The earth is round, but people's minds are utterly crooked!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Aalai Kandu Mayangaathae' from the film 'Nadagame Ulagam' (1979) is a social satire written by Kannadasan and sung by P. Susheela. It serves as a philosophical commentary on human hypocrisy, societal double standards, and false appearances. Kannadasan addresses a peacock (symbolizing Murugan's mount and keen observation) to question when people will discard their fake disguises and deceptive traits.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aalai kandu mayangaathae / Oodhukamalae

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Aalai' and 'Oodhukamalae' or 'Boomi' and 'Bodhaiyilae'.

Monae (Alliteration)

Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilae / Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppo

Repetition of initial consonant sounds such as 'V' in 'Velavanin', 'Vaaganamae', 'Vannamayilae', 'Veli vesham'.

Metaphor & Imagery

Kutchi naaya kulipaatti kundha vachaalum / Adhu echillaikku aasaippattu oodum ennaalum

Comparing human greed and hypocrisy to a stray dog running after discarded food leaves despite being cleaned.

Mythological Allusions

Purushan ellam raman appa... Indhiranin jaathiyappa

Contrasting 'Raman' (symbol of fidelity) with 'Indhiran' (symbol of indulgence) and referencing 'Kannagi' (symbol of chastity) to highlight moral hypocrisy.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track stands out because it features legendary playback singer P. Susheela delivering a sharp, philosophical folk-satire song, a style more commonly rendered by T. M. Soundararajan or Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Kannadasan's lyrics punchingly address political hypocrisy, fake beggars, and societal moral decline with his signature wit.

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