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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sami Sathiyam Sollurathu

From Nadagame Ulagam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Nadagame Ulagam1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aalai kandu mayangaathaeDo not be dazzled by someone's outward appearance,
OodhukamalaeOh colorful peacock!
Aaraainju paakurappo onnumaeyillaiWhen you examine closely, there is nothing underneath.
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilaeO colorful peacock, the mount of Lord Murugan,
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppoWhen will all these external disguises fade away?
Sollu mayilaeTell me, peacock!
Female
Saami sathiyam aamaSwear on God, yes,
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvamSwear on God, what I speak is philosophy.
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked,
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked.
Bodhaiyilae aandavan thaan padachuputtanaeDid God create humanity in a state of intoxication?
Illa urupadiya irundhathuthaan odachuputtaanaOr did He shatter what was originally well-made?
Bodhaiyilae aandavan thaan padachuputtanaeDid God create humanity in a state of intoxication?
Illa urupadiya irundhathuthaan odachuputtaanaOr did He shatter what was originally well-made?
Female
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvamSwear on God, what I speak is philosophy.
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked,
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked.
Female
Maedaiyiale pesarappo gandhi gyabagamWhen speaking on stage, they remember Gandhi,
Silar maedaiyilae pesarappo gandhi gyabagamWhen some speak on stage, they remember Gandhi,
Konjam velakku vecha manasula thaan brandhi gyabagamWhen evening falls, their mind only remembers brandy!
Oorukkaaga uzhaippadhaaga kotti muzhakkuraarHe loudly proclaims that he works for the town,
Haa oorukkaaga uzhaippadhaaga kotti muzhakkuraarHa, he loudly proclaims that he works for the town,
Avar oor panathil veedu vaasal katti mudikkiraarYet he builds his own lavish house using public money!
Female
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilaeO colorful peacock, the mount of Lord Murugan,
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppoWhen will all these external disguises fade away?
Sollu mayilaeTell me, peacock!
Female
Viralukku thagundhapadi veengaatha pondaattiA wife who doesn't swell beyond her husband's means,
Varavukku aal thedi vazhi maari povadhunduSometimes strays off course looking for extra income.
Pondatti irukkaiyilaeWhen the wife is right at home,
Purushan ellam raman appaThe husband pretends to be Lord Rama,
Ava porandha veedu poyirundhaWhen she leaves for her parents' house,
Indhiranin jaathiyappaHe reveals himself to be of Indra's flirtatious clan!
Female
Naagareega mogam vandhu naalum kettadhuModern obsession has corrupted all four days of life,
Adhu aambalaiyo pombalaiyo yaarai vittadhuHas it spared anyone, whether man or woman?
Kutchi naaya kulipaatti kundha vachaalumEven if you bathe a stray dog and make it sit neatly,
Adhu echillaikku aasaippattu oodum ennaalumIt will still run off craving leftover food on discarded leaves!
Female
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvamSwear on God, what I speak is philosophy.
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked,
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked.
Female
Kannu rendum illaennuThe man begging with outstretched hands,
Kai neetti kekkiravanClaiming he lacks both eyes,
Kaasu pottaa sellumannuOpens his eyes to check,
Kann thorandhu paakuraanaeIf the coin tossed to him is genuine!
Female
Kannagiyaal perumaiyellaamThe man who talks loudly praising Kannagi's virtue,
Vaai kizhiya pesuravanWill ask for her address,
Pen oruthi thanichirundhaIf he finds a woman alone!
Vilasatha kekkuranaeThere are so many huts in the slum,
Female
Seriyilae ethainaiyo kudisai irukkudhuAnd every hut has a political party flag flying over it!
Andha kudisaikkoru katchi katti kodiyum parakkudhuPolitical parties divide the people who were once united,
Onnaayirundha makkalai thaan katchi pirikkudhuPolitical parties divide the people who were once united,
Onnaayirundha makkalai thaan katchi pirikkudhuYet the slogan of unity,
Aana orumaippaadu kosham mattumKeeps piercing our ears!
kaadhai thulaikkudhuO colorful peacock, the mount of Lord Murugan,
Female
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilaeWhen will all these external disguises fade away?
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppoTell me, peacock!
Sollu mayilaeO colorful peacock, the mount of Lord Murugan,
Velavanin vaaganamae vannamayilaeWhen will all these external disguises fade away?
Veli vesham ellaam kalaivadheppoTell me, peacock!
Sollu mayilaeSwear on God, what I speak is philosophy.
Female
Saami sathiyam sollurathu thathuvamThe earth is round, but minds are crooked,
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaanThe earth is round, but minds are crooked.
Boomi urandathaan puthiyellam konaal thaan

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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