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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sankara Ninnu

From Kavithai Malar · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kavithai Malar1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaadha rii naaThaadha rii naa (musical rhythmic syllables)
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!
Male
Sabaash balaeBravo! Well done!
Male
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!
Sangeetham naa praanam nanna sooduMusic is my life, look at me!
Okka maatta vinuraa………Listen to just one word...
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!
Male
Naenu neekku manchivaadu…aa..aa..aaI am a good person to you... ah.. ah..
Naenu neekku manchivaaduI am a good person to you
Laekka pothae kozhikoduOtherwise, Kozhikode (Calicut)
Naenu neekku manchivaaduI am a good person to you
Laekka pothae kozhikoduOtherwise, Kozhikode (Calicut)
Nijamu soodu evarulaedhuLook at the truth, there is no one else
Nijamu soodu evarulaedhuLook at the truth, there is no one else
Sankara jaya sankara sivasankara sankaraaa…Sankara, victorious Sankara, Lord Shiva Sankara...
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!
Male
Paruvamae……. puthiya paadal paaduO youthfulness... sing a new song
Ilamaiyin poonthendral raagamThe melody of youth's gentle breeze
Paruvamae……. puthiya paadal paaduO youthfulness... sing a new song
Ilamaiyin poonthendral raagamThe melody of youth's gentle breeze
Male
Vaadi en kappa kezhangaeCome, my tapioca root
Enga akka petha mukka thuttaeMy sister's three-paisa child
Paadaadha vaaya thoranthuOpen your un-singing mouth
Vaadi en kappa kezhangaeCome, my tapioca root
Enga akka petha mukka thuttaeMy sister's three-paisa child
Paadaadha vaaya thoranthuOpen your un-singing mouth
Male
Thayavu seiya neramuraa samayamuraaThis is the time to show grace, it is the right time
Tharunamuraa tharisanamu eevuraa……It is the right moment, grant your sacred vision...
Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinjiSqueezing and squeezing the fruit of wisdom
Appanae murugaaO Father Murugan
Irandu kaiyum oonji pochuBoth my hands have gotten tired
Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinjiSqueezing and squeezing the fruit of wisdom
Irandu kaiyum oonji pochuBoth my hands have gotten tired
Sarigamapadhanisa sanidhapamagarisa..Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa, Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa..
Suramum paadi neenum raa …raa…..Sing the musical notes and you too come... come...
Male
Suramum paadi neenum raa …raa…..Sing the musical notes and you too come... come...
Sankara jaya sankara sivasankara sankaraaa…Sankara, victorious Sankara, Lord Shiva Sankara...
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!
Sangeetham naa praanam nanna sooduMusic is my life, look at me
Okka maatta vinuraa………Listen to just one word...
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraaSankara, I have come to see you!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a iconic comedy parody that parodies classical Carnatic music grandiosity and dramatic Telugu cinema dubbing tropes. The track features a humorous mixture of broken Telugu expressions ('ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa') combined with funny Tamil street-slang and classic Carnatic solfège ('solkattu'). The singer humorously pleads with 'Sankara', claiming music is his absolute life while breaking into completely unrelated folk insults and playful Tamil nonsense rhymes like 'kappa kezhangae' (tapioca root) and tired hands squeezing the 'gyaanapazham' (fruit of wisdom). Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung with immense vocal theatricality by Malaysia Vasudevan, it remains a beloved example of Tamil film music satire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Macaronic Verse / Code-Mixing

Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa

Blending broken Telugu phrases ('Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa') with colloquial Tamil ('kappa kezhangae', 'Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji') for humorous theatrical effect.

Solkattu / Musical Solfège

Sarigamapadhanisa sanidhapamagarisa..

Incorporation of classical musical notes (Swaras) directly as song lyrics.

Iyaibu (Rhyme) & Assonance

Thayavu seiya neramuraa samayamuraa

Internal and line-ending rhyming using matching rhythmic endings ('neramuraa samayamuraa / Tharunamuraa').

Parody / Satire

Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinji... Irandu kaiyum oonji pochu

Satirizing serious classical devotional singing (referencing movies like Sankarabharanam) by pairing divine invocations with ridiculous domestic imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a celebrated comic spoof lyric written by Gangai Amaran that parodies the classical musical style popularised by K. Viswanath's legendary Telugu film 'Sankarabharanam' (1980). Singer Malaysia Vasudevan's exaggerated classical gamakas and comedic delivery made it an unforgettable hit.

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