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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sila Per Vazha

From Athisaya Penn · 1959

Lyricist
Subbu Arumugam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Athisaya Penn1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paarinilae aadhiyil pedhamae illaiIn the beginning on this earth, there was no discrimination.
Padhiyil vanthathae thollaoDid all these troubles arise halfway through time?
Yaeruzhuvaan perukkae bhoomi endruThat the land belongs to the tiller who plows it,
Ezhuthiduvom sasanamae saasanamae….ae….ae…ae…Let us write this down as an eternal edict!
Male
HaeHey!
Male
Sila per vaazha pala per uzhaikkumWhere many work hard so that a few may live luxuriously,
Nilamaiyum sarithaanoIs this state of affairs right?
Manitha needhi idhuthaanoIs this human justice?
Naattill needhi idhuthaanoIs this the justice of the land?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Male
Kanneer sinthum paataali raththamThe blood of the hard-working laborers shedding tears,
Panneeraavathu muraiyoIs it fair for it to become rose water for others to enjoy?
Chorus :Ezhaiyin needhi idhuthaanoChorus: Is this justice for the poor?
Naattill needhi idhuthaanoIs this the justice of the land?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Male
Vaanilae paravaigal inamaeLook at the species of birds in the sky,
Urimaiyaagavae paranthidum azhaginai paarLook at the beauty with which they fly in complete freedom!
Meeninam neendhidum sudhanthiram paarLook at the freedom with which the fish swim!
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Male
Ezhaiyin vaazhvae selvorin kaiyilThe lives of the poor in the hands of the wealthy,
Iniththidum thinbandamaachchuHave become a sweet snack for them to consume.
Chorus
Sila per vaazha pala per uzhaikkumWhere many work hard so that a few may live luxuriously,
Nilamaiyum sarithaanoIs this state of affairs right?
Manitha needhi idhuthaanoIs this human justice?
Naattill needhi idhuthaanoIs this the justice of the land?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Indha nilaimaiyum sarithaano….Is this state of affairs right?
Male
Ulagilae illaathavna ennum sollaiThe phrase 'the destitute one' in this world,
Yaetinil irunthae eduthiduvomWe shall completely erase from the texts!
oo….ooo….oo….ooh…..Oo... ooo... oo... ooh...
yae….ae…..ae…aeh…hae…Yae... ae... ae... aeh... hae...
Male
Ulagilae illaathavna ennum sollaiThe phrase 'the destitute one' in this world,
Yaetinil irunthae eduthiduvomWe shall completely erase from the texts!
Ellorum samamaeEveryone is equal!
Hae ellorum samamae naattil yaavumaeHey, everyone is equal, and everything in this nation,
Pothu selvam endriduvomWe shall declare as common wealth!
Chorus :Naattin selvam endriduvomChorus: We shall declare as the nation's wealth!
Male
Eliyon thuyarai valiyon unaraFor the powerful to feel the sorrow of the weak,
Izhinilai ulaginil aeno….Why does this degraded condition persist in this world?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful reformist song questions the prevailing social and economic inequality in society. It highlights the plight of the working class and agricultural laborers whose hard work enriches a privileged few. By contrasting human oppression with the natural freedom enjoyed by birds and fish, the song makes a passionate plea for social justice, egalitarianism, and common ownership of wealth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinathal)

Nilamaiyum sarithaano

Repeated use of questioning phrases like 'Nilamaiyum sarithaano' (Is this state right?) and 'Manitha needhi idhuthaano' (Is this human justice?) to provoke moral reflection in the listener.

Contrast (Ethir-inai)

Sila per vaazha pala per uzhaikkum

Contrasting 'sila per vaazha' (few people living well) with 'pala per uzhaikkum' (many people laboring) to emphasize class divide.

Nature Analogy / Imagery

Vaanilae paravaigal inamae urimaiyaagavae paranthidum azhaginai paar

Using birds flying freely in the sky and fish swimming in water as symbols of natural freedom that human society lacks.

Metaphor

Ezhaiyin vaazhvae selvorin kaiyil iniththidum thinbandamaachchu

Describing the plight of the poor as a sweet snack ('thinbandam') in the hands of the rich, symbolizing exploitation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Subbu Arumugam (a renowned Villupattu exponent and lyricist), this song reflects the strong socialist and egalitarian political themes that were widely popularized in Tamil cinema during the late 1950s.

Keep listening

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