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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Suthanthiratha Vaangi Puttom

From Rettai Vaal Kuruvi · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra, Saibaba
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
LaalalalalalalaalaaLaalalalalalalaalaa
LaalalalalalalaalaaLaalalalalalalaalaa
HoiHoi!
Male
Sudhandhiratha vaangi puttomWe obtained our freedom,
Adha vaangi sukku nooraa odachipputtomAnd after getting it, we broke it into a hundred shattered pieces.
Female :Vellanaiyam thorathi puttomFemale: We chased away the white rulers,
Avan kooda vekkathaiyum veratti vittomAnd along with them, we chased away our sense of shame too.
Male
Gandhijiyum nehrujiyumAll the suffering Gandhiji and Nehruji went through,
Kashta pattadhuWas just endured by them;
Chummaa kaadhula dhaanWe just casually heard about it,
Pottu vachchom enna aanadhuWe kept it in our ears, but what really came of it?
Chorus
Gandhijiyum nehrujiyumAll the suffering Gandhiji and Nehruji went through,
Kashta pattadhuWas just endured by them;
Chummaa kaadhula dhaanWe just casually heard about it,
Pottu vachchom enna aanadhuWe kept it in our ears, but what really came of it?
Chorus
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
Male
Oru gandhi porandhaaruA Gandhi was born,
Oru budhar irundhaaruA Buddha once lived,
Oor ulagha seeru thiruthaTo reform the towns and the world;
Female
Avar pecha marandhomaeYet we forgot their words,
Marandhae dhaan irundhomaeWe lived on, completely forgetting them,
Nallavanga nenju valikkaMaking the hearts of good people ache.
Chorus
Oru gandhi porandhaaruA Gandhi was born,
Oru budhar irundhaaruA Buddha once lived,
Oor ulagha seeru thiruthaTo reform the towns and the world;
Avar pecha marandhomaeYet we forgot their words,
Marandhae dhaan irundhomaeWe lived on, completely forgetting them,
Nallavanga nenju valikkaMaking the hearts of good people ache.
Male
Sudhanthiratha vaangi thandhuThey bought us freedom and handed it over,
Poyi serndhaangaAnd then they passed away;
Vaangi adha nammavangaReceiving it, our own people
Kooru pottaangaDivided it into selfish portions.
Chorus
Sudhanthiratha vaangi thandhuThey bought us freedom and handed it over,
Poyi serndhaangaAnd then they passed away;
Vaangi adha nammavangaReceiving it, our own people
Kooru pottaangaDivided it into selfish portions.
Male
Yaaru vandhu seer thiruthaWho can come and reform this?
Mudiyum mudiyumCan anyone? Can anyone?
Ada ennaikkuthaan unma ippoOh, when will the light of truth finally
Vidiyum vidiyumDawn upon us? Dawn upon us?
Female
Kaalam varanumThe right age must come,
Neram varanumThe right time must arrive,
Naadu muzhudhum nambi varanumThe whole country must step forward with faith.
Chorus
Sudhandhiratha vaangi puttomWe obtained our freedom,
Adha vaangi sukku nooraa odachipputtomAnd after getting it, we broke it into a hundred shattered pieces.
Vellanaiyam thorathi puttomWe chased away the white rulers,
Avan kooda vekkathaiyum veratti vittomAnd along with them, we chased away our sense of shame too.
Chorus
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
Kingini mangini kingini manginiKingini mangini kingini mangini
Aisalakkaa aisalakkaaAisalakkaa aisalakkaa
Kingini mangini kingini manginiKingini mangini kingini mangini
Aisalakkaa aisalakkaaAisalakkaa aisalakkaa
LalalaalalalalalalaaLalalaalalalalalalaa
Hey aisalakkaaHey aisalakkaa
LalalaalalalalalalaaLalalaalalalalalalaa
Oh aisalakkaaOh aisalakkaa
Lalalaa lalalaa lalalaa lalalalaaLalalaa lalalaa lalalaa lalalalaa
Male
Oru paattu paadaamaWithout singing a song together,
Oru koottu koodaamaWithout gathering as one community,
Onnu konnu sanda pudichomWe fought and killed one another.
Female
Oru pechu kelaamaWithout listening to wise words,
Ozhungaaga vaazhaamaWithout living a proper, disciplined life,
Kandapadi sindu mudichomWe maliciously created conflicts as we pleased.
Chorus
Oru paattu paadaamaWithout singing a song together,
Oru koottu koodaamaWithout gathering as one community,
Onnu konnu sanda pudichomWe fought and killed one another.
Oru pechu kelaamaWithout listening to wise words,
Ozhungaaga vaazhaamaWithout living a proper, disciplined life,
Kandapadi sindu mudichomWe maliciously created conflicts as we pleased.
Male
Sirichikkittae soodu veikkumA time that inflicts burns while wearing a smile,
Neram vandhaachuThat time has arrived.
Therinjikkittae kaal izhukkumAn era that knowingly trips people up,
Kaalam vandhaachuThat era has arrived.
Chorus
Sirichikkittae soodu veikkumA time that inflicts burns while wearing a smile,
Neram vandhaachuThat time has arrived.
Therinjikkittae kaal izhukkumAn era that knowingly trips people up,
Kaalam vandhaachuThat era has arrived.
Male
Kaalaiyilae ezhundhirichaaWhen you wake up in the morning,
Kalagam kalagamThere is only conflict and chaos.
Ada kanmuzhichaa irukkum idamOh, the place where you open your eyes,
Naragam NaragamFeels like hell, pure hell.
Chorus
Maari varanumThings must change,
Thedi varanumGoodness must be sought out,
Yeri varanum indha ulagamThis world must rise and elevate itself.
Chorus
Sudhandhiratha vaangi puttomWe obtained our freedom,
Adha vaangi sukku nooraa odachipputtomAnd after getting it, we broke it into a hundred shattered pieces.
Vellanaiyam thorathi puttomWe chased away the white rulers,
Avan kooda vekkathaiyum veratti vittomAnd along with them, we chased away our sense of shame too.
Male
Gandhijiyum nehrujiyumAll the suffering Gandhiji and Nehruji went through,
Kashta pattadhuWas just endured by them;
Chummaa kaadhula dhaanWe just casually heard about it,
Pottu vachchom enna aanadhuWe kept it in our ears, but what really came of it?
Chorus
Gandhijiyum nehrujiyumAll the suffering Gandhiji and Nehruji went through,
Kashta pattadhuWas just endured by them;
Chummaa kaadhula dhaanWe just casually heard about it,
Pottu vachchom enna aanadhuWe kept it in our ears, but what really came of it?
Chorus
Sudhandhiratha vaangi puttomWe obtained our freedom,
Adha vaangi sukku nooraa odachipputtomAnd after getting it, we broke it into a hundred shattered pieces.
Chorus
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa
LalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaaLalalalalaalalalalalaalalalaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical critique of modern Indian society and its political disillusionment following independence. Gangai Amaran uses biting irony to highlight how the sacrifices of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as the teachings of spiritual leaders like Buddha, have been squandered. Instead of building a united and moral society, people have divided freedom into selfish shares, engaged in petty conflicts, and lost their ethical boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony and Satire (Nageichuvai / Muraan)

Sudhandhiratha vaangi puttom / Adha vaangi sukku nooraa odachipputtom

The lyrics use sharp satire by juxtaposing the grand achievement of winning independence with the foolish ways society destroyed it.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Kaalaiyilae ezhundhirichaa / Kalagam kalagam / Ada kanmuzhichaa irukkum idam / Naragam Naragam

The second consonant 'li' is rhymed in 'Kaalaiyilae' and 'Kalagam', and 'na' in 'kanmuzhichaa' and 'Naragam'.

Repetition / Epizeuxis (Adukkuthodar)

Kalagam kalagam / Naragam Naragam

Emphasis through doubled words for dramatic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Balu Mahendra's 1987 romantic comedy 'Rettai Vaal Kuruvi', this song features lighthearted folk arrangement paired with thought-provoking socio-political commentary written by Gangai Amaran.

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