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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thannee Vandi

From Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga · 1990

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
R. D. Burman
Details
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ada govinthaiyyaa paerai sonnaaAh, if you utter the name of Govindhaiyya
Kozhi kuttiyidumEven hens will lay chicks directly
Kondaich seval ivarai kandaaIf the roosters with topknots see him
Kuninju muttaiyidumThey will bow down and lay eggs
Chennaiyila saithaappettaiSaidapet in Chennai
Selaththula sevvaappettaiSevvaippettai in Salem
Maduraiyila aiyyan pettaiAiyyanpettai in Madurai
Aththanaiyum aiyaa kottaiAll of them are Sir's fortress
Angangae aiyaavukku aalirukkaagaBecause Sir has men everywhere
Govinthaiyaa kural koduththaaIf Govindhaiyya raises his voice
Kurukku pettai varumThe nearby street turns up
Ivaru visil adichchaa central rayil-luIf he blows his whistle, the Central train
Eggmore-ru oodivarum yae….yae….yaehaeAnd the Eggmore train come running, yeah... yeah... yeah-hey
Male
Thanni vandi thanni vandiWater cart, water cart
Thanni vandi thanni vandi theruvil vanthaendaaThe water cart has arrived on the street, man
Naan paettaikkulla ellaarukkum marumagan thaandaaI am the son-in-law to everyone in this neighborhood
Neppoliyan eppothumae kayiluruppaandaa daa daa daaNapoleon will always be in hand, man man man
Aiyyaa yaaruWho is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaruMale: Ah, who is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male
Hoi maadikku vaera sattam saerikku vaera sattamHey, there is one law for the high-rise and another for the slums
Inimae adakkaathu yaetta thiruththipputtomThis won't happen anymore, we have corrected the rulebook
Chorus :Maadikku vaera sattamChorus: One law for the high-rise
Male :HaMale: Ha
Chorus :Saerikku vaera sattamChorus: Another law for the slums
Male :HoMale: Ho
Chorus :Inimae nadakkaathuChorus: It won't happen anymore
Male :HaMale: Ha
Chorus :Yaetta thiruththipputtomChorus: We have corrected the rulebook
Male
Evandaa buththan ingaeWho here is a Buddha?
Evandaa suppan ingaeWho here is a nobody?
Velakka anaichchupputtaaOnce you switch off the lights
Evandaa raaman ingaeWho here is a virtuous Rama?
Chorus :Velakka anaichchupputtaaChorus: Once you switch off the lights
Evandaa raaman ingaeWho here is a virtuous Rama?
Male
Periya manusan thirudipputta oo oo ooWhen a big man steals, oh oh oh
Periya manusan thirudipputtaa kai thatturaangaWhen a big man steals, they applaud
Chinna pasanga thirudipputtaa kaiya vetturaangaWhen young poor kids steal, they chop off their hands
Aaraainju sonnaen paaru annan paeru kettu paaruLook, I analyzed and said this; ask around for big brother's name
Aiyyaa yaaruWho is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaruMale: Ah, who is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Chorus
………………...
Male :………………Male: ...
Male
Oi padippu padikkavilla adhanaal kuraiyumillaHey, I didn't study, so I have no shortcoming
Panamum saerkkavillai adhanaal variyumillaI didn't gather wealth, so I pay no taxes
Chorus :Padippu padikkavillaChorus: I didn't study
Male :HaMale: Ha
Chorus :Adhanaal kuraiyumillaChorus: So I have no shortcoming
Male :HaMale: Ha
Chorus :Panamum saerkkavillaiChorus: Didn't gather wealth
Male :HaMale: Ha
Chorus :Adhanaal variyumillaChorus: So I pay no taxes
Male
Madiyila kanamum illaThere is no heavy burden in my lap
Adhanaala payamum illaTherefore, there is no fear at all
Paduththaa urakkam varumWhen I lie down, sleep comes easily
Maaththirai thevai illaNo sleeping pills needed
Chorus :Paduththaa urakkam varumChorus: When I lie down, sleep comes easily
Maaththirai thevai illaNo sleeping pills needed
Male
Kadavulukkum irukkuthadaa….aa….aa…Even God has his own issues...
Kadavulukkum irukkuthadaa aayiram thollaiEven God has a thousand troubles, man
Ennaippola sudhanthiramaa kadavulum illaEven God isn't as free as I am
Annanukku aayul nooru santhegaminnaa kaiya paaruBig brother will live for a hundred years; if you doubt it, check his palm
Aiyyaa yaaruWho is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male :Hoi hoi aiyyaa yaaruMale: Hoi hoi, who is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male
Thanni vandi thanni vandiWater cart, water cart
Thanni vandi thanni vandi theruvil vanthaendaaThe water cart has arrived on the street, man
Naan paettaikkulla ellaarukkum marumagan thaandaaI am the son-in-law to everyone in this neighborhood
Neppoliyan eppothumae kayiluruppaandaa daa daa daaNapoleon will always be in hand, man man man
{Aiyyaa yaaruWho is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ruChorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan!
Male :Haa aiyyaa yaaruMale: Ah, who is this gentleman?
Chorus :Quarter govinthan sir-ru} (3)Chorus: Sir Quarter Govinthan! (Repeated)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk song celebrates the local Robin Hood-like character, Quarter Govinthan (also referred to as Napoleon / Thanni Vandi). Through playful exaggeration and satire, the song establishes his dominant reputation across various towns in Tamil Nadu and his fearless, carefree lifestyle.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Chennaiyila saithaappettai

Matching second consonants across lines like Chennaiyila / Selaththula / Maduraiyila.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Kondaich seval ivarai kandaa / Kuninju muttaiyidum

Exaggerated humorous claim that roosters lay eggs and trains run towards his whistle.

Social Satire / Irony

Periya manusan thirudipputtaa kai thatturaanga / Chinna pasanga thirudipputtaa kaiya vetturaanga

Highlighting societal hypocrisy where crimes by rich people are cheered while poor youths face severe punishment.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1990 Tamil movie 'Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga' starring Sathyaraj in a double role. The lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu and feature classic late-80s/early-90s Gana/folk humor elements.

Keep listening

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