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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanniye Pottaa

From Savaal · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Kalyani Menon, Sripriya
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Savaal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulagamae maayam vaazhvae maayamThe whole world is an illusion, life is an illusion
Nilaiyaedhu naam kaanum sugamae maayamWhat is permanent? The pleasures we see are an illusion
Hoom……kaanum sugamae maayamHoom... The pleasures we see are an illusion
Male
Mmmm….Mmmm...
Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkumIf you drink alcohol, happiness is born
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkumIf you walk staggering, there is joy
Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkumIf you drink alcohol, happiness is born
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkumIf you walk staggering, there is joy
Male
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkumWhatever worries exist, all will fly away
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkumThe mind will always be fine
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkumWhatever worries exist, all will fly away
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkumThe mind will always be fine
Female
Oo….paarvathiO Parvathi
Male
Aei….naan paaru illa chandramugiHey... look, I am not Paru, I am Chandramukhi
Male
Paravaayilae adjust pannikkammaaNever mind, just adjust my dear
Female
Paarvathiyalla devadaasI am Devadas, not Parvathi
Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugiLook at me well, I am Chandramukhi
Paarvathiyalla devadaasI am Devadas, not Parvathi
Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugiLook at me well, I am Chandramukhi
Male
Ada…..Chandramugithaan paarvathiAh... Chandramukhi is Parvathi herself
Paarvathithaan chandramugiParvathi is Chandramukhi herself
Ha Chandramugithaan paarvathiHa, Chandramukhi is Parvathi herself
Paarvathithaan chandramugiParvathi is Chandramukhi herself
Naan enna kudichchavanoDid I drink alcohol?
Vaerengum nadichchavanoDid I act somewhere else?
Female
Kadhalil tholvi kandaaiYou faced failure in love
Ennidam oodi vanthaaiYou came running to me
Male
Kadhal raajaaththi ponaalammaaMy queen of love is gone, my dear
Naanum kudikaaran aanean ammaaAnd I became a drunkard, my dear
Kadhal raajaaththi ponaalammaaMy queen of love is gone, my dear
Naanum kudikaaran aanean ammaaAnd I became a drunkard, my dear
Male
Indru naan unnai paarthaen ammaaToday I saw you, my dear
Maelum kudikaaran aanaen ammaaI became even more of a drunkard, my dear
Indru naan unnai paarthaen ammaaToday I saw you, my dear
Maelum kudikaaran aanaen ammaaI became even more of a drunkard, my dear
Male
Ooo….paarvathiO Parvathi
Male
Thanniyai potta santhosham pirakkumIf you drink alcohol, happiness is born
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkumIf you walk staggering, there is joy
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkumWhatever worries exist, all will fly away
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkumThe mind will always be fine
Male
Ooo….paarvathiO Parvathi
Female
Aiyyo thukkamma paada vendiya idaththulaOh dear, in a situation where you should sing with sorrow
Santhosamaa paaduriyaeYou are singing happily
Male
Ooo….paarvathiO Parvathi
Female
Kadhaliththaal paarvathiIf she falls in love, she is Parvathi
Aada vanthaal chandramugiIf she comes to dance, she is Chandramukhi
Male
Ada rendu paerum pennammaaOh, both are women, my dear
Peathamenna sollammaaTell me, what is the difference, my dear?
Nee onnum kudikalaiyaeYou haven't drunk anything
Niyaayangal puriyalaiyaeSo you don't understand justice
Female
Niyaayaththai sollattumaaShall I tell you the truth?
Kaettathai kodukattumaaShall I give you what you asked for?
Male
Hai….hae….hae…..mm….a…..Hai... hae... hae... mm... a...
Adichchaalum odhachchaalum varuvaendiEven if you beat me or kick me, I will come, girl
Angangae rendaaga theriveandiEverything looks double everywhere, girl
Uttaalakkadi….Uttaalakkadi...
Adichchaalum odhachchaalum varuvaendiEven if you beat me or kick me, I will come, girl
Angangae rendaaga theriveandiEverything looks double everywhere, girl
Male
Eppothum en aasai vellumadiMy desire will always win, girl
Ellorum nandraaga rasiththaaradiEveryone enjoyed it well, girl
Idhupola dhinanthorum nadipomadiLet us act like this every day, girl
Male
Thanniyai potta santhosham pirakkumIf you drink alcohol, happiness is born
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkumIf you walk staggering, there is joy
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkumWhatever worries exist, all will fly away
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkumThe mind will always be fine
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkumThe mind will always be fine

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Savaal (1981) offers a humorous and meta-textual reflection on heartbreak, alcohol, and love. Drawing heavily on the literary characters of Devadas, Parvathi, and Chandramukhi, the protagonist uses intoxication to temporarily erase his worries and heartbreak, maintaining that life and its worldly pleasures are ultimately illusory (Maayam).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (Aalumaai)

Parvathiyalla devadaas / Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugi

References the iconic characters Devadas, Parvathi, and Chandramukhi from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel to highlight love, loss, and solace.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkum / Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum

The second letters of consecutive lines share the same sound ('nn' / 'll'), creating rhythmic flow.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Ulagamae maayam vaazhvae maayam

Repetition of the word 'Maayam' (illusion) to emphasize the core philosophical theme.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the movie Savaal (1981), starring Kamal Haasan and Sripriya. Kannadasan's lyrics playfully blend high philosophical ideas like 'Ulagamae Maayam' with contemporary drunk-song tropes.

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