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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thennattu Singame Thevarayya

From Pasumpon · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, Anuradha Sriram, Kalpana Raghavendar
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Pasumpon1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thennaattu singamae thaevaraiyaaO lion of the southern land, respected Thevar sir!
Enga thaevar kula thangamae thaevaraiyaaO gold of our Thevar clan, respected Thevar sir!
Veecharuvaa meesa konda thaevaraiyaaThe respected Thevar sir who holds a sharp scythe and a grand mustache!
Ulla vellarikkaa manasu konda thaevaraiyaaThe respected Thevar sir who possesses a heart gentle like a tender cucumber inside!
Chorus
Aala maram pol valandha thaevaraiyaaO respected Thevar sir who grew tall and protective like a banyan tree!
Unga adimanasula kuruvigalae naangalaiyaaAre we not the little birds nesting deep within your heart?
Chorus
Thennaattu singamae thaevaraiyaaO lion of the southern land, respected Thevar sir!
Enga thaevar kula thangamae thaevaraiyaaO gold of our Thevar clan, respected Thevar sir!
Chorus
……………………………...
Male
Nel pottaa pon vilaiyumIf you sow paddy, gold yields in harvest
Thaevaraiyaa seemaiyilaeIn the prosperous land of respected Thevar sir!
Male
Vaazha rendu kulai thallumPlantains yield two bunches of fruit at once
Thaevaraiyaa kollaiyilaeIn the garden plot of respected Thevar sir!
Male
Mazhai megam pozhiyaadhuEven if rain clouds fail to pour,
Chorus
Thaedi vandha aalugalaTo the people who come seeking refuge,
Thaevaraiyaa yetradhillaRespected Thevar sir never denies aid!
Thennaattu singamae thaevaraiyaaO lion of the southern land, respected Thevar sir!
Male :ThaevaraiyaaMale: Respected Thevar sir!
Chorus :Enga thaevar kula thangamae thaevaraiyaaChorus: O gold of our Thevar clan, respected Thevar sir!
Male :ThaevaraiyaaMale: Respected Thevar sir!
Chorus :Thennaattu singamae thaevaraiyaaChorus: O lion of the southern land, respected Thevar sir!
Male :ThaevaraiyaaMale: Respected Thevar sir!
Chorus :Enga thaevar kula thangamae thaevaraiyaaChorus: O gold of our Thevar clan, respected Thevar sir!
Female
Thaevarukku oru magalaamThey say Thevar has a daughter,
Selvam ulla thirumagalaamA divine and prosperous daughter,
Kanmanikkul valarndhavalaamRaised as precious as the pupil of his eye,
Kannagikku marumagalaamVirtuous like a spiritual descendant of Kannagi!
Chorus
Thaevar kulathu rambaShe is the heavenly nymph Ramba of the Thevar clan,
Ava sirippu seeraga sambaaHer smile is fine and sweet like Seeraga Samba rice!
Female
Patta maram paal varumaamEven a dried dead tree will yield milk,
Paavakkaai thaen tharumaamEven a bitter gourd will yield honey,
Sithiraiyil mazhai varumaamEven in the dry month of Chithirai rain will pour,
Thaevar maga paarvaiyilaeJust under the glance of Thevar's daughter!
Chorus
Thalli ninnu paaruStand at a distance and look at her,
Ava thangam ezhacha thaeruShe is like a grand chariot carved out of pure gold!
Female
Thaevarukku eeruyiraamFor Thevar who holds two lives in one body,
Dheva magal oruyiraamHis divine daughter is his core soul!
Petha magal irukkaiyilaeWhen he has his cherished biological daughter,
Mathadhedhum kidaiyaadhaamNothing else matters or equals her!
Male
Oorellaam pandhalaamThe entire town is decorated with wedding pandals,
Ulagellaam thoranamaamThe entire world is adorned with hanging festoons,
Thaevar magal manam kollaFor the wedding of Thevar's daughter,
Seemai ellaam olaigalaam (Dialogue)Palm-leaf wedding invitations are sent across all realms! (Dialogue)
Male
Vaaraandi vaaraandiHere he comes, here he comes!
Varisai kondu vaaraandiBringing ceremonial gifts, here he comes!
Pattu saela nooru vagaiA hundred varieties of fine silk sarees,
Parisam kondu vaaraandiBringing bride-price gifts, here he comes!
Female
Sandhana pottazhaganHandsome with a sandalwood mark on his forehead,
Saanja nadai azhaganHandsome with his stylish tilted walk!
Sandhana pottazhaganHandsome with a sandalwood mark on his forehead,
Saanja nadai azhaganHandsome with his stylish tilted walk!
Koora saelaya vaangiHaving purchased the auspicious wedding saree,
Kudhirai yeri vaaraandiRiding atop a horse, here he comes!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-inspired song from the movie Pasumpon celebrates the nobility, bravery, and immense generosity of the village chieftain (Thevar), while also describing the grand wedding of his beloved daughter. The lyrics highlight his fierce exterior—marked by a sharp mustache and sickle—contrasted with a deeply soft, compassionate heart that shelters his people like a giant banyan tree. The song praises the unmatched fertility of his land and his open-handed hospitality. As the song progresses into a celebratory wedding mood, it describes the beauty and virtues of his daughter and the majestic arrival of the groom riding a horse with grand gifts and silk sarees to marry her. The entire track serves as a vibrant homage to rural Tamil culture, paternal affection, and community pride.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thennaattu singamae thaevaraiyaa

Refers to the leader as 'Thennaattu singam' (Lion of the southern land) to denote his bravery and authority.

Simile (Uvamai)

Ulla vellarikkaa manasu konda thaevaraiyaa

Compares the chieftain's internal gentle nature to a cool, soft cucumber ('vellarikkaa manasu') beneath a rough exterior.

Hyperbole (Uyirvu Navirchi)

Nel pottaa pon vilaiyum / Patta maram paal varumaam

Exaggerates the fertility of his land and the auspiciousness of his daughter's glance, stating even dry trees yield milk and paddy yields gold.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai & Edhurai)

Sandhana pottazhagan / Saanja nadai azhagan

Uses rhythmic initial and second-letter sound repetitions such as 'Sandhana' and 'Saanja' to create a lively folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pasumpon (1995) stars Prabhu and Sivaji Ganesan, with music composed by Vidyasagar and lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song captures the authentic Maravar community heritage and southern Tamil Nadu's traditional village dynamics and wedding customs.

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