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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thesathai Paarkaiyile

From Kootu Puzhukkal · 1987

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kootu Puzhukkal1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dhesathai paarkaiyilaeWhen looking at the nation,
Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaaMy heart turns into a flaming torch!
Dhesathai paarkaiyilaeWhen looking at the nation,
Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaaMy heart turns into a flaming torch!
Male
Adhan veshathai kalaithidavaeTo unmask its false disguise,
Pudhu vegangal thevaiyadaNew momentum is needed, my friend.
Adharkku vidhaiyondru podungadaSow a seed for that change, my friends!
Male
Adhan veshathai kalaithidavaeTo unmask its false disguise,
Pudhu vegangal thevaiyadaNew momentum is needed, my friend.
Adharkku vidhaiyondru podungadaSow a seed for that change, my friends!
Male
Nitham pala kuttramgalaiDaily seeing those who commit
Seibavanai kandu ratham kodhikkudhadaaNumerous crimes, my blood boils!
Kolgaithanai virkkum sila kootangalai kanduSeeing some groups who sell off their principles,
Sitham thudikkudhadaaMy mind throbs with anguish!
Dhesathai paarkaiyilaeWhen looking at the nation,
Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaa…aaa….aaa…aa..aa…aa..My heart turns into a flaming torch...
Male
{Patta padippugal kattra ilainjargal{Educated youth who have earned degrees
Yaarukkum vaelaiyillaHave no jobs at all;
Idhil maatchimai thaangiya aatchiyil ullavargalYet those who rule in this 'glorious' government
Yaarukkum vetkam illai } (2)Feel no shame whatsoever.} (2)
Male
Jaadhi ozhinthida maedai adhirndhidaClaiming to eradicate caste, making stages shake,
Thalaivargal muzhangugiraarLeaders roar out loud;
Avar aayiram pesinum jaadhiyai thaanadaThough they speak a thousand words, it is caste
Therdhalil thedugiraar hahahaThat they seek during elections, ha ha ha!
Therdhalil thedugiraarThat they seek during elections.
Male
Dhesathai paarkaiyilae nenjamWhen looking at the nation, my heart
Theepandham aagudhadaaTurns into a flaming torch!
Adhan veshathai kalaithidavaeTo unmask its false disguise,
Pudhu vegangal thevaiyadaNew momentum is needed, my friend.
Adharkku vidhaiyondru podungadaSow a seed for that change, my friends!
Male
{Veera sudhandhira poril madindhavar{Those who died in the heroic freedom struggle
Naatinil kodiyadaNumbered in millions in this land;
Indru pattini porinil panjathil maaigiraToday, those dying in the war of hunger and poverty,
Ezhaigal kodiyada} (2)The poor are also in millions!} (2)
Male
Seethai neruppinil andru kulithathuBack then, Sita bathed in fire
Thendhisai theevinilaeOn the southern island (Lanka);
Varathachinai theeyinil seethaigal saavathuToday, modern Sitas dying in the fire of dowry
Indhiya boomiyilae hahaha indhiya boomiyilaeIs happening on Indian soil, ha ha ha, on Indian soil!
Male
Velli panangalai alli kodukkaiyilWhen silver coins are handed over in abundance,
Sattangal maarudhadaa adaLaws bend and change!
Laanjamum oozhalum dhesiya reedhiyilBribery and corruption on a national scale
Narthanam aaduthadaPerform their wild dance!
Male
Polithanangalum kaalithanangalumHypocrisy and hooliganism
Innumum oyavillaiHave not yet ceased;
Idhai punniya bhaaratha naadena solvadhuCalling this a holy land of Bharat
Konjamum gnyamilla.. konjamum gnyamillaHas no justification at all... no justification at all.
Male
Dhesathai paarkaiyilae nenjamWhen looking at the nation, my heart
Theepandham aagudhadaaTurns into a flaming torch!
Adhan veshathai kalaithidavaeTo unmask its false disguise,
Pudhu vegangal thevaiyadaNew momentum is needed, my friend.
Adharkku vidhaiyondru podungadaSow a seed for that change, my friends!
Male
Nitham pala kuttramgalaiDaily seeing those who commit
Seibavanai kandu ratham kodhikkudhadaaNumerous crimes, my blood boils!
Kolgaithanai virkkum sila kootangalai kanduSeeing some groups who sell off their principles,
Sitham thudikkudhadaaMy mind throbs with anguish!
Dhesathai paarkaiyilae nenjamWhen looking at the nation, my heart
Theepandham aagudhadaa …aaa….aaa…aa..aa…aa..Turns into a flaming torch...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful social protest song from the 1987 film 'Kootu Puzhukkal' expresses deep anguish and righteous anger over the socio-political decay of contemporary India. The narrator's heart burns like a flaming torch upon witnessing widespread unemployment among educated youth, political hypocrisy surrounding caste-based vote banks, rampant bribery, and systemic corruption that subverts justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaa

Compares the speaker's rage and anguish to a burning torch ('Nenjam theepandham aagudhadaa').

Ethirniyaayam / Contrast & Irony

Varathachinai theeyinil seethaigal saavathu Indhiya boomiyilae

Contrasts ancient mythology (Sita's Agnipravesham in Lanka) with modern reality (women dying in dowry fires across India).

Personification / Urubagapaduthal

Laanjamum oozhalum dhesiya reedhiyil Narthanam aaduthada

Bribery and corruption are personified as dancers performing a wild dance at the national level.

Edhugai (Ethukai / Rhyming Second Letters)

Nitham pala kuttramgalai / Seibavanai kandu ratham kodhikkudhadaa

Rhyming second consonants in lines like 'Patta' / 'Idhil' and 'Jaadhi' / 'Thalaivargal' creating rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kootu Puzhukkal' (1987) is a drama starring Raghuvaran, Amala, and Chandrasekhar, directed by Deena Dayal. The film's musical score was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics written by the renowned poet Muthulingam, who penned several socially charged and reformist songs during this era of Tamil cinema.

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