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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillaalangadi Thillaalangadi

From Arasilangkumari · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Arasilangkumari1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ohooo..ooo ohoo…ooooOhooo..ooo ohoo…oooo
Ohoooo…ooooo…ooooo….Ohoooo…ooooo…ooooo….
Oooooo…oooo…oooo….ohooo….oooOooooo…oooo…oooo….ohooo….ooo
Female
Thillalangadi thillalangadiSly tricks, sly tricks,
Therinjikka venum..mmm…One must understand... mmm...
Buththi thelivu illatha manidhar ellamAll people who lack clarity of mind,
Purinjikka venum…aaaa…a.aa….aaa…Must realize this... aaaa...a.aa....aaa...
Female
Thillalangadi….Sly tricks...
Thillalangadi thillalangadiSly tricks, sly tricks,
Therinjikka venum..mmm…One must understand... mmm...
Female
Aattu kada kootangalaeOh herds of sheep,
Engae poringhaWhere are you going?
Oru aadu pogum vazhiyila thaanOnly along the path that one sheep takes,
Neengha povinghaYou all blindly follow.
Female
Aattu kada kootangalaeOh herds of sheep,
Engae poringhaWhere are you going?
Oru aadu pogum vazhiyila thaanOnly along the path that one sheep takes,
Neengha povinghaYou all blindly follow.
Female
Naatukullae ungalai polIn this country, just like you,
Manushan undunga…aaa….aaa…aaa…There are people... aaa...aaa...aaa...
Naatukullae ungalai polIn this country, just like you,
Manushan undunga..There are people..
Neengha kaatum vazhiyai kachidhamaThe path shown by you, perfectly,
KadaipidipanghaThey will blindly adhere to.
Female
Thillalangadi….Sly tricks...
Thillalangadi thillalangadiSly tricks, sly tricks,
Therinjikka venum..mmm…One must understand... mmm...
Female
Nalla manushan ullam polaLike the pure heart of a good human being,
Nellu vilanji kidakudhuPaddy crops grow abundantly.
Chorus :Lallalala…lalalala..lalalalaChorus: Lallalala…lalalala..lalalala
Female :Nadunaduvae kalangam polaFemale: In between, like a flaw or stain,
Kalaiyum kuda mulaikudhuWeeds also sprout up.
Chorus :Ama kalaiyum kuda mulaikudhuChorus: Yes, weeds also sprout up.
Female
Nalladhu kettadhu vazhkaiyilaeGood and evil in life,
Irukkudhu oru aayiramExist in thousands.
Chorus :Aaahaaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…Chorus: Aaahaaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…
Female :Nalladhu kettadhu vazhkaiyilaeFemale: Good and evil in life,
Irukkudhu oru aayiramExist in thousands.
Thadaiyai parthu nadakkalenaIf one doesn't walk carefully noticing obstacles,
Mudivai nokki poiyidumIt will lead straight toward a tragic end.
Female
Thillalangadi….Sly tricks...
Thillalangadi thillalangadiSly tricks, sly tricks,
Therinjikka venum..mmm…One must understand... mmm...
Female
{Aalolam…mmmm{Aalolam…mmmm
Chorus :Aalolam…mmmmChorus: Aalolam…mmmm
Female :Aalolam…mmmmFemale: Aalolam…mmmm
Chorus :Aalolam…mmmm} (2)Chorus: Aalolam…mmmm} (2)
Female
Paattu paadi paranthu pogumSinging songs and flying away,
Paravai jaathiyae…ae….Oh species of birds... ae...
Paattu paadi paranthu pogumSinging songs and flying away,
Paravai jaathiyae…ae….Oh species of birds... ae...
Unnai paarthu kuda thirunthalaiyaeEven after seeing you, human justice hasn't reformed,
Manidha needhiyaeHuman justice itself!
Female
Kootam pottu kalanji pogumGathering together in crowds and then dispersing,
Gunaththil paadhiyaeThat is half of human nature.
Eduthu kondathanaal kandathennaWhat did you gain by snatching and greedily taking everything?
Manidha jaathiyaeOh human race!
Female
{Aalolam…mmmm{Aalolam…mmmm
Chorus :Aalolam…mmmmChorus: Aalolam…mmmm
Female :Aalolam…mmmmFemale: Aalolam…mmmm
Chorus :Aalolam…mmmm} (2)Chorus: Aalolam…mmmm} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thillalangadi from Arasilangkumari (1961) is a playful yet deep philosophical song written by lyricist Kannadasan. Using folk motifs and engaging vocalizations, the song satirizes human foolishness, herd mentality, and moral compromises. It urges people who lack critical thinking to wake up and understand the deceptive tricks ('thillalangadi') present in human society. The lyricist uses nature imagery, comparing human conformity to sheep following a single lead sheep, and human society to a paddy field where weeds grow alongside good crops. It contrasts the carefree, harmonious existence of birds with the selfish, divided nature of human beings who fail to learn righteousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aattu kada kootangalae / Engae poringha / Oru aadu pogum vazhiyila thaan / Neengha povingha

Compares human herd mentality and lack of independent thinking to a flock of sheep blindly following the path taken by a single sheep.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nalla manushan ullam pola / Nellu vilanji kidakudhu / Nadunaduvae kalangam pola / Kalaiyum kuda mulaikudhu

Compares a good-hearted person to a fertile paddy crop and bad qualities/evil people to unwanted weeds sprouting in between.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Paattu paadi paranthu pogum / Paravai jaathiyae

Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound across words ('Paattu', 'paadi', 'paranthu', 'Paravai') creating a rhythmic cadence mirroring a bird's flight.

Did you know?

Trivia

Arasilangkumari (1961) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Padmini, and Rajasree. The film's musical score was joint-composed by G. Ramanathan and S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Sung primarily by S. Janaki with chorus, this song stands out as an early example of Kannadasan utilizing folk rhythms to deliver social commentary for MGR's cinema universe.

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