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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thimingalathai Muzhungiputtu

From Sonthakkaran · 1989

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Sonthakkaran1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Takkaru takkaruthaanExcellent, excellent!
Takkaru takkaruthaanExcellent, excellent!
Takkaru takkaruthaanExcellent, excellent!
Takkaru takkaruthaanExcellent, excellent!
Male
Dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtuSwallowing a whale whole,
Thiruttu muzhi muzhikkaravanAnd then blinking like a thief—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Thoonukkellam podava kattiDraping a saree over even a pillar,
Thottu thottu paakkiravanAnd constantly touching and inspecting it—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Ivanukkellaam pombalainga puththi puattanumWomen must teach sense to such men,
Velakkumaaththu posaikellaam kaththu kodukkanumThey must teach them lessons using broomstick poses!
Male
Dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtuSwallowing a whale whole,
Thiruttu muzhi muzhikkaravanAnd then blinking like a thief—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus
Haiththalakkaa haiththalakkaaHaiththalakkaa haiththalakkaa!
Haiththalakkaa paattu paadiSinging the Haiththalakkaa song,
Dappangkuththu aaduvomWe will dance the Dappangkuththu!
Haiththalakkaa paattu paadiSinging the Haiththalakkaa song,
Dappangkuththu aaduvom aaduvomWe will dance the Dappangkuththu, we will dance!
Aaduvom aaduvom aaduvom….We will dance, we will dance, we will dance...
Male
Podu…..dandanakkaa hei haeiHit it... dandanakkaa hey hey!
Male
Kalla nottu pervazhithaan intha aalungaThese men are masters of counterfeit currency,
Karpaththaiyae kadaththuvaar intha aalunaThese men would even smuggle modesty itself!
Ada kalla nottu pervazhithaan intha aalungaOh, these men are masters of counterfeit currency,
Karpaththaiyae kadaththuvaar intha aalungaThese men would even smuggle modesty itself!
Male
Ivar saaraayaththil sarkkaaraiyae nadaththinaanungaThey ran governments funded by liquor revenue,
Ivar saelai sapplay pannuvathil sirantha aalungaThey are experts at procuring and supplying women!
Sudhanthiraththai ivangathaanae eduththukittaanaDidn't these very people snatch away freedom?
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes!
Male :Iruttukkullae pangu pottu pirichchikittaangaMale: They divided and shared power in the dark!
Chorus :Iruttukkullae pangu pottu pirichchikittaangaChorus: They divided and shared power in the dark!
Male
Dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtuSwallowing a whale whole,
Thiruttu muzhi muzhikkaravanAnd then blinking like a thief—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaa deiIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man, hey?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Hei hei heiHey hey hey!
Damara damara dam dam damDamara damara dam dam dam!
Chorus :Damara damara dam dam damChorus: Damara damara dam dam dam!
Male
………………..[Instrumental beat]
Chorus :……………..Chorus: [Instrumental beat]
Male
Adikka adikka kuniyurathu antha naalungaBowing down lower as beatings rained down was in those days,
Adichcha panthu thirumbi varum intha naalungaThe hit ball bouncing back with force is today!
Adikka adikka kuniyurathu antha naalungaBowing down lower as beatings rained down was in those days,
Haei adichcha panthu thirumbi varum intha naalungaHey, the hit ball bouncing back with force is today!
Male
Ozhaichchu ozhaichchu thenjathellam antha naalungaWearing out through relentless toil was in those days,
Ozhaichcha koottam aaluvathu intha naalungaThe working crowd taking power to rule is today!
Unmai engum thoththathu illa kettu paarungaTruth has never lost anywhere, go ask around!
Chorus :AamaamChorus: Yes!
Male :Ulagaththukku viduvu kaalam ippathaanungaMale: The era of liberation for the world is now!
Chorus :Ulagaththukku viduvu kaalam ippathaanungaChorus: The era of liberation for the world is now!
Male
Podu dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtuHit it! Swallowing a whale whole,
Thiruttu muzhi muzhikkaravanAnd then blinking like a thief—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Ada thoonukkellam podava kattiOh, draping a saree over even a pillar,
Thottu thottu paakkiravanAnd constantly touching and inspecting it—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Ivanukkellaam pombalainga puththi puattanumWomen must teach sense to such men,
Velakkumaaththu posaikellaam kaththu kodukkanumThey must teach them lessons using broomstick poses!
Male
Dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtuSwallowing a whale whole,
Thiruttu muzhi muzhikkaravanAnd then blinking like a thief—
Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaIs he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Chorus :Periya manushanaa thambi periya manushanaaChorus: Is he a respectable man, brother, is he a respectable man?
Male
Ada podu…..haai hai haai…haai…..Oh hit it... haai hai haai... haai...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy folk and satirical track that exposes the hypocrisy of corrupt societal elites and pretend gentlemen ('periya manushan'). Through sharp colloquial Tamil lyrics, the narrator criticizes men who engage in massive financial scams, moral corruption, dark backroom political deals, and exploitation while maintaining a facade of high social standing and respectability.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (உயர்நவிற்சி அண)

Dhimingalaththai muzhungiputtu

Exaggerating an act of massive corruption as 'swallowing a whale whole' to emphasize the enormity of greed.

Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Adichcha panthu thirumbi varum intha naalunga

Comparing the social uprising of oppressed workers to a struck ball bouncing back with equal force.

Contrast (எதிர்நிலை / முரண்)

Ozhaichchu ozhaichchu thenjathellam antha naalunga / Ozhaichcha koottam aaluvathu intha naalunga

Contrasting the old days of passive suffering ('antha naalunga') with the present era of empowerment and revolution ('intha naalunga').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1989 film 'Sonthakkaran' starring Prabhu and Nirosha, with music composed by Chandrabose and lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The track relies heavily on the 'Dappangkuththu' rhythm to blend political commentary with popular dance entertainment.

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