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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thudikkum Yavvanam

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Jikki, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Aaravalli1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oo….oo….oo…oo…oo…o…oo…oo…Oo....oo....oo...oo...oo...o...oo...oo...
Female
Thudikkum yavvanam midukkaai vanthathaeVibrant youth has arrived with grandeur
Parakkum chittu pol paranthae vaazhvaeLet us live flying freely like a soaring sparrow
Kadamai thannaiyae karuththaai seiyyavaeTo perform our duty with deep care and focus
Parakkum chittu pol paranthae vaazhvaeLet us live flying freely like a soaring sparrow
Female
Thudikkum yavvanam midukkaai vanthathaeVibrant youth has arrived with grandeur
Thudikkum yavvanam midukkaai vanthathaeVibrant youth has arrived with grandeur
Kadamai thannaiyae karuththaai seiyyavaeTo perform our duty with deep care and focus
Kadamai thannaiyae karuththaai seiyyavaeTo perform our duty with deep care and focus
Female
Kadamai yaedhadi madamai yaenadiWhat duty is there, my friend? Why this foolishness?
Kadamai yaedhadi madamai yaenadiWhat duty is there, my friend? Why this foolishness?
Mana kavalaiyindri vaazhumLiving without any worries of the mind,
Kanni paruvamthaanadiThis is the age of maidenhood, my friend!
Mana kavalaiyindri vaazhumLiving without any worries of the mind,
Kanni paruvamthaanadiThis is the age of maidenhood, my friend!
Female
Idhai karuththil konduKeeping this in mind,
Naam magizhvom vaangadiCome, let us rejoice, my friend!
Idhai karuththil konduKeeping this in mind,
Naam magizhvom vaangadiCome, let us rejoice, my friend!
Chorus
Paruvam maarinaal uruvam maarumaeIf youth passes, our physical form will change
Paruvam maarinaal uruvam maarumaeIf youth passes, our physical form will change
Oru payalum nammai seentha maattanNo fellow will even tease or bother us anymore,
Kavalai nerumaeSorrow will surely arrive
Oru payalum nammai seentha maattanNo fellow will even tease or bother us anymore,
Kavalai nerumaeSorrow will surely arrive
Chorus
Idhai maranthae vaazhvathaaShould we live forgetting this reality?
Madinthae povathaaShould we perish and fade away?
Idhai maranthae vaazhvathaaShould we live forgetting this reality?
Madinthae povathaaShould we perish and fade away?
Chorus
Thudikkum yavvanam midukkaai vanthathaeVibrant youth has arrived with grandeur
Kadamai thannaiyae karuththaai seiyyavaeTo perform our duty with deep care and focus
Female
Adimaiyaavathaa adangi vaazhvathaaShould we become slaves and live submissively?
Adimaiyaavathaa adangi vaazhvathaaShould we become slaves and live submissively?
Perum kodumai seiyyumDoing great atrocities,
Aangal kayil padhumaiyaavathaaShould we become mere puppets in the hands of men?
Naan puthumai pennadiI am a modern woman, my friend!
En sollai keladiListen to my words, my friend!
Chorus
Vaayaal veesalaam vazhakkae pesalaamWe can talk big and debate our case verbally
Vaayaal veesalaam vazhakkae pesalaamWe can talk big and debate our case verbally
Un manathil ulla aasai thannaiThe true desires residing in your heart,
Un manathil ulla aasai thannaiThe true desires residing in your heart,
Marainthae pesalaamWe can speak of them in secret
Chorus
Idhan marmam thannaiyaeThe secret mystery behind this,
Kaalam sollumaeTime itself will reveal
Idhan marmam thannaiyaeThe secret mystery behind this,
Kaalam sollumaeTime itself will reveal
Female
Thudikkum yavvanam midukkaai vanthathaeVibrant youth has arrived with grandeur
Parakkum chittu pol paranthae vaazhvaeLet us live flying freely like a soaring sparrow

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures a lively debate among young women regarding youth, duty, female freedom, and societal roles. One side advocates for enjoying youth carefree before old age sets in, while the other emphasizes duty, dignity, and female empowerment. The song invokes the idea of the modern woman ('puthumai penn') who refuses to live submissively or act as a puppet under male dominance. Ultimately, it blends playful, carefree celebration with progressive ideas of women's independence and critical thinking.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Parakkum chittu pol paranthae vaazhvae

Comparing living freely in youth to a sparrow soaring in the sky.

Rhyme and Alliteration (Etukai and Monai)

Adimaiyaavathaa adangi vaazhvathaa

Use of matching initial and second-letter sounds ('Adimaiyaavathaa' / 'adangi') to create rhythmic unity.

Metaphor

Aangal kayil padhumaiyaavathaa

Comparing submissive women to lifeless puppets manipulated by men.

Rhetorical Question

Kadamai yaedhadi madamai yaenadi

Questioning the concept of blind duty to challenge conventional thinking.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1957 Tamil folklore film 'Aaravalli', composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi. The lyricist invokes Subramania Bharati's progressive concept of 'Puthumai Penn' (Modern Woman) to promote women's agency within a popular film dance sequence.

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