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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Appadi Irukkudhu

From Asai Anna Arumai Thambi · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Thiruchi Loganathan, A. V. Saraswathi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Asai Anna Arumai Thambi1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aanaanap pattathellaamAll that has been accomplished
Thaanaanae podaiyilae….In its own rhythm and intoxication...
Ae…ae….ae…ae….ae….ae…ae….Ae...ae...ae...ae...ae...ae...ae...
Female
Ingae altaappu jodi vanthuHere comes a pretentious pair
Aattam poduthu paraa paramae…Dancing away, Oh Supreme Power...
Aa…aa…aa…aa….aa….aa….Aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Male :AppadiMale: That's right
Male
Ullukkullae nadakkuthuThings are happening on the inside
Female :Solla ponaa moraikkuthuFemale: If you point it out, they glare at you
Male :Ullukkullae nadakkuthuMale: Things are happening on the inside
Female :Solla ponaa moraikkuthuFemale: If you point it out, they glare at you
Female
Unda veettukku rendagam senjavanThe one who betrayed the house that fed him
Uruppuduvaanaa machchaan uruppuduvaanaaWill he ever prosper, brother-in-law, will he ever prosper?
Unda veettukku rendagam senjavanThe one who betrayed the house that fed him
Uruppuduvaanaa machchaan uruppuduvaanaaWill he ever prosper, brother-in-law, will he ever prosper?
Male
Avan odhai vaangaamae oorai vittuWithout getting beaten up, from this town
Purappaduvaanaa avan purappaduvaanaaWill he leave? Will he depart?
Avan odhai vaangaamae oorai vittuWithout getting beaten up, from this town
Purappaduvaanaa avan purappaduvaanaaWill he leave? Will he depart?
Female
Kanda pengalai kannai adichchavanThe one who winked at random women
KaalanthalluvaanaaWill he live long into old age?
Kanda pengalai kannai adichchavanThe one who winked at random women
KaalanthalluvaanaaWill he live long into old age?
Male
Antha kaaladippaya vaalaattaththaiyumWithout noticing the tail-wagging misbehavior of that trickster
Kavanikkaama edang koduththuttuBy giving him room and space
Male
Dangaach chaappu dangaach chaappu joruLook at the grand beat and grand rhythm
Angae daaladikuthu paaruShining brightly over there
Un chaappu dangaach chaappu joruYour grand rhythm and grand beat
Angae daaladikuthu paaruLook at it shining over there
Female
Namma thanthaanaththaan paattai kettuHearing our folk song of rhythm
Thayangi nirppavan yaaruWho is standing there hesitant?
Namma thanthaanaththaan paattai kettuHearing our folk song of rhythm
Thayangi nirppavan yaaru entha ooruWho is standing hesitant, and from which town?
Entha ooraamWhich town is he from?
Male :VeliyooruMale: He is an outsider
Avanukku samayam paaththu thaalam pottuWatching for the right time and keeping time for him
Padhukkuraanae jameenthaaruThe Zamindar shelters him secretly
Male
Thalukku kaattiyae kanakku pannuthaamShowing off her charm, she lures and calculates
Jameenthaarin ponnu oru jameenthaarin ponnuThe Zamindar's daughter, a Zamindar's daughter
Thalukku kaattiyae kanakku pannuthaamShowing off her charm, she lures and calculates
Jameenthaarin ponnu oru jameenthaarin ponnuThe Zamindar's daughter, a Zamindar's daughter
Female
Antha minukkai paarththathum mayangi yaenguthaamSeeing that sparkle, it gets mesmerized and longs
Manager-in kannu oru manager-in kannuThe Manager's eye, a manager's eye
Antha minukkai paarththathum mayangi yaenguthaamSeeing that sparkle, it gets mesmerized and longs
Manager-in kannu oru manager-in kannuThe Manager's eye, a manager's eye
Male
Kanakku pannittaan…He calculated and tricked...
Female :Kaasai parichchuttaaFemale: She snatched away the money
Male :Kaiyaalaagathavan kaiyai piduchchuttaanMale: The useless fellow held her hand
Male
Kanakku pannittaan…He calculated and tricked...
Female :Kaasai parichchuttaaFemale: She snatched away the money
Male :Kaiyaalaagathavan kaiyai piduchchuttaanMale: The useless fellow held her hand
Female :Oorai keduththuttaanFemale: He ruined the town
Male :Perai keduththuttaaMale: She ruined her reputation
Female :Udhadu kannaththaiFemale: Her lips and cheeks
Male :Uppa vachchuttaanMale: He made them swell up
Female
Ooru sirikkuthuThe town is laughing
Male : Kaari thupputhuMale: Spitting in disgust
Female :Vekkang kettathuFemale: Lost all sense of shame
Male :Veri pidichchuthuMale: Overcome with madness
Female :Maanag kettathuFemale: Honor is lost
Male :Madhamung kondathuMale: Filled with arrogance
Female :Manushanaa….maadaa…Female: Is he a human... or a beast...
Male :MariyaathaiyillaeMale: There is no respect at all

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This satirical duet from the 1955 movie 'Asai Anna Arumai Thambi' serves as a sharp moral commentary on deceitful characters, societal hypocrisy, and moral degradation. Through playful exchanges and folk-style rhythmic chatter, the street performers expose the scheming antics of an outsider, a corrupt manager, and a flirtatious Zamindar's daughter. They criticize betrayal, shameless lust, and greed, warning that evil deeds inevitably lead to public disgrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Ethirukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Unda veettukku rendagam senjavan

Repetition of second letter consonants across lines such as 'Unda' and 'Purappaduvaanaa'.

Sollani (Repetition / Chorus)

Dangaach chaappu dangaach chaappu joru

Use of rhythmic folk sound phrases like 'Dangaach chaappu' and 'Thanthanaththaan' to create a traditional street performance feel.

Satire and Rhetorical Questions

Uruppuduvaanaa machchaan uruppuduvaanaa

Using questions like 'Uruppuduvaanaa' (Will he prosper?) and 'Kaalanthalluvaanaa' (Will he live long?) to mock wrongdoers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the acclaimed lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, known for his folk idioms, satirical commentary, and witty dialogue lyrics in 1950s Tamil cinema, this song utilizes traditional Therukoothu (street play) rhythm structures to critique feudal dynamics and modern corruption.

Keep listening

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