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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uppai Thinnavan

From Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal · 1976

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
M. S. Vishwanathan, Kovai Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan
Thappai seithavan thandanai kolvaan
Oppu kondavan vetkkapaduvaan
Vetkkappattavan nyaanam peruvaan
Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan
Thappai seithavan thandanai kolvaan
Oppu kondavan vetkkapaduvaan
Vetkkappattavan nyaanam peruvaan
Oo nanbargal suttapin
Nerupai thottavnillai
Pattapin meendum kettu povathillai
Vizhuntha kuzhanthai ezhunthu nadakkum
Thelintha manithan thinthi nadappaan
Karuvarai thodangi kallarai varaiyil
Ovvoru manithanum kaithi
Idhu gouthama budharum padhinettu siththarum
Ulagukku solliya sedhi
Panthamum paasamum kai kaal vilangaai
Pootti kondavan manithan
Idhil sinthanai seithu nyaanam vanthaal
Unmaiyil avanthaan punidhan
Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan
Thappai seithavan thandanai kolvaan
Oppu kondavan vetkkapaduvaan
Vetkkappattavan nyaanam peruvaan
Arisiyin melae avanavan peyarai
Aandavan ezhuthi vaippaan
Adhai aduththavar yaarum keduppatharkkillai
Avanavan thindru theerppaan
Evanevanukku enenna thevai
Iraivan kodukkindraan
Adhai avasara manithan aaththirapattu
Adharkkul edukkindraan
Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan
Thappai seithavan thandanai kolvaan
Oppu kondavan vetkkapaduvaan
Vetkkappattavan nyaanam peruvaan
Nyaanam peruaan nyaanam peruvaan
Kadavul namathu pakkam irupaan
Neengal kanneer vida vendaam
Kadavul namathu pakkam irupaan
Neengal kanneer vida vendaam
Kaalam vanthaal kadhavugal thirakkum
Kavalai padavendaam
Pettaiyidum muttaikku paarayilae thaeraikkum
Sattapadi avanthaanae kaaval
Avan petreduththa pillaigalil kuttramulla pergalai
Thakkapadi aadharikkum devan
Avan thakkapadi aadharikkumdevan
Thumparuntha kandrugalum thullugindra maadugalum
Maalai vanthaal veedu vanthu serum
Nalla panbu ketta maanidanum pakkuvamaai maarugindra
Velai vanthaal vaazhvu vanthu koodum
Kadavul namathu pakkam irupaan
Neengal kanneer vida vendaam
Kaalam vanthaal kadhavugal thirakkum
Kavalai padavendaam
………………..
Whistle :……………..
The one who eats salt will surely drink water,
The one who does wrong will face punishment.
The one who admits his mistake will feel ashamed,
And the one who feels ashamed will gain wisdom.
The one who eats salt will surely drink water,
The one who does wrong will face punishment.
The one who admits his mistake will feel ashamed,
And the one who feels ashamed will gain wisdom.
Oh friends, once burned,
No one touches fire again.
After learning from hardship, no one ruins themselves again.
A fallen child gets up and walks;
A person with clarity walks with steady steps.
From the womb until the tomb,
Every human being is a prisoner.
This is the message Gautama Buddha and the eighteen Siddhars (spiritual masters)
Taught to the entire world.
Turning worldly ties and affection into shackles for hands and feet,
Man has locked himself up.
If he ponders this and attains true wisdom,
He is truly a sacred soul.
The one who eats salt will surely drink water,
The one who does wrong will face punishment.
The one who admits his mistake will feel ashamed,
And the one who feels ashamed will gain wisdom.
Upon every single grain of rice,
God writes each person's name.
No one else can take it away;
Each person will eat what is destined for them.
Whatever each person needs,
God provides.
Yet an impatient person gets agitated
And tries to snatch it beforehand.
The one who eats salt will surely drink water,
The one who does wrong will face punishment.
The one who admits his mistake will feel ashamed,
And the one who feels ashamed will gain wisdom.
He will gain wisdom, he will gain wisdom.
God will be on our side;
You do not need to shed tears.
God will be on our side;
You do not need to shed tears.
When the time comes, the doors will open;
There is no need to worry.
For the egg laid by a bird and the frog trapped inside a rock,
By divine law, isn't He the guardian?
Among the children He created, even those who have erred,
The Lord will support and guide with fairness.
He is the Lord who supports them justly.
The calf that broke its tether and the frolicking cattle
Will return home when the evening comes.
Even a person who lost good virtues, as maturity brings change,
Will find a good life when the right time arrives.
God will be on our side;
You do not need to shed tears.
When the time comes, the doors will open;
There is no need to worry.
...
[Whistling]
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song centers on the inescapable law of Karma, moral accountability, and spiritual awakening. Opening with a popular Tamil proverb, 'Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan' (He who eats salt must drink water), lyricist Vaali highlights that every action carries a natural consequence. Mistakes lead to remorse, remorse leads to shame, and genuine shame yields true spiritual wisdom. The song observes that human life is bound by emotional attachments like a prison from birth to death, but self-reflection brings liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Metaphor

Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan

Uses the traditional Tamil adage 'Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan' as a central metaphor for Karma and cause-and-effect.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Uppai thinnavan thanni kudippaan / Thappai seithavan thandanai kolvaan

The second consonant sound 'pp' matches between 'Uppai' and 'Thappai', creating classic Tamil poetic harmony.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Oppu kondavan vetkkapaduvaan / Vetkkappattavan nyaanam peruvaan

Matching ending verb suffixes (-ppaan, -vaan) across successive lines.

Allusion

Idhu gouthama budharum padhinettu siththarum

Refers to Buddha and the 18 Siddhas to ground the moral lesson in ancient spiritual tradition.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan, this philosophical track features the composer's own iconic voice alongside Kovai Soundararajan. Vaali's lyrics heavily draw on folk wisdom and Tamil proverbs to convey deep philosophical truths in accessible everyday language.

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