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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Urumunnu Urumudhadi

From Sakkarai Panthal · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sakkarai Panthal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeThe urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Female :Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeFemale: The urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Male
Thanga kaiyaal alantha saamiOh deity who measured everything with a golden hand,
Unnai kandaa vanangum bhoomiThe earth worships you whenever it sees you!
Thanga kaiyaal alantha saamiOh deity who measured everything with a golden hand,
Unnai kandaa vanangum bhoomiThe earth worships you whenever it sees you!
Chorus
Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeThe urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Male
Eduththu vachchathum koduththu vachchathum yaeraalaamWhat they accumulated and what they gave away is abundant,
Yaezhai veettukku ivanga thanthathu thaaraalaamWhat they gave to poor homes is immensely generous!
Female :Eduththu vachchathum koduththu vachchathumFemale: What they accumulated and what they gave away
Chorus :YaeralaamChorus: Is abundant!
Female :Yaezhai veettukku ivanga thanthathuFemale: What they gave to poor homes
Chorus :ThaaraalamChorus: Is immensely generous!
Male
Kaniju vanthathu kaalamThe right time has ripened,
Adhai kaaththi ninnuda venumWe must wait and hold on to it.
Female :Neranju vazhiyum megam adhuFemale: Like an overflowing cloud,
Karunai mazhaiyai thoovumIt will shower rain of mercy!
Male
Vanthathu ippa oru yogamA good fortune has arrived now,
Thanthathu nallathoru kaalamIt has given a good time.
Vanthathu ippa oruArrived now is a...
Chorus :YogamChorus: Fortune!
Male :Thanthathu nallathoruMale: Given is a good...
Chorus :KaalamChorus: Time!
Female :Nammala vittathu baaramFemale: The heavy burden has left us,
Nanmaiyai kandathu oorum….The entire town has witnessed goodness...
Chorus
Nammala vittathu baaramThe heavy burden has left us,
Nanmaiyai kandathu oorum….The entire town has witnessed goodness...
Male
Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeThe urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Female :Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeFemale: The urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Chorus
…………………...
Chorus
Karna magaraasana paththiAbout King Karna,
Kadhai kadhaiyaa kettirukkomWe have heard story after story!
Thangamadi rasa manasu sokka thangam thokkumadiOh dear, the king's heart is pure gold that outshines real gold,
Male
Muththukkulla muththu pasumpon muththuramalingamadiLike a pearl among pearls, he is pure gold Pasumpon Muthuramalingam!
Chorus :Muththukkulla muththu pasumpon muththuramalingamadiChorus: Like a pearl among pearls, he is pure gold Pasumpon Muthuramalingam!
Female
Koduththu sivantha karangal irukku kaappaaththaHe has hands reddened by endless charity, here to protect us,
Thavichcha thavippaa thaduththi niruththi neeroottraTo quench our burning distress and pour comforting water.
Male :Koduththu sivantha karangal irukku kaappaaththaMale: He has hands reddened by endless charity, here to protect us,
Thavichcha thavippaa thaduththi niruththi neeroottraTo quench our burning distress and pour comforting water.
Female
Manasu vachchinga neengaYou showed a kind heart,
Ippa magizhchchi kandathu naangaNow we have found happiness!
Male :Thanathanthana pottuMale: Setting a rhythmic beat,
Idhu yaezhi sananga paattuThis is a song of the poor folk.
Female :Saamikku podungadi poosaiFemale: Perform worship for the lord, girls,
Santhathi vaazhumadi pesaGenerations will live on to talk about it!
Saamikku podungadiPerform worship for the lord...
Chorus :PoosaiChorus: Worship!
Female :Santhathi vaazhumadiFemale: Generations will live on...
Chorus :PesaChorus: To talk about it!
Male
Manasu valarntha saamiOh lord with a magnanimous heart,
Idhu neenga koduththa bhoomiThis is the land that you bestowed!
Chorus :Manasu valarntha saamiChorus: Oh lord with a magnanimous heart,
Idhu neenga koduththa bhoomiThis is the land that you bestowed!
Male
Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeThe urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Female :Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeFemale: The urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Male
Thanga kaiyaal alantha saamiOh deity who measured everything with a golden hand,
Unnai kandaa vanangum bhoomiThe earth worships you whenever it sees you!
Thanga kaiyaal alantha saamiOh deity who measured everything with a golden hand,
Unnai kandaa vanangum bhoomiThe earth worships you whenever it sees you!
Chorus
Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanaeThe urumi drum reverberates with a rumbling sound,
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanaeIt is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!
Varumaiyai vazhi anuppum aiyaa kaalanthaanae….It is the time for sir to bid farewell to poverty!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This celebratory folk song expresses the heartfelt joy and gratitude of rural folk towards a benevolent, god-like leader whose charity alleviates poverty and suffering. Set to the rhythmic beats of the traditional urumi drum, the song praises the leader's immense generosity, comparing his pure heart and philanthropic nature to the mythological King Karna and the respected leader Pasumpon Muthuramalingam.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)

Urumunnu urumuthadi urumi maelanthaanae

The term 'Urumunnu urumuthadi' mimics the deep, rumbling reverberation of the folk drum 'Urumi Melam'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thangamadi rasa manasu sokka thangam thokkumadi

The leader's heart is compared to pure gold ('sokka thangam') and a priceless pearl ('muththukkulla muththu').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Koduththu sivantha karangal irukku kaappaaththa

'Koduththu sivantha karangal' describes hands turned red due to continuous giving, hyperbolizing endless philanthropy.

Alliteration (Monai)

Thavichcha thavippaa thaduththi niruththi neeroottra

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Thavichcha' and 'Thaduththi' creates a rhythmic folk cadence.

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Trivia

The track incorporates traditional Tamil folk instrumentation like the Urumi Melam, a friction drum heavily associated with rural folk rituals and celebratory praise songs in Southern Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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