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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uzhavanin Viyarvai

From Sumangali – 1959 · 1959

Lyricist
Nadarajan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Chorus
Music director
M. Ranga Rao
Movie name
Sumangali – 1959
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
25 Nov 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Uzhavanin viyarvaiyada
Ulagile peiyum mazhai
Kazhani sennall payirgalellam
Vilaivadhaale
Indru thana kanavaangal vaazhvadhellam
Uzhavanaale
Pattikaadu pattikaadu
Keli pannuvaan
Pattikaadu illatti
Ennathaan thinnuvaan
Paathu podu paathu podu
Paathu podu nee..olakkaiya
Humming :Paathu podu paathu podu
Male Chorus :Paathu podu nee..olakkaiya
Paathu podu paathu podu
Paathu podu nee..
Ullae irukkira arisi
Odanju pogaama
Namakku uyir kodukkura sathu
Madinju pogaama
Bayapadathae bayapadathae
Pazhakkapatta kai machaan
Pazhakkapatta kai
Vayalukkullae kanna vechu
Velaiya pannu
Endha payalum vandhu nozhaiya poraan
Olaiya pinnu
Machaan
Vayalukkullae kanna vechu
Velaiya pannu
Endha payalum vandhu nozhaiya poraan
Olaiya pinnu..machaan
Marathukku maram yeri pozhaikkum
Manushara paaru
Indha maharaasan gramathilae
Idhuoru joru
Haei marathukku maram yeri pozhaikkum
Manushara paaru
Indha maharaasan gramathilae
Idhuoru joru
Aruvadaikku thayaraana payirgala paaru
Haa..aa..aa..aa.
Aruvadaikku thayaraana payirgala paaru
Adha aruthu aruthu kala parikkira
Azhagathaan paaru
Nella konjam paathukkoda
Thambhi unakku
Naan pullaiyaar vanangi vandhu
Tharren unakku
Nella konjam paathukkoda
Thambhi unakku
Naan pullaiyaar vanangi vandhu
Tharren unakku
Haai kuruvi akkaov
Pullaiyaara kumbida nee pokkka
Angae kudutha varam
Vaangittu vaakka ..yakkov
Pullaiyaara kumbida nee pokkka
Angae kudutha varam
Vaangittu vaakka ..
Pullaiyaarappa periyappa
Pudhusaa vazhiya sollappa
Pullaiyaarappa periyappa
Pudhusaa vazhiya sollappa
Pullakutti venaam paa
Pondaatti varam thaappa
Pullakutti venaam paa
Pondaatti varam thaappa
Pullaiyaarappa Chittappa
Periyappa maama machaan
Ellaam enakkau needhaan paa
Pullaiyaarappa periyappa
Pudhusaa vazhiya sollappa
Pullaiyaarappa periyappa
Pudhusaa vazhiya sollappa
It is the farmer's sweat, my friend,
that pours down as rain upon the earth!
Because the rich paddy crops in the fields
grow and thrive,
don't the rich gentlemen live in comfort today
only because of the farmer?
"Just a village! A rustic village!"
they mock and ridicule,
but if not for the rustic village,
what would they even eat?
Pound carefully, pound carefully,
bring the pestle down with care!
(Humming) Pound carefully, pound carefully,
(Male chorus) Bring the pestle down with care!
Pound carefully, pound carefully,
be careful as you pound!
So the rice grains inside
do not break and crush,
and the nourishment that gives us life
is not lost!
Don't be afraid, don't worry,
these hands know what to do, brother-in-law!
These are skilled hands!
Keep your eyes on the field
and get your work done!
Some rogue might try to sneak in,
so weave the palm-leaf fence!
Brother-in-law!
Keep your eyes on the field
and get your work done!
Some rogue might try to sneak in,
weave the palm leaves, brother-in-law!
Look at the men climbing tree to tree
just to make a living!
In this bountiful village,
what a lively sight it is!
Hey, look at the men climbing tree to tree
just to make a living!
In this bountiful village,
what a lively sight it is!
Look at the crops all ready for harvest!
Ha... aa... aa... aa...
Look at the crops all ready for harvest!
Look at the beauty of harvesting them
and clearing out the weeds!
Keep an eye on the paddy for a bit,
little brother, and for you,
I will go pray to Lord Ganesha
and bring you a treat!
Keep an eye on the paddy for a bit,
little brother, and for you,
I will go pray to Lord Ganesha
and bring you a treat!
Hey, sister Kuruvi!
As you go to pray to Lord Ganesha,
receive the blessing he grants
and come right back, sister!
As you go to pray to Lord Ganesha,
receive the blessing he grants
and come right back!
O Lord Pillayar (Ganesha), my elder uncle,
show me a new path forward!
O Lord Pillayar, my elder uncle,
show me a new path forward!
I don't need kids right now,
just grant me the boon of a wife!
I don't need kids right now,
just grant me the boon of a wife!
O Lord Pillayar, my younger uncle,
elder uncle, uncle, and brother-in-law—
you are all family to me!
O Lord Pillayar, my elder uncle,
show me a new path forward!
O Lord Pillayar, my elder uncle,
show me a new path forward!
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the 1959 film Sumangali celebrates the dignity of labor and the paramount importance of agriculture. It opens with a powerful social commentary: the luxury enjoyed by elites is made possible only through the relentless hard work and sweat of farmers. It sharply questions city folk who mock rural villages, reminding them that without the countryside's agriculture, no one would have food to eat. The second part transitions into vibrant rural life, portraying villagers performing everyday agricultural chores—carefully pounding rice to preserve its nutrition, harvesting crops, weeding fields, and climbing trees. Interspersed with playful dialogue, folk humor, and innocent prayers to Lord Ganesha (Pullaiyar) for a life partner, the song captures the warmth, community bond, and spiritual simplicity of rural Tamil Nadu.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Uzhavanin viyarvaiyada / Ulagile peiyum mazhai”

The farmer's hard work and sweat are poetically equated to rain that gives life and nourishment to the world.

Ethugai & Monai (Tamil Rhyme and Alliteration)

“Pattikaadu pattikaadu / Keli pannuvaan / Pattikaadu illatti / Ennathaan thinnuvaan”

Rhythmic pairing of initial consonants and matching second letters across phrases, characteristic of traditional Tamil folk song structures.

Familial Personification (Kinship Imagery)

“Pullaiyaarappa Chittappa / Periyappa maama machaan”

Addressing the deity Lord Ganesha in intimate, informal family terms (Chittappa, Periyappa, Maama, Machaan) reflecting Tamil folk devotional culture.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. Ranga Rao and written by Nadarajan, this song features the powerful vocal performance of iconic Tamil singer Seerkazhi Govindarajan along with a chorus. It captures authentic 1950s rural Tamil vernacular idioms such as 'olakkai' (pestle) and colloquial family forms, highlighting the cultural pride of agricultural communities during that era.

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