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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vandha Naal Mudhal

From Navarathri · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, K. Jamunarani, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Anjali
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Navarathri1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hmm mm mm hoo hoo oooHum humming sounds
Female
Vandha naal mudhalFrom the day we came
Indha naal varaiUntil this present day
Yaarum maravillaiNobody has forgotten
Indha vaardarumThis ward
Boardum compaundarumThe board and the compound
Doctorum nursum watchu mangalumThe doctor, the nurse, and the watchmen
Yaavarum maari vittaarEveryone has changed
Naangal maaravillaiWe haven't changed
Oru naalum thaeravillaiNor have we improved even one day
Hoo hoo hoo hoo ooo ooo hoyiHoo hoo hoo hoo ooo ooo hoyi
Female
Naattukkullae thiruvizhaaA festival in the country
Namakkadhu thiruvizhaaThat is a festival for us
Nalla nalla kolugal vaikkumPlacing good display dolls
Nava raathiri thiruvizhaa hoiNavarathri festival, hoi!
Female
Naattukkullae thiruvizhaaA festival in the country
Namakkadhu thiruvizhaaThat is a festival for us
Nalla nalla kolugal vaikkumPlacing good display dolls
Nava raathiri thiruvizhaa hoiNavarathri festival, hoi!
Ohoo hoi…Ohoo hoi...
Female
Javvaadhu pottu vachi…Applying javvadhu perfume...
Oho ho ho ho ho…Oho ho ho ho ho...
Sarkkaraiyil pongalittu…Making sweet pongal with sugar...
Aahaa haa haa haa haa haa…Aahaa haa haa haa haa haa...
Female
Javvaadhu pottu vachiApplying javvadhu perfume
Sarkkaraiyil pongalittuMaking sweet pongal with sugar
Sevvaazhai ilai eduthu maamaa vaaTaking a red banana leaf, come uncle
Sindhaamal sidharaamal thaa thaa thaaGive it to me without spilling or scattering, give give give
Female
Yaemaara sonnadhu naanoDid I tell you to get deceived?
En meedhu kobam thaanoIs your anger directed at me?
Manam maarip ponadhum yaenoWhy did your heart change?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvaenoWherever you go, will I let you go?
Female
Left right left rightLeft right left right
Left right left rightLeft right left right
Left right left rightLeft right left right
About turnAbout turn
Female
Muthu pol pallazhagi…Beauty with pearl-like teeth...
Mun koba sollazhagiBeauty with words spoken in quick temper
Kathi pol kannazhagi…Beauty with knife-sharp eyes...
Kanivaana pennazhagi… eee…eeSweet, gentle maiden beauty...
Female
Vaanga machi vaangaCome brother-in-law, come
Enga koluva paakka vaangaCome see our display dolls
Vaanga machi vaangaCome brother-in-law, come
Enga koluva paakka vaangaCome see our display dolls
Yenga machi neengaWhere are you, brother-in-law?
Yen ippadi paakkureengaWhy are you looking like this?
Yenga machi neengaWhere are you, brother-in-law?
Yen ippadi paakkureengaWhy are you looking like this?
Female
Vaanga machi…Come brother-in-law...
Summaa vaanga machi…Just come, brother-in-law...
Kitta vaanga machi vaangaCome closer, brother-in-law, come
Enga koluva paakka vaangaCome see our display dolls
Chorus
Vaanga machi vaangaCome brother-in-law, come
Enga koluva paakka vaangaCome see our display dolls
Vaanga machi vaangaCome brother-in-law, come
Enga koluva paakka vaangaCome see our display dolls
Female
{Onnum onnum moonuOne and one is three
Rendum rendum anjuTwo and two is five
Moonum moonum ettuThree and three is eight
Ettum naalum paththuEight and four is ten
Onnum onnum moonuOne and one is three
Rendum rendum anjuTwo and two is five
Moonum moonum ettuThree and three is eight
Ettum naalum paththu onnu…} (2)Eight and four is eleven...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted and humorous song takes place in a psychiatric ward where inmates sing about the Navarathri festival. They reflect on how doctors, nurses, and staff have changed over time, while they themselves remain unchanged and unhealed. Celebrating the festival of dolls (Golu) in their own eccentric manner, they express joy, playful mock-arguments, and absurd mathematics. The song highlights the innocent and childlike perspective of the ward residents as they interpret festive customs through nonsense math (1+1=3) and theatrical roleplay.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Muthu pol pallazhagi…

Compares teeth to pearls ('Muthu pol') and eyes to a knife ('Kathi pol') for vivid imagery.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Vandha naal mudhal / Indha naal varai

The second letter 'n' matches across adjacent lines ('Vandha' and 'Indha').

Repetition (Solloruporuppu / Anaphora)

Vaanga machi vaanga

Repetition of phrase 'Vaanga machi vaanga' creates a rhythmic, musical repetition characteristic of folk dance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Navarathri (1964) was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film is famous for featuring Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan playing nine distinct roles representing the nine human emotions (Navarasas). This particular song sequence highlights the character representing 'Haasyam' (Humor) set in a mental asylum.

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