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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanga Kadal

From Magudam · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Magudam1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Thaduppavan yaaradaaWho is there to stop it, man?
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.
Chorus
………………………….....
Male
Enakku oru kavalai illai podaa poI have no worries at all, get lost!
Edhirkkiravan evan irukkaan vaadaa vaaWho is there to oppose me? Come on!
Naermaiyil netri vaervaiyilThrough honesty and forehead sweat,
Nindra neram thaanWhen I stood upright in those days,
Baaramaai vandhu saerndhadhaeAll that came to accumulate as a heavy burden,
Pazhi paavam thaanWas only blame and sin.
Ezhaiyaai iru kozhai aaginaalIf you remain poor and turn into a coward,
Kaari thuppuvaan un melaePeople will spit on you.
Naalu podu thaan pottu paaradaaTry landing four strong blows,
Magudam soodalaam thalai melaeAnd you can wear a crown upon your head.
Kunindhavan nimirndha pinOnce the man who bowed stands upright,
Erimalai vedikkumadaaThe volcano will explode, man!
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Thaduppavan yaaradaaWho is there to stop it, man?
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.
Male
Dharumam ellaamAll righteousness,
Kadai charakkaai poyaachuHas become a commodity in a shop.
Ozhukkam ellaam padutha padi noyaachuAll morality has become a bedridden illness.
Naanayam indha naattilaeIntegrity in this country,
Verum yaettilaeExists merely on paper.
Vaaimaiyae vellum enbavanThe one who preaches truth alone triumphs,
Nadu rottilaeIs left stranded in the middle of the road.
Needhi dhevadhai kannai kattiyaeBy blindfolding the Goddess of Justice,
Meedhi dhevadhai vendraachuOther forces have won.
Dhushta dhevadhai romba paerukkuThe evil deity, for many people,
Ishta dhevadhai endraachuHas become the favorite deity.
Nadappadhu nadakkattumLet whatever happens happen,
Adharkkoru mudiveduppen haaI will make a final decision for it, ha!
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Pollaadha soorai kaatrukkuFor the fierce storm wind,
Ellaamae vazhi vidumEverything will give way.
Thaduppavan yaaradaaWho is there to stop it, man?
Male
Vanga kadal pongi ezhaAs the Bay of Bengal surges high,
Vandhadhoru boogambamAn earthquake has arrived.
Minnal idi kottum mazhai indruLightning, thunder, and pouring rain, today,
Mudhal aarambamIs just the beginning.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This intense mass track from the 1992 Tamil film Magudam expresses a protagonist's rage, disillusionment, and determination against systemic injustice. Comparing his uprising to natural disasters like a surging sea, earthquake, and volcano, the protagonist declares his rebellion against a society where righteousness has become a mere commodity and evil forces dominate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Vanga kadal pongi ezha / Vandhadhoru boogambam

Compares human anger and retribution to natural calamities like Bay of Bengal sea surges, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Monoreyme / Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Vanga kadal pongi ezha / Vandhadhoru boogambam

The second consonant 'ng' rhymes across consecutive lines (Vanga / Vandhadhoru).

Antithesis / Contrast

Dhushta dhevadhai romba paerukku / Ishta dhevadhai endraachu

Contrasts 'Dhushta dhevadhai' (Evil deity) with 'Ishta dhevadhai' (Favorite deity) to point out moral degradation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Magudam (1992) stars Sathyaraj, Bhanupriya, and Gautami, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali. The film revolves around a protagonist fighting corruption and criminal elements in society.

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