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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanthaen Vandhanam

From Rajapart Rangadurai · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, K. Veeramani, T. K. Kala
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Rajapart Rangadurai1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vandhen vandhanamI have come, my salutations.
Un arasukku thandhenOffered to your kingdom.
Madhuraapuri raaniyaeOh Queen of Madhuraapuri!
Vandhen vandhanamI have come, my salutations.
Un arasukku thandhenOffered to your kingdom.
Male
Uthama dhaesathu bakthar palarMany devotees of this noble land,
Nitham tham sitham magizhndhuDaily, with their hearts full of joy,
Naththi thudhikku vithaga seela boomiyaamIt is the land of wisdom and virtue praising with devotion,
Muthamizh saethira senthamizh naadaanaThe Pandya land, shrine of three-fold Tamil and pure Tamil,
Paandiya naattu arasiyaeOh Queen of the Pandya country!
Arubadhaayiram paandiyargalinDaughter of sixty thousand Pandyas,
Arunthava pudhalviyaeBorn out of great penance!
Ezhu vayadhilae edhirthu vandhaWho fought at the age of seven,
Neer muganai jeyithuConquering the elephant-faced enemy,
Magudaabishaegam konda maga raaniyaeOh great Queen who wore the crown of coronation!
Alli kodiyilae avadharithuIncarnated on a creeper of jasmine,
Aan vaadaiyae koodaadhendruDeclaring that even the scent of men is forbidden,
Bommai virudhu katti aanda poongodiyaeOh flowering creeper who ruled with a banner of victory!
Vanakkam alli raaniyae vanakkam (Dialogue)Greetings, Queen Alli, greetings! (Dialogue)
Male
Ethanai naeramaaga ippadi nirppenHow long must I stand like this?
Kaalgal ittru ittru nogudhammaaMy legs are aching severely, oh lady!
Ethanai ethanaiHow much longer, how much?
Ethanai naeramaaga ippadi nirppenHow long must I stand like this?
Kaalgal ittru ittru nogudhammaaMy legs are aching severely, oh lady!
Sathiyamaaga iniTruly, from now on,
Sagikka ennaalaagaadhuI cannot bear this anymore.
Male
Sathiyamaaga ini sagikka ennaalaagaadhuTruly, I cannot endure this any longer.
Tharaniyaalum arasiyae varmamaeno thagaadhuOh Queen ruling the world, why this enmity? It is improper.
Ethanai naeramaaga ippadi nirppaenHow long must I stand like this?
Kaalgal ittru ittru nogudhammaa…My legs are aching severely...
Male
Aa kaalgal nogudhammaaAh, my legs are aching, lady.
Konjam karunai seiyammaaShow a little mercy, lady.
Kaalghal nogudhammaaMy legs are aching, lady.
Konjam karunai seiyammaaShow a little mercy, lady.
Kaavalaai ulagaalum raaniyae kobam aagumaaOh Queen ruling the world with protection, is anger fitting?
Kaalgal nogudhammaaMy legs are aching, lady.
Konjam karunai seiyammaaShow a little mercy, lady.
Male
Thangaiyae saukkiyam thaanaeSister, are you well?
Female
Venduvor korai theerkkumWho grants the wishes of those who seek,
Ulagaanda perumaanae varuga varugaOh Supreme Lord who ruled the world, welcome, welcome!
Dhuvaaragaiyai vittu adiyaalai thaedi vandhaLeaving Dwaraka to seek out this humble servant,
Vishayam yaadhoWhat brings you here?
Anniyaar rukmani dhaevi saukkiyam thaanae (Dialogue)Is sister-in-law Rukmini Devi doing well? (Dialogue)
Male
Ellaam sugamAll is well.
Un kanavan kaal kadukka anguYour husband standing over there with aching legs,
Nindrukondirukkum kaaranam ennavo (Dialogue)What is the reason for him standing like that? (Dialogue)
Male
Thangaiyae arumai thangaiyaeSister, my dear sister!
Un manavaalan ippadi yengi nikkiraarYour husband stands there longing like this.
Nee adhai cholla venum ippadiYou must tell me why it is so.
Thangaiyae arumai thangaiyaeSister, my dear sister!
Female
Adhai yaen kaetkkireergalWhy do you ask about that?
Manaiviyin meedhu anbillaavittaalumEven if he lacks love for his wife,
Magan meedhaavadhu irukka vendaamaaShould he not at least have love for his son?
Idhai poi naan ungalidam sollugirenaeWhy should I tell you this?
Unghalukkennaa pillaiyaa kuttiyaa (Dialogue)Do you even have children or family of your own? (Dialogue)
Male
Vaakku thavari nadappavanaiOne who goes back on his word,
Kandikka vendiyadhu thaanMust surely be reprimanded,
Yaen thandikka vaendiyadhum kooda (Dialogue)Indeed, must even be punished! (Dialogue)
Male
Arjunaa idhu unakku thagudhiyaaArjuna, is this fitting for you?
Alli nilai ariyaadha mada madhiyaaOh foolish one, unaware of Alli's true state!
Arjunaa idhu unakku thagudhiyaaArjuna, is this fitting for you?
Alli nilai ariyaadha mada madhiyaaOh foolish one, unaware of Alli's true state!
Male
Uraithadhai marukkilaen unmai idhuvaeI do not deny what was said; this is the truth.
Uraitthadhai marukkilaen unmai idhuvaeI do not deny what was said; this is the truth.
Female
Ularaadheer theriyum umadhu aasai ellaamDo not speak nonsense, I know all your desires.
Umadhu manaiviyum naan allavaaAm I not your wife as well?
Male
Kaalgalum nogudhu karunai seivaaiMy legs ache, please show mercy.
Karuthu mayanguthu uraithaen unmaiyaaiMy mind was dazed, but I spoke the truth.
Male
Ini mael ippadi pizhaigal seiyaadhae…Do not commit such mistakes again...
Male
Oru podhum pizhai seiyaen naan arulaeI shall never commit a mistake, my graceful one!
Uriya ivalidathil urai seiveeraePlease speak to her who belongs to you.
Male
Podhum podhum ini kobam viduEnough, enough, let go of your anger now.
Un purushanaanadhaal azhaithidu anboduSince I am your husband, call me with love.
Female
Yen annaa neer ennai yaeithida vandheeroOh brother, did you come to trick me?
Male
Ini naan uraiyaen un paadaval paaduI will say no more, handle your own suffering!
Enakkondrum theriyaadhu naan porenI know nothing of this, I am leaving.
Male
Unnaiyallaal enakku thunai seivadhaarWho else will help me if not you?
Udharinum kaalai vida maatten paarEven if you push me away, look, I will not let go of your feet!
Male
Ennamma sangadamaayirukkuOh, what a painful predicament this is!
Female
Ellaridamum nallaa iruppaelYou are kind with everyone else,
Enadhidam umadhu vanjagangal vizhumYet your trickery falls upon me!
Male
Ini yenna naan seivaen arjunanaeWhat shall I do now, Arjuna?
Emadhu kaigalai vidu maithunanaeRelease my hands, brother-in-law!
Ini yenna naan seivaen arjunanaeWhat shall I do now, Arjuna?
Emadhu kaigalai vidu maithunanaeRelease my hands, brother-in-law!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a dramatic musical set-piece representing a traditional Tamil Therukoothu (street theatre) enactment of the folk legend 'Alli Arjuna'. In the narrative, Arjuna tries to win over the fiercely independent warrior Queen Alli of Madurai, who disdains men. Arjuna begs for her mercy as his legs ache from standing outside her court, while Lord Krishna intervenes as a mediator between Alli and Arjuna to bring about reconciliation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaalgal nogudhammaa / Konjam karunai seiyammaa

Matching sentence/line endings with 'nogudhammaa' and 'seiyammaa' creates rhythmic musicality typical of Tamil folk drama.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Ethanai ethanai / Ethanai naeramaaga ippadi nirppen

Repetition of 'Ethanai' and 'Kaalgal nogudhammaa' emphasizes Arjuna's desperate pleading and physical distress.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Uraithadhai marukkilaen unmai idhuvae / Ularaadheer theriyum umadhu aasai ellaam

Rhyming of the second letter 'ra' in 'Uraithadhai' and 'Ularaadheer'.

Did you know?

Trivia

In 'Rajapart Rangadurai' (1973), Sivaji Ganesan plays a passionate stage actor who performs classic Tamil theatrical plays. This dramatic track simulates an authentic stage musical enactment of the 'Alli Arjuna' story, featuring traditional folk theatre meter, dialogue delivery, and classical Tamil lyrical tropes composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Kannadasan.

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