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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Varadappa Varadappa

From Babu · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Babu1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaa kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming, the rice gruel is coming!
Chorus
Enga appaa…My father...
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaangiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Chorus
Ai… aa aai…Hey... ah hey...
Ai ai aisalakkaaHey hey aisalakkaa
Ai ai agaripachaaHey hey agaripachaa
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaanhiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaanhiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Male
Nagaiyum nattum pottirundhaaWearing jewels and ornaments,
Sorna latchumiShe is Swarna Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth);
Namakku nanjaiyum punjaiyumTo us, wet fields and dry lands,
Vaari thandhaaGiving in abundance,
Dhaanya latchumiShe is Dhanya Lakshmi (Goddess of Grains)!
Chorus
Daanda dandadaDaanda dandada
Daandaa dandada dandaaDaandaa dandada dandaa
DaandaandaandaaDaandaandaandaa
Male
Nagaiyum nattum pottirundhaaWearing jewels and ornaments,
Sorna latchumiShe is Swarna Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth);
Namakku nanjaiyum punjaiyumTo us, wet fields and dry lands,
Vaari thandhaaGiving in abundance,
Dhaanya latchumiShe is Dhanya Lakshmi (Goddess of Grains)!
Maanangaakka thuninju ninnaaIf she stands boldly to protect honor,
Veera latchumiShe is Veera Lakshmi (Goddess of Valor);
Maanangaakka thuninju ninnaaIf she stands boldly to protect honor,
Veera latchumiShe is Veera Lakshmi (Goddess of Valor);
Edhilum manasu vachu jeyichu vandhaaIf she sets her heart and triumphs in everything,
Vijaya latchumiShe is Vijaya Lakshmi (Goddess of Victory)!
Male
Ethanai latchumi paarungadaa…Look at how many Lakshmis are here, folks...
Iva enna latchumi koorungada…Tell me, which Lakshmi is she, folks...
Ethanai latchumi paarungadaa…Look at how many Lakshmis are here, folks...
Iva yenna latchumi koorungada…Tell me, which Lakshmi is she, folks...
Namma athanai perukkum padiyalakkumShe measures out food and feeds all of us,
Anna latchumi aagumadaaShe is Anna Lakshmi (Goddess of Food)!
Chorus
Aamaa anna latchumi aagumadaaYes, she becomes Anna Lakshmi!
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaanhiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Chorus
Ai… aa aai…Hey... ah hey...
Ai ai aisalakkaaHey hey aisalakkaa
Ai ai agaripachaaHey hey agaripachaa
Male
Thandai chatham kalagalannuThe clinking sound of anklets,
Munnaal varugudhuComes ahead of her;
Vaazhai thandu pola kaal nadandhuHer legs like tender banana stalks,
Pinnaal varugudhuFollow behind!
Chorus
Daanda dandadaDaanda dandada
Daandaa dandada dandaaDaandaa dandada dandaa
DaandaandaandaaDaandaandaandaa
Male
Paakkurappo pasi mayakkamJust looking at her, hunger and dizziness,
Thannaal varugudhuCome over automatically;
Paakkurappo pasi mayakkamJust looking at her, hunger and dizziness,
Thannaal varugudhuCome over automatically;
Pechaik kekkirappo vandha mayakkamWhen listening to her speak, that dizziness,
Thaanaa kuraiyudhuSubsides on its own!
Male
Saadham pola sirikkiraa…She smiles like freshly cooked rice...
Meen kozhambu pola manakkuraa…She smells delicious like fish curry...
Ragasiyamaa yedhum sonnaaIf you tell her something secretively,
Rasathai pola kodhikkiraaShe boils over like rasam!
Chorus
Aahaa rasathai pola kodhikkiraaAaha, she boils over like rasam!
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaanhiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Male
Gulaam kaadhar pulaavilaeIn Ghulam Qadir's pulao,
Kari kedakkudhuThere lies meat;
Adhu anumandha raav… aa…That Hanumantha Rao... ah...
Anumandha raav aviyalilae kalandhirukkudhuIt gets mixed in Hanumantha Rao's aviyal;
Male
Maeriyammaa carrieril yeraa irukkudhuIn Mariyamma's tiffin carrier, there is prawn;
Maeriyammaa carrieril yeraa irukkudhuIn Mariyamma's tiffin carrier, there is prawn;
Adhu padhmanaaba aiyar veettuAnd that ends up in Padmanabha Aiyer's house
Kuzhambil kedakkudhuSambar curry!
Male
Samaiyalellaam kalakkudhu…All the cuisines are mixing together...
Adhu samathuvatha valarkkudhu…And that fosters social equality...
Jaadhi samaya baedhamellaamAll differences of caste and religion,
Sotha kandaa parakkudhuFly away at the sight of food!
Chorus
Aahaa sotha kandaa parakkudhuAaha, they fly away at the sight of food!
Male
Varadhappaa varadhappaaIt is coming, oh it is coming!
Kanji varudhappaaThe rice gruel is coming!
Kanji kalayam thannai thalaiyil thaanhiCarrying the pot of porridge upon her head,
Vanji varudhappaaThe young woman is coming!
Chorus
Ai… aa aai…Hey... ah hey...
Ai ai aisalakkaaHey hey aisalakkaa
Ai ai agaripachaaHey hey agaripachaa
Ai ai aisalakkaaHey hey aisalakkaa
Ai ai agaripachaaHey hey agaripachaa
Whistling :…………………(Whistling...)
Chorus :Aisalakkaa agaripachaaChorus: Aisalakkaa agaripachaa
Aisalakkaa agaripachaaChorus: Aisalakkaa agaripachaa
Aisalakkaa agaripachaaChorus: Aisalakkaa agaripachaa
Aisalakkaa agaripachaaChorus: Aisalakkaa agaripachaa
Hae…Hey...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from the film Babu (1971) celebrates the joy of food, labor, and social unity. It opens with workers eagerly awaiting a young woman bringing porridge (kanji) in a pot on her head. The lyricist metaphorically compares the woman and food to various forms of Goddess Lakshmi—Swarna Lakshmi (wealth), Dhanya Lakshmi (grain/agriculture), Veera Lakshmi (courage), Vijaya Lakshmi (victory), and ultimately Anna Lakshmi (the deity who feeds all). The song playfully describes her beauty using culinary metaphors: a smile like bright white rice, an aroma like fish curry, and a fiery temper like boiling rasam. Beyond romantic and rustic playfulness, the song conveys a strong philosophical message about secularism and equality. Vaali artfully illustrates how different culinary traditions—Ghulam Qadir's pulao, Hanumantha Rao's aviyal, Mariyamma's prawn carrier, and Padmanabha Aiyer's sambar—blend together to feed humanity, highlighting that food is the great equalizer that dissolves all barriers of caste and religion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagai)

Namma athanai perukkum padiyalakkum / Anna latchumi aagumadaa

Compares the woman providing food to various forms of Goddess Lakshmi (Swarna, Dhanya, Veera, Vijaya, and Anna Lakshmi).

Simile (Upamai)

Vaazhai thandu pola kaal nadandhu / Pinnaal varugudhu

Compares her legs to banana stems (vaazhai thandu) and her boiling temper to hot rasam.

Culinary Imagery & Allegory

Jaadhi samaya baedhamellaam / Sotha kandaa parakkudhu

Uses food items from different religious and cultural communities to symbolize communal harmony and social equality.

Rhyme & Rhythm (Edhai / Monai)

Saadham pola sirikkiraa… / Meen kozhambu pola manakkuraa…

Use of repetitive rhythmic folk beats and rhyming ending syllables like 'latchumi', 'varudhappaa', and 'kodhikkiraa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film *Babu* (1971) stars Sivaji Ganesan and features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali. This particular track is rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and is celebrated for its folk rhythm and progressive message advocating secularism and unity through the universal love for food.

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