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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vayithupaadu Periya Paadunga

From Sorgathin Thirappu Vizha · 1981

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sorgathin Thirappu Vizha1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………………....
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Ozhaippavanga vayiththil adichchuBy depriving the hard-working laborers of their meals,
Ozhaippavanga vayiththil adichchuBy depriving the hard-working laborers of their meals,
Ooru panaththa kollai adichchuBy looting the public money of the town,
Pozhaikkirathu oru koottam ippothA group of corrupt people thrives right now.
Varkka puratchchi varum naalai thappaathuClass revolution will certainly come tomorrow without fail.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Moonu velai kanji venumWe need rice gruel three times a day.
Rendu muzha kanthal venumWe need two cubits of simple ragged cloth.
Kodi panam edhukku annaachchiWhy do you need crores of money, big brother?
Intha kelvi kekkum neram vanthaachchuThe time has come to raise this question.
Male
Moonu velai kanji venumWe need rice gruel three times a day.
Rendu muzha kanthal venumWe need two cubits of simple ragged cloth.
Kodi panam edhukku annaachchiWhy do you need crores of money, big brother?
Intha kelvi kekkum neram vanthaachchuThe time has come to raise this question.
Male
Iruttu velukka poguthuThe darkness is about to turn into light.
Irunda verkkam maaruthuThe gloom and shame are changing.
Iruttu velukka poguthuThe darkness is about to turn into light.
Irunda verkkam maaruthuThe gloom and shame are changing.
Thiruttu kanakku ezhutha koodaathuFraudulent accounts must no longer be written.
Unga theramaiyellaam ingu sellaathu….All your cunning talents will not work here anymore.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Yaerottum saamiyellaamAll the living gods who till the land with plows
Yaengi ninnu vaadaiyilaeAre standing yearning in the harsh cold wind,
Thaerottum saamikingaeWhile the temple gods riding in chariots here
Theru theruvaa oorvalamaaParade street by street in grand processions.
Male
Yaerottum saamiyellaamAll the living gods who till the land with plows
Yaengi ninnu vaadaiyilaeAre standing yearning in the harsh cold wind,
Thaerottum saamikingaeWhile the temple gods riding in chariots here
Theru theruvaa oorvalamaaParade street by street in grand processions.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Akkini thiravagamaaga yaezhai kanneer maarum munnaeBefore the tears of the poor turn into liquid fire,
Aadhikkaararellaam thiruntha venum sollu kannaeThe ruling oppressors must reform themselves, tell them my dear.
Akkini thiravagamaaga yaezhai kanneer maarum munnaeBefore the tears of the poor turn into liquid fire,
Aadhikkaararellaam thiruntha venum sollu kannaeThe ruling oppressors must reform themselves, tell them my dear.
August pathinainthilae sudhanthiramIndependence arrived on August fifteenth,
Muppathu aandugalaa maaravillai sariththiramYet for thirty years, history hasn't changed.
August pathinainthilae sudhanthiramIndependence arrived on August fifteenth,
Muppathu aandugalaa maaravillai sariththiramYet for thirty years, history hasn't changed.
Male
Sakthikkeththa kaariyam thevaikeththa oodhiyamWork according to ability, wages according to need.
Sakthikkeththa kaariyam thevaikeththa oodhiyamWork according to ability, wages according to need.
Podhuvudamai vanthu seranumSocialism must arrive and take root.
Nalla pudhiya raththam naattil paayanumGood fresh blood must flow across the country.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
Ozhaippavanga vayiththil adichchuBy depriving the hard-working laborers of their meals,
Ooru panaththa kollai adichchuBy looting the public money of the town,
Pozhaikkirathu oru koottam ippothA group of corrupt people thrives right now.
Varkka puratchchi varum naalai thappaathuClass revolution will certainly come tomorrow without fail.
Male
Vayiththupaadu periya paadungaEarning a basic living is a huge struggle.
Yaezhai vayiththa paaththu kaasu podungaLook at the poor man's stomach and spare some money.
Male
……………….....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a socio-political anthem of the working class and the impoverished, highlighting the harsh realities of economic inequality and corruption. Written by Pulamaipithan, it contrasts the fundamental basic needs of the poor—a simple meal and minimal clothing—against the greed of the wealthy and corrupt who hoard wealth at the expense of laborers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Akkini thiravagamaaga yaezhai kanneer maarum munnae

Compares the accumulated tears and agony of the oppressed poor to liquid fire (acid), symbolising impending explosive revolt.

Antithesis / Contrast

Yaerottum saamiyellaam... Thaerottum saamikingae...

Contrasts the real food-producing farmers (Yaerottum saami) who suffer in neglect with idolized temple deities (Thaerottum saami) celebrated in grand parades.

Rhetorical Question

Kodi panam edhukku annaachchi

Asks the wealthy elites why they hoard crores of money when ordinary people only ask for basic survival needs.

Alliteration / Monai

Iruttu velukka poguthu / Irunda verkkam maaruthu

Use of matching initial consonants across lines (Iruttu / Irunda) creating a rhythmic emphasis on darkness giving way to light.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Pulamaipithan, known for his communist and Dravidian ideological inclinations, the song explicitly incorporates Marxist principles such as 'Work according to ability, wages according to need' (Sakthikkeththa kaariyam thevaikeththa oodhiyam) and warns of imminent class struggle.

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