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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vazhkkai Endroru

From Uravugal Endrum Vazhga · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Uravugal Endrum Vazhga
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
14 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaazhkkai endroru paadal
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagam
Selvam endroru thaalam
Aasaithaan adhan melam
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavam
Sariththiram muzhuthum padiththaal theriyum
Panaththaal uyarnthavar illai
Nam thalaimuraikendru oru panpaadundu
Dharmamthaan adhal ellai
Sattaththin niramo sivappu
Adhai saathikkum niramo karuppu
Sattaththin niramo sivappu
Adhai saathikkum niramo karuppu
Vaazhkkai endroru paadal
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagam
Selvam endroru thaalam
Aasaithaan adhan melam
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavam
Kaalai maalai veyyilin niraththai
Kannaththil poosiya mangai
Kaalai maalai veyyilin niraththai
Kannaththil poosiya mangai
Aval kaalgalai paarththu nadakkindra pothum
Kaatchiyil kaamanin thangai
Aval kaalgalai paarththu nadakkindra pothum
Kaatchiyil kaamanin thangai
Thaayidam vaangiya naanam
Kula dharmaththil ongiya maanam
Thaayidam vaangiya naanam
Kula dharmaththil ongiya maanam
Vaazhkkai endroru paadal
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagam
Selvam endroru thaalam
Aasaithaan adhan melam
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavam
Paarvaiyil moganam aanatha bairavi
Naan virumbum oru penmai
Paarvaiyil moganam aanatha bairavi
Naan virumbum oru penmai
Adhu bakthiyil kalyaani paravasa vasanthaa
Bakthiyil kalyaani paravasa vasanthaa
Panthuvaraaliyin menmai
Yaarukku en karpanai porunthum
Adhai sonnaal verondru varunthum
Yaarukku en karpanai porunthum
Adhai sonnaal verondru varunthum
Vaazhkkai endroru paadal
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagam
Selvam endroru thaalam
Aasaithaan adhan melam
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavam
Life is a song,
with a different melody for every person.
Wealth is its rhythm,
and desire is its beating drum.
Pity the poor hearts dancing in illusion...
If you read all of history, you will know
that no one has ever grown great through wealth alone.
Our heritage has its own values,
and righteousness is its only boundary.
The color of the law is red,
while the color that wins the case is black...
The color of the law is red,
while the color that wins the case is black...
Life is a song,
with a different melody for every person.
Wealth is its rhythm,
and desire is its beating drum.
Pity the poor hearts dancing in illusion...
With the soft golden sunlight of dawn and dusk
painted across her cheeks,
With the soft golden sunlight of dawn and dusk
painted across her cheeks,
even when she walks looking down at her feet,
she looks like the sister of Kama (the god of love).
Even when she walks looking down at her feet,
she looks like the sister of Kama (the god of love).
She has modesty inherited from her mother,
and honor elevated by family tradition.
She has modesty inherited from her mother,
and honor elevated by family tradition.
Life is a song,
with a different melody for every person.
Wealth is its rhythm,
and desire is its beating drum.
Pity the poor hearts dancing in illusion...
With Mohanam and Ananda Bhairavi in her eyes,
she is the kind of woman I desire.
With Mohanam and Ananda Bhairavi in her eyes,
she is the kind of woman I desire.
In devotion she is Kalyani and joyful Vasantha,
in devotion she is Kalyani and joyful Vasantha,
with the gentleness of Pantuvarali.
To whom does my imagination truly belong?
If I say it out loud, another heart will grieve.
To whom does my imagination truly belong?
If I say it out loud, another heart will grieve.
Life is a song,
with a different melody for every person.
Wealth is its rhythm,
and desire is its beating drum.
Pity the poor hearts dancing in illusion...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Vaazhkkai Endroru Paadal' compares human existence to an intricate musical performance. It uses musical elements—raagam (melody), thaalam (rhythm), and melam (percussion)—as metaphors for human individuality, material wealth, and worldly desires, observing how people remain caught up in worldly illusions. The lyricist Vaali weaves moral lessons on law, ethics, and history alongside a poetic description of ideal womanhood. In the latter verses, the lyricist brilliantly attributes characteristics of classic Carnatic ragas (such as Mohanam, Aanandhabhairavi, Kalyani, Vasantha, and Panthuvaraali) to female beauty, devotion, and character. Sung masterfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam under the music direction of Shankar-Ganesh, the track remains a beloved classical-philosophical Tamil film song.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vaazhkkai endroru paadal... Selvam endroru thaalam”

Life is explicitly equated to a song, individual nature to a raagam, wealth to a rhythm, and desire to a drum.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Sattaththin niramo sivappu / Adhai saathikkum niramo karuppu”

Contrasts the ideal intent of law (red) against its corrupt/dark execution in reality (black).

Pun / Musical Allusion (Raga Alankaram)

“Paarvaiyil moganam aanatha bairavi”

Uses names of Carnatic ragas (Mohanam, Bairavi, Kalyani, Vasantha, Panthuvaraali) to describe feminine emotions and grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali was famous for effortlessly weaving classical Carnatic music terminology into commercial film lyrics. In this track, he incorporates five distinct raga names—Mohanam, Aanandhabhairavi, Kalyani, Vasantha, and Panthuvaraali—to metaphorically describe feminine qualities.

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