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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vazhkkai Endroru

From Uravugal Endrum Vazhga · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Uravugal Endrum Vazhga1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaazhkkai endroru paadalLife is a song,
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagamIn it, each person has a unique melody (raagam).
Selvam endroru thaalamWealth is a rhythm (thaalam),
Aasaithaan adhan melamAnd desire is its percussion instrument (melam).
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavamPity that human hearts dance in illusion!
Male
Sariththiram muzhuthum padiththaal theriyumIf you read history completely, you will know,
Panaththaal uyarnthavar illaiNo one has ever truly risen purely by wealth.
Nam thalaimuraikendru oru panpaadunduOur generations possess a traditional culture,
Dharmamthaan adhal ellaiRighteousness (dharma) is its ultimate boundary.
Male
Sattaththin niramo sivappuThe color of law is red,
Adhai saathikkum niramo karuppuBut the color that enforces or manipulates it is black.
Sattaththin niramo sivappuThe color of law is red,
Adhai saathikkum niramo karuppuBut the color that enforces or manipulates it is black.
Male
Vaazhkkai endroru paadalLife is a song,
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagamIn it, each person has a unique melody (raagam).
Selvam endroru thaalamWealth is a rhythm (thaalam),
Aasaithaan adhan melamAnd desire is its percussion instrument (melam).
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavamPity that human hearts dance in illusion!
Male
Kaalai maalai veyyilin niraththaiThe golden hue of the morning and evening sunlight,
Kannaththil poosiya mangaiIs smeared upon the cheeks of a maiden.
Kaalai maalai veyyilin niraththaiThe golden hue of the morning and evening sunlight,
Kannaththil poosiya mangaiIs smeared upon the cheeks of a maiden.
Male
Aval kaalgalai paarththu nadakkindra pothumEven as she walks looking modestly down at her feet,
Kaatchiyil kaamanin thangaiIn appearance, she looks like the sister of the god of love (Kamadeva).
Aval kaalgalai paarththu nadakkindra pothumEven as she walks looking modestly down at her feet,
Kaatchiyil kaamanin thangaiIn appearance, she looks like the sister of the god of love (Kamadeva).
Male
Thaayidam vaangiya naanamModesty inherited from her mother,
Kula dharmaththil ongiya maanamAnd self-respect elevated by family ethos.
Thaayidam vaangiya naanamModesty inherited from her mother,
Kula dharmaththil ongiya maanamAnd self-respect elevated by family ethos.
Male
Vaazhkkai endroru paadalLife is a song,
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagamIn it, each person has a unique melody (raagam).
Selvam endroru thaalamWealth is a rhythm (thaalam),
Aasaithaan adhan melamAnd desire is its percussion instrument (melam).
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavamPity that human hearts dance in illusion!
Male
Paarvaiyil moganam aanatha bairaviIn her gaze she has the charm of Mohanam and the bliss of Bairavi,
Naan virumbum oru penmaiThis is the womanhood that I adore.
Paarvaiyil moganam aanatha bairaviIn her gaze she has the charm of Mohanam and the bliss of Bairavi,
Naan virumbum oru penmaiThis is the womanhood that I adore.
Male
Adhu bakthiyil kalyaani paravasa vasanthaaIn devotion she is auspicious like Kalyani, ecstatic like Vasantha,
Bakthiyil kalyaani paravasa vasanthaaIn devotion she is auspicious like Kalyani, ecstatic like Vasantha,
Panthuvaraaliyin menmaiWith the gentle grace of Panthuvaraali.
Male
Yaarukku en karpanai porunthumWhom does my ideal imagination suit best?
Adhai sonnaal verondru varunthumIf I reveal it, someone else might feel hurt.
Yaarukku en karpanai porunthumWhom does my ideal imagination suit best?
Adhai sonnaal verondru varunthumIf I reveal it, someone else might feel hurt.
Male
Vaazhkkai endroru paadalLife is a song,
Adhil aalukku aaloru raagamIn it, each person has a unique melody (raagam).
Selvam endroru thaalamWealth is a rhythm (thaalam),
Aasaithaan adhan melamAnd desire is its percussion instrument (melam).
Idhayangal maayaiyil aaduthu paavamPity that human hearts dance in illusion!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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