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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vengaya Sambarum

From Panneer Pushpangal · 1981

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Deepan Chakravarthy, S. N. Surendar, T. K. S. Kalaivanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Panneer Pushpangal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vengaaya saambaarumOnion sambar
Vegaadha sorumAnd uncooked rice
Vengaaya saambaarumOnion sambar
Vegaadha sorumAnd uncooked rice
Kedaikkura edam enga messuThe place where you get these is our mess
Chorus :Kedaikkura edam enga messuChorus: The place where you get these is our mess
Male
Nalla nalla soru thinnuIt has been days
Naalum aachuSince eating good food
Enna solla naakku ippoWhat can I say, my tongue
Seththu pochuHas now lost all taste
Padhinoru rubaaiyumEven those eleven rupees
Ellaagi pochuHave now gone to waste
Aa ha enga messuAaha, our mess
Chorus :Ah ohChorus: Ah oh
Male :Aa ha enga messuMale: Aaha, our mess
Male
Hostel-u room munnaaIn front of the hostel room
Fan irundhaaEven if there is a fan
Chorus :Ah hoChorus: Ah ho
Male :Suththa villaMale: It does not rotate
Chorus :Haiya ohChorus: Haiya oh
Male :Light irundhaaMale: Even if there is a light
Chorus :Ah hoChorus: Ah ho
Male :Switchu illaMale: There is no switch
Chorus :Haiya ohChorus: Haiya oh
Male
Hostel-u roomunnaaIf it is a hostel room
Fan irundhaa suththa villaIf there is a fan, it does not rotate
Light irundhaa switchu illaIf there is a light, there is no switch
Switch irundhaa currenttu varalaIf there is a switch, electricity does not come
Male
Bathroomukku kadhavummillaThe bathroom has no door either
Kadhavirundhaa thanni varalaIf there is a door, water does not come
Thanni irundhaa bucket illaIf there is water, there is no bucket
Pump irundhaa thanni varalaIf there is a pump, water does not come
Male
Kettaa badhilum illaIf asked, there is no answer either
Laa laa laa laa yeahLaa laa laa laa yeah
Hey.. hey… hey… hey…. hey…Hey.. hey… hey… hey…. hey…
Hey… hey… hey….Hey… hey… hey….
Chorus :Ah hoChorus: Ah ho
Male
Kettaa badhilum illaIf asked, there is no answer
Keppaaru yaarumillaThere is no one to ask or care
Chorus
Hari hari naaraayanaaOh Hari Hari Narayana
Hari naaraayanaaHari Narayana
Karunai kan paarumaiyaaLook upon us with merciful eyes, Lord
Kaappaatha vaarumaiyaaCome to rescue us, Lord
Male
Dhinasari kedaippadhumAnd what we get daily is
Chorus
Vengaaya saambaarumOnion sambar
Vegaadha sorumAnd uncooked rice
Kedaikkura edam enga messuThe place where you get these is our mess
Kedaikkura edam enga messuThe place where you get these is our mess
Male
Sutta kathirikkaaRoasted eggplant
Chorus :Ah haChorus: Ah ha
Male :Aaruna koottumMale: And cold side dish
Chorus :Ah hoChorus: Ah ho
Male :Azhuguna gosumMale: Rotten ridge gourd
Dhenasari pottuServed daily
Male
Sutta kathirikkaa aaruna koottumRoasted eggplant and cold side dish
Azhuguna gosum dhenasari pottuRotten ridge gourd served daily
Sa ri ga ma pa dha ni saSa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa
Praanana yedukkuraanHe is taking our very life away
Sa ri ga ma pa dha ni saSa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa
Sa ni dha pa ma ga ri saSa ni dha pa ma ga ri sa
Sa ri ga maSa ri ga ma
Chorus :Pa dha ni saChorus: Pa dha ni sa
Male :Sa ni dha paMale: Sa ni dha pa
Chorus :Ma ga ri sa sa ri ga maChorus: Ma ga ri sa sa ri ga ma
Pa dha ni saPa dha ni sa
Male
Oora orava vittuLeaving our hometown and family behind
Ingae vandhu saerndhomWe came and joined here
Enna paavamaa yaar dhaan keppaaroWhat sin did we commit, who will ever ask?
Chorus
Ezhu mala vaasaaOh dweller of Seven Hills
Venkata ramanaa govindhaa govindhaaVenkata Ramana, Govinda Govinda
Male
Kettaayaa enga paattugal ellaamDid you hear all our songs?
Kurai theerththidavaa raamaaWill you come to resolve our woes, Rama?
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes
Male :Quick kaa vaa ragu raamaaMale: Come quickly, Raghu Rama
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes
Male :Students-u hostel-uMale: Students' hostel
Problem theerththidaTo solve the problems
Seekkiram vaa inga raamaaCome here quickly, Rama
Male
{Raama raamaaRama Rama
Chorus :Raama raamaaChorus: Rama Rama
Male :Raama raamaaMale: Rama Rama
Chorus :Raama raamaaChorus: Rama Rama
Male :Raama raamaaMale: Rama Rama
Chorus :Raama raamaa} (2)Chorus: Rama Rama
Male
RaghuMale :Present sirRaghu: Present sir
Male :BabuMale :Ullaen aiyaaBabu: Present, sir
Male :GaneshMale :Haan jiGanesh: Yes sir
Male :NaaraayanaaMale :Undaen aiyaaNarayana: I am here, sir
Male :Shut up and silenceShut up and silence

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous hostel anthem from 'Panneer Pushpangal' (1981) depicts the classic woes and grievances of boarders living in a school or college hostel. The students sing about the terrible quality of food served at their mess—highlighted by watery onion sambar, uncooked rice, and rotten vegetable side dishes—and the abysmal maintenance of their rooms, where fans do not spin, lights lack switches, and bathrooms lack doors or water.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vengaaya saambaarum / Vegaadha sorum

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Vengaaya' and 'Vegaadha'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Karunai kan paarumaiyaa / Kaappaatha vaarumaiyaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'k' in 'Karunai' and 'Kaappaatha'.

Irony and Satire

Sa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa / Praanana yedukkuraan

Blending classical Carnatic solfege (swaras) and divine prayers with comical complaints about bad food and broken amenities.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though often attributed strictly to Ilaiyaraaja, the music for 'Panneer Pushpangal' was composed jointly by Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaran (credited under the music duo name or individually across tracks). The song captures authentic 1980s South Indian school hostel culture and remains a cult favorite among nostalgia-loving students.

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