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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vidhi Enum Kuzhandai

From Thanga Padhumai · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Thanga Padhumai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vidhiyennum kuzhandai kaiyil ulagandhannaiMother Nature has handed over the world into the hands of a child called Fate,
Vilaiyaada koduthuvittaal iyarkkaiyannaiTo play with as it pleases.
Adhu vitteriyum uruttividum manidhar vaazhvaiIt will throw away and roll around the lives of human beings,
Mael keezhaai purattividum viyandhidaadhaeAnd turn them upside down; do not be astonished by this.
Male
Madhiyundu karpudaiya manaiviyunduYou possess intellect, you possess a virtuous wife,
Valimaiyundu vettri tharum varundhidaadhaeYou possess the strength that brings victory; do not grieve.
Edhirthu varum thunbathai midhikkum thanmaiIf you attain the fortitude to trample the afflictions that come against you,
Eidhivittaal kaanbadhellaam inbamappaaThen everything you behold will be pure joy, my friend!
Inbamappaaa…aa…inbamappaaa…aa…Joy, my friend... ah... pure joy, my friend... ah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This philosophical poem from the 1959 Tamil film 'Thanga Padhumai', penned by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, offers a deep meditation on fate and human resilience. It begins by metaphorically depicting Nature as a mother who hands the world over to Destiny, framed as an unpredictable child. Destiny carelessly tosses and turns human lives upside down, but the poet advises the listener not to be overwhelmed or shocked by life's sudden reversals. Instead of submitting to despair, the poet urges man to recognize his inner strengths—his intellect, the loving support of a chaste life partner, and inherent courage. By building the mental fortitude to confront and trample incoming sorrows, one can transform every struggle into absolute bliss and view all of existence through a lens of joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagatu)

Vidhiyennum kuzhandai kaiyil ulagandhannai / Vilaiyaada koduthuvittaal iyarkkaiyannai

Fate is conceptualized as an unpredictable child ('Vidhiyennum kuzhandai') and Nature as a caring mother ('Iyarkkaiyannai').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Vidhiyennum kuzhandai kaiyil... / Madhiyundu karpudaiya manaiviyundu...

The second consonant 'dh' matches in 'Vidhiyennum' and 'Madhiyundu', and 'lh' matches in 'Vilaiyaada' / 'Valimaiyundu', establishing classical Tamil poetic harmony.

Anaphora / Structural Repetition

Madhiyundu karpudaiya manaiviyundu / Valimaiyundu vettri tharum varundhidaadhae

The repetition of the suffix '-undu' (possesses/has) creates an encouraging, rhythmic assertion of human capabilities.

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Trivia

Written by the iconic poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for 'Thanga Padhumai' (1959), this song features music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was famous for weaving profound social realism and Marxist-inspired philosophy into accessible, rhythmic Tamil film lyrics.

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