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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Viswanadha Neethan

From Thaai Paasam · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Thaai Paasam1988

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Vishwanatha needhaan hoiHey, you are Vishwanathan!
Malli naadha thathatha thathathathaMallinathan! *rhythmic beat sounds*
Vishwanatha whisky irukkaVishwanatha, do you have whisky?
Malli naadha milli irukkaMallinatha, do you have a milli?
Male
Buttigalai mathiyilae pottu udaippomWe will smash the bottles right in the middle!
Unakku puthivara suthininnu pattu padipomWe will stand around you and sing a song until you gain some sense!
Muraikkura veraikkura nadakuma …aa…aa…You stare and glare, will that work? Ah... ah...
Hoi vishwanatha whisky irukkaHey Vishwanatha, do you have whisky?
Malli naadha milli irukkaMallinatha, do you have a milli?
Male
Koozhukaaga naalum vaadum ezhainga jaadhiThe community of the poor suffers daily just searching for porridge,
Kooti kazhuchi paarkum bothu naatula paadhiWhen you add and subtract, they make up half the country.
Maanam kakka ezhaikkedhu oru mozha saelaWhat does a poor woman have to protect her honor? Just a small piece of saree,
Maadi veetu jannalukku yenindha aadaWhy does the window of a multi-story house need such lavish curtains?
Male
Oolalgalaalae osandhadhanaalaeBecause you rose up through corruptions...
Chorus :Oolalgalaalae osandhadhanaalaeChorus: Because you rose up through corruptions...
Male :Naayum onnu neeyum onnuMale: A dog and you are one and the same,
Naalum ketta jenmam thaanappaYours is a completely ruined life, my man!
Male
Vishwanatha whisky irukkaVishwanatha, do you have whisky?
Malli naadha milli irukkaMallinatha, do you have a milli?
Buttigalai mathiyilae pottu udaippomWe will smash the bottles right in the middle!
Unakku puthivara suthininnu pattu padipomWe will stand around you and sing a song until you gain some sense!
Muraikkura veraikkura nadakuma …aa…aa…You stare and glare, will that work? Ah... ah...
Male
Velicham illa kathumilla kudisaiyai paaruLook at the hut with no light and no ventilation!
Vaaduthappa kodi sanam ketpadhu yaaruCrores of people are suffering, who is there to listen?
Oora vaangi olaiyil podum neeyoru paaviYou are a sinner who buys up the town and puts it into mortgage deeds!
Oliyum ozhiyum paaka unakku yenindha tvWhy do you need a TV to watch light and sound programs?
Male
Arjunan nanae….ambeduthaenaeI am Arjuna... I have taken up the arrow!
Chorus : Arjunan nanae ambeduthaenaeChorus: I am Arjuna... I have taken up the arrow!
Male : Gauravar kootathaiyaeMale: To bring down the crowd of Kauravas,
Veezhthidathaan villaal adippenI will strike them down with my bow!
Male
Vishwanatha whisky irukkaVishwanatha, do you have whisky?
Malli naadha milli irukkaMallinatha, do you have a milli?
Buttigalai mathiyilae pottu udaippomWe will smash the bottles right in the middle!
Unakku puthivara suthininnu pattu padipomWe will stand around you and sing a song until you gain some sense!
Muraikkura veraikkura nadakuma …aa…aa…You stare and glare, will that work? Ah... ah...
Male
Vishwanatha whisky irukkaVishwanatha, do you have whisky?
Malli naadha milli irukka….Mallinatha, do you have a milli?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic and satirical song addresses two corrupt and wealthy antagonists, Vishwanathan and Mallinathan. Using street-smart tone and playful provocation, the protagonist mocks their decadent lifestyle while highlighting the stark economic inequality present in society. He contrasts the lavish excesses of the rich—like decorative window drapes and TVs—with the dire struggles of the poor who lack basic food, shelter, and proper clothing. In the second half, the tone turns sharper as the speaker condemns corrupt accumulation of wealth and pledges to bring down the oppressive elite. By invoking the mythological image of Arjuna taking up his bow against the Kauravas, the protagonist positions himself as a defender of the downtrodden fighting against corrupt oppressors.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Vishwanatha whisky irukka / Malli naadha milli irukka”

The deliberate repeating structure and end rhyme using 'irukka' across lines creates a catchy rhythm.

Mythological Allusion (Uruthagam / Metaphor)

“Arjunan nanae….ambeduthaenae / Gauravar kootathaiyae veezhthidathaan villaal adippen”

The protagonist compares himself to Arjuna from the Mahabharata and the corrupt rich to the evil Kauravas, signifying a moral battle.

Contrast / Antithesis

“Maanam kakka ezhaikkedhu oru mozha saela / Maadi veetu jannalukku yenindha aada”

Contrasting the poor woman's struggle for a basic saree with the opulent curtains on a rich man's window to highlight economic disparity.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Velicham illa kathumilla kudisaiyai paaru / Vaaduthappa kodi sanam ketpadhu yaaru”

The second consonant 'l' matches across adjacent words 'Velicham' and 'Vaaduthappa' (or line-to-line second-letter patterns typical in Tamil poetry).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Vaali, this track showcases S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's dynamic vocal range in rendering street-style folk-pop tracks during the late 1980s Tamil cinema era. Vaali was renowned for blending casual colloquialisms like 'whisky' and 'milli' with deep socio-political commentary.

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