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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Maruthani Poove

From Naan Unna Nenachen · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Naan Unna Nenachen1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbuA body smooth like milk, sweet like Panruti sugarcane!
Aa paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbuAh, a body smooth like milk, sweet like Panruti sugarcane!
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Male
Jaingsakka jaingsakka tea kadai mainaJaingsakka jaingsakka, my tea shop myna!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka maappillai naanthaanJaingsakka jaingsakka, I am the bridegroom!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka tea kadai mainaJaingsakka jaingsakka, my tea shop myna!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka maappillai naanthaanJaingsakka jaingsakka, I am the bridegroom!
Male
Idhu royapuram special sarakku bodhai yaeruthuThis is Royapuram special liquor, getting me intoxicated!
Neththu raavu neram sulukku paiyan vaangi thanthathuYesterday night time, the guy Sulukku bought and gave it to me.
Ha royapuram special sarakku bodhai yaeruthuHa, Royapuram special liquor, getting me intoxicated!
Neththu raavu neram sulukku paiyan vaangi thanthathuYesterday night time, the guy Sulukku bought and gave it to me.
Male
Beelaa govinthan enakku naalaa theriyuraanI know 'Beela' Govindan very well.
Namma beelaa govinthan enakku naalaa theriyuraanOur 'Beela' Govindan is very well known to me.
Unakkum poopotta class-laFor you too, in a floral patterned glass...
Naan pottu tharaendi...I'll pour a drink for you, girl!
Unakkum poopotta class-laFor you too, in a floral patterned glass...
Naan pottu tharaendi…..yaei...I'll pour a drink for you, girl! Hey!
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbuA body smooth like milk, sweet like Panruti sugarcane!
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Male
Jaingsakka jaingsakkabutter biskoth-uJaingsakka jaingsakka, butter biscuit!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka single tea koduJaingsakka jaingsakka, give me a single tea!
Jaingsakka jaingsakkabutter biskoth-uJaingsakka jaingsakka, butter biscuit!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka single tea koduJaingsakka jaingsakka, give me a single tea!
Male
Kodambakkam bridge-la naan potta sarakkuThe liquor I drank at Kodambakkam bridge,
Intha kuttiyoda pakkaththula kondu vanthirukkuHas brought me right next to this young girl.
Kodambakkam bridge-la naan potta sarakkuThe liquor I drank at Kodambakkam bridge,
Intha kuttiyoda pakkaththula kondu vanthirukkuHas brought me right next to this young girl.
Male
Katti karumbae karuvaattu kozhambeSolid sugarcane! Dried fish curry!
Aa katti karumbae karuvaattu kozhambeAh, solid sugarcane! Dried fish curry!
Nee etti etti ponaalum isththukkuvaen naanEven if you move away, I will pull you close.
Nee etti etti ponaalum isththukkuvaen naanEven if you move away, I will pull you close.
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbuA body smooth like milk, sweet like Panruti sugarcane!
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Male
Jaingsakka jaingsakka tea kadai mainaJaingsakka jaingsakka, my tea shop myna!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka maappillai naanthaanJaingsakka jaingsakka, I am the bridegroom!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka tea kadai mainaJaingsakka jaingsakka, my tea shop myna!
Jaingsakka jaingsakka maappillai naanthaanJaingsakka jaingsakka, I am the bridegroom!
Male
Vannarpettaiyilae vaangi vanthendiI went and bought it in Vannarpettai, girl!
Adha teynampettai duraiyum naanum pottukittaendiAnd the gentleman from Teynampet and I drank it, girl!
Vannarpettaiyilae vaangi vanthendiI went and bought it in Vannarpettai, girl!
Adha teynampettai duraiyum naanum pottukittaendiAnd the gentleman from Teynampet and I drank it, girl!
Male
Thadamum theriyal enakku edamum puriyalaI can't see the path, nor do I understand the place.
Thadamum theriyal enakku edamum puriyalaI can't see the path, nor do I understand the place.
Antha thangarasu nadakkiraa pola thallaaduraendiI am tottering around just like that Thangarasu walks, girl!
Antha thangarasu nadakkiraa pola thallaaduraendiI am tottering around just like that Thangarasu walks, girl!
Male
Adi maruthaani poove silukkuOh henna flower, full of charm!
Intha masakkaali potta kanakkuLike the calculation made by this playful girl.
Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbuA body smooth like milk, sweet like Panruti sugarcane!
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.
Pasikkuthu virunthu pakkam irukkuI am feeling hungry, and the feast is right beside me.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Adi Maruthaani Poove' from the 1983 film 'Naan Unna Nenachen' is a lively folk dance track rooted in local Madras (Chennai) slang and street culture. Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and penned by master lyricist Vaali, the song features playful drunken banter sung with signature energy by Malaysia Vasudevan. The protagonist flirts with his lover, offering lighthearted compliments comparing her to sweet delicacies like Panruti sugarcane while making humorous references to various localities of Chennai like Royapuram, Kodambakkam, Vannarpettai, and Teynampet. Throughout the track, the rhythm mimics a carefree street dance ('Gaana' style precursor) filled with catchy folk scatting like 'Jaingsakka'. The protagonist playfully teases the girl while stumbling around from local spirits, expressing his affectionate desire to pull her close despite her feigned distance. It serves as an entertaining cultural snapshot of 1980s urban Tamil folk music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbu

Compares her body texture and complexion to milk ('paalaattam' - like milk) and her sweetness to Panruti sugarcane.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Adi maruthaani poove silukku

Metaphorically addresses the woman directly as a 'henna flower' (maruthaani poove) symbolizing beauty and local charm.

Alliteration (Monai)

Paalaattam odambu panrotti karumbu

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' / 'P' sound at the beginning of words in the line.

Madras Bashai / Vernacular Slang

Idhu royapuram special sarakku bodhai yaeruthu

Uses authentic Madras local slang ('sarakku' for liquor, 'bodhai yaeruthu' for getting high, along with local area names like Royapuram, Teynampet, Vannarpettai).

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Trivia

This track showcases lyricist Vaali's knack for effortlessly integrating local Madras Bashai (Chennai street dialect) and iconic neighborhood names into Tamil film songs. Coupled with Malaysia Vasudevan's versatile voice, known for delivering energetic, rustic, and comedic folk numbers, the song became a popular street-dance staple in the 1980s.

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