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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadi Paadi Velai Senja

From Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi · 1957

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singers
P. Susheela, Ghantasala
Music director
Master Venu
Movie name
Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Adhil
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Female :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Adhil
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Nee erappu kooda eduthu veesa
Iduppai valaikkaum thinusu adhai
Edhukka ninnu paakkum bothu
Engo poguthu manasu
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Female :Adhil aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Kayithai neenga izhukkum bothu
Kannam sivandhu jolikudhu
Adhai kaanum bothu ennaiyum serthu
Kaandham pola izhukkudhu
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Male :Adhil
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Kannadi valai kalakalangha
Kaiyaveesura veesu
Nee kaiya veesura veesu adhai
Karpanai seidhu paada ninaikka
Vaarthai ellam pazhasa pochu
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Female :Adhil aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Munnal irundha tharisu nilangal
Ponnaai vilaiyaachu
Muyarchi thannai ooraar ellam
Pugalchiyaaga pesalaachi
Unga muyarchi thannai ooraarellam
Pugalchiyaaga pesalaachi
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
Male :Adhil
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhu
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathu
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
And in that,
if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
Female: If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
And in that,
if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
When you lift and swing the water basket,
and the way your waist bends,
when I stand across and watch you,
my mind drifts away somewhere
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
Female: And in that, if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
Both: If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
When you pull on the rope,
your cheeks glow a rosy red
When I see that, it pulls me in too,
just like a magnet
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
Male: And in that,
if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
Both: If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
With your glass bangles clinking,
the graceful swing of your hands,
the way you swing your hands—
when I try to imagine it and sing,
all the words feel old and worn out
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
Female: And in that, if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
Both: If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
The barren lands that lay here before
have yielded a harvest of gold
The hard work you put in,
all the townsfolk have begun to praise
All the townsfolk have begun
to speak high praise of your hard work
If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
Male: And in that,
if a man and woman don't join together, there is no charm
Both: If we dance and sing while we work, we won't feel tired
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic folk duet celebrates the dignity of labor, gender equality, and romantic camaraderie in rural Tamil Nadu. Set against the backdrop of agricultural fields, a young man and woman work together while singing, expressing how shared physical labor combined with music and mutual attraction turns exhausting farm work into a joyful experience. Through lighthearted flirtation, they admire each other's hard work, grace, and rustic charm during daily farming routines. In addition to romantic playfulness, the song conveys a strong social message about community development, showing how joint efforts and determination have transformed previously barren lands into rich, golden harvests admired by the entire village. Udumalai Narayanakavi's lyrics beautifully weave romantic folk motifs with rationalist themes of labor reform and gender partnership.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monoreyme / Edugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Kayithai neenga izhukkum bothu”

The second letter sound is matched across lines to create poetic flow in traditional Tamil folk poetry ('Kayithai' / 'Kannam' / 'Kaandham').

Simile (Upamai)

“Kaandham pola izhukkudhu”

The woman's charm and physical effort while pulling the rope are compared to a magnet ('Kaandham') pulling the man's heart.

Onomatopoeia (Oli Kurippu)

“Kannadi valai kalakalangha”

'Kalakalangha' mimics the rhythmic clinking sound of glass bangles worn while working.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ponnaai vilaiyaachu”

The rich agricultural yield from once-barren land is metaphorically compared to gold ('Ponnaai vilaiyaachu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi (1957) was a popular film featuring K. A. Thangavelu and M. Saroja. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi was widely revered as 'Kaviraayar' and was famous for using movie songs to promote socialist values, rural labor dignity, and anti-caste unity.

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