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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
Details
Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
AdhilIn that,
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuIf men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Female :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuFemale: If you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
AdhilIn that,
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuIf men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Male
Nee erappu kooda eduthu veesaWhen you lift and swing the water-scoop basket,
Iduppai valaikkaum thinusu adhaiThe unique way your waist bends,
Edhukka ninnu paakkum bothuWhen I stand opposite and watch it,
Engo poguthu manasuMy heart strays away somewhere.
Male
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Female :Adhil aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuFemale: In that, if men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuBoth: If you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Female
Kayithai neenga izhukkum bothuWhen you pull the rope,
Kannam sivandhu jolikudhuYour cheeks flush red and glow.
Adhai kaanum bothu ennaiyum serthuWhen seeing that, including myself,
Kaandham pola izhukkudhuIt pulls me like a magnet.
Female
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Male :AdhilMale: In that,
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuIf men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuBoth: If you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Male
Kannadi valai kalakalanghaAs glass bangles jingle kalakala,
Kaiyaveesura veesuThe way you swing your hands,
Nee kaiya veesura veesu adhaiThe way you swing your hands,
Karpanai seidhu paada ninaikkaWhen I think of imagining and singing about it,
Vaarthai ellam pazhasa pochuAll words have become outdated/cliché.
Male
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Female :Adhil aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuFemale: In that, if men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuBoth: If you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Female
Munnal irundha tharisu nilangalThe barren lands that were there in the past,
Ponnaai vilaiyaachuHave yielded golden harvests.
Muyarchi thannai ooraar ellamThis hard effort of yours,
Pugalchiyaaga pesalaachiAll the villagers have started praising.
Unga muyarchi thannai ooraarellamAll the villagers have started praising your hard effort,
Pugalchiyaaga pesalaachiPraising it wholeheartedly.
Female
Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuIf you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.
Male :AdhilMale: In that,
Aanum pennum seraavittaa azhagirukaadhuIf men and women do not work together, there is no beauty.
Both :Aadi paadi velai senjaa aluppirukathuBoth: If you work while dancing and singing, there will be no tiredness.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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