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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aambalainga Santhai

From Thudhu Po Chellakiliye · 1991

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Deva
Details
Thudhu Po Chellakiliye1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ye machaan mannarkudiHey uncle from Mannargudi,
Enna madi mela thaangi pidiHold me tight and support me on your lap.
Naan munnooru pottu kittaenI put on three hundred, extra style,
Ada en routeah maathikitaenAh, I changed my route!
Female
Aambalainga santhaiyila maamaIn the men's market, uncle,
Naan veembu pannaTo show my stubborn pride,
Vanthuputtaen aamaI have come, yes!
Aambalainga santhaiyila maamaIn the men's market, uncle,
Naan veembu pannaTo show my stubborn pride,
Vanthuputtaen aamaI have come, yes!
Female
Naanga pottaakka thaangathu boomiIf we stomp, the earth cannot bear it,
Thanni pottu aadurathaStop dancing around after drinking alcohol,
Niruthikinga saamiStop it, my dear lord!
Aambalainga santhaiyila maamaIn the men's market, uncle,
Naan veembu pannaTo show my stubborn pride,
Vanthuputtaen aamaI have come, yes!
Female
Pattu podavaiya adagu vachuHe pledged my silk saree
pattai adichenaeAnd drank cheap liquor with the money!
Ada pattu keadappaanaeAh, he lied down and got ruined!
Intha patharamathu thangam udambaThis body made of pure twenty-four carat gold,
Kattu kolaichaanaeHe ruined its shape and posture,
Dhinam etti odhaichaanaeAnd kicked me every single day!
Female
Thaali katina kadamaikku indhaOut of duty towards the sacred thread tied,
Tharuthala paya mavanukkuTo this good-for-nothing useless fellow,
Paalu pazhatha  eduthu koduthuI served milk and fruits,
Paaku vethala madichu koduthuI folded and gave betel leaves and nuts,
Female
Kanda neram ellam kanna muzhichiStaying awake at all odd hours of night,
Kaalu kaiya pudichu vittuMassaging his arms and legs,
Varusham onnu peththaenI gave birth every year,
Naan vambuku vaazhnthu sethaenI lived in misery and suffered like death!
Female
Pattu podavaiya adagu vachuHe pledged my silk saree
pattai adichenaeAnd drank cheap liquor with the money!
Ada pattu keadappaanaeAh, he lied down and got ruined!
Intha patharamathu thangam udambaThis body made of pure twenty-four carat gold,
Kattu kolaichaanaeHe ruined its shape and posture,
Dhinam etti odhaichaanaeAnd kicked me every single day!
Female
Ada aana porantha mamaHey uncle, born as a man,
Nee veena pogalaamaShould you go completely to waste?
Aaambalainga santhaiyila mamaIn the men's market, uncle,
Naan veembu pannaTo show my stubborn pride,
Vanthuputtaen aamaI have come, yes!
Female
Haa aah aaa… Haa aah aaaHaa aah aaa... Haa aah aaa...
Female
Vayatha renda polakkumSplitting your belly into two,
Varaikkum kudikka vendumaMust you drink until that happens?
Kodala arukka venumaDo your intestines need to be shredded?
VAithiyaru sona thaanOnly if the doctor tells you,
Thalayil yeruma un thaagam theerumaWill it get into your head? Will your thirst be quenched?
Female
Mundhanaiya varinju kattiTucking the end of your saree tightly at your waist,
Mudhugu veenga kuthudi kuthudiPunch him hard until his back swells up!
Male :Aiyo appa daiyo dappaOh my father, oh dear father,
Kizhinju pochu bantha jippaMy proud shirt/image has torn apart!
Buthi enakku vanthaachappaGood sense has finally come to me, father!
Male
Thanni potta maamanaiyeTo the uncle who was heavily drunk,
Thanni kaatum mayileyOh peacock who taught him a lesson!
Adi thanga rathina kuyileyHey golden gemstone cuckoo!
Orra suthina eruma enakkuI was a buffalo wandering around pointlessly,
Terinjadhu un arumaNow I have realized your true worth,
Ini serka poren paerumaFrom now on I will earn respect and pride!
Male
Patai adikura paavingalaYou sinners who drink liquor,
Paala kudingada pombalayaDrink milk instead, and let women
Vaazha vidungadaLive in peace!
Kettadthu podhum iniyaachumEnough of the damage done, at least from now on,
Sarakka vidungadaGive up alcohol!
Oru sabatham edunga daTake an oath right now!
Male
Ponna porantha maaneOh deer born as a woman,
Adi ponna porantha maaneHey deer born as a woman,
Naan buthi thelinjuteneMy mind has become clear now!
Male
Pombalainga santhayila naaneIn the women's market, I myself
Nalla buthiyathaanAcquired good wisdom,
Vaangi vanthen naanaeAnd have returned back home!
Kobatha ne maathikadi maanaeChange your anger now, my dear deer,
Enna konja vantha ranjithameOh sweet Ranjitham blossom who came to caress me,
Kolli malai thaeneOh sweet honey of the Kolli hills!
Pombalainga santhayila naaneIn the women's market, I myself
Nalla buthiyathaanAcquired good wisdom,
Vaangi vanthen naanaeAnd have returned back home!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a dramatic, humorous yet socially conscious duet between a wife and her reform-seeking husband. The wife confronts her husband about his severe alcoholism, highlighting the sacrifices she made—from pledging her silk sarees to taking care of him despite his daily abuse—while forcefully taking a stand against his toxic behavior in front of society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pattu podavaiya adagu vachu / Kattu kolaichaanae

Matching second consonants across lines such as 'Pattu' and 'Kattu', creating rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Intha patharamathu thangam udamba / Kolli malai thaene

Comparing the wife's precious value and sweetness to pure gold ('thangam') and honey from the Kolli hills ('Kolli malai thaene').

Idiom / Pun (Thanni kaattudhal)

Thanni potta maamanaiye / Thanni kaatum mayiley

Using 'Thanni potta' (drinking alcohol) alongside 'Thanni kaatum' (tricking/teaching a lesson) as a wordplay on water/liquor.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva with lyrics by Kalidasan, this song blends folk gaana rhythm with social messaging against alcoholism, featuring energetic performances by Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jayaram.

Keep listening

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