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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathangara Thoppukkulla

From Mudivalla Arambam · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Mudivalla Arambam1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Theredukka ponaa chinna kannuThe girl with small eyes went to choose,
Thenaiyarukka ponaa kanni ponnuThe virgin girl went to harvest honey,
Ooththu mala ooram sodi onnu searumNear the spring hill, a pair unites,
Aasa romba meerum paakkavilla yaarum aa…Desire overflows, no one saw them, aa...
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa.....aa.....aa….
Aaa…..aaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa.....aa.....aa….
Male
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female :Ae…..Female : Ae….
Male :Aaththangarai thoppukkullaMale : Inside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female :Ae…..Female : Ae….
Male
Solli killi thaaraenI will teach you clearly,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Panthu vilaiyaattuMale : The ball game,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Vekkappada vaenaa….Male : Do not feel shy….
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Vanthu vilaiyaattuMale : Come and play,
Female
Aa….Aaththangarai thoppukkullaAa…. Inside the riverbank grove,
Pombalaikku velai illa maamaaThere is no work for a woman, uncle,
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Pombalaikku velai illa maamaaThere is no work for a woman, uncle,
Male
Aei….Hey….
Female
Solli thara vaenaaNo need to teach me,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Panthu vilaiyaattuFemale : The ball game,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Vaala aatta vaenaaFemale : Do not wag your tail,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Vaera pakkam neettuFemale : Point it somewhere else,
Chorus :Aa aa…Chorus : Aa aa…
Male
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female
Singaara poo vechcha thaer irukkaWhile the decorated flower chariot is ready,
Inum konjam naal undu thaer izhukkaThere are a few more days left to pull the chariot,
Male :Thaerukku pudhu vadam poottanumMale : We must tie a new rope to the chariot,
Naalaikkae vellottam paakkanumWe must do a trial run tomorrow itself,
Female
Pudhu vadam thaeraathuA new rope won't hold,
Thaeru romba dhooramungaThe chariot destination is very far,
Thallunaa pogaathu road romba eeramungaIt won't move if pushed, the road is very wet,
Male :Thaerizhukkum kaalamunga aalu ingaMale : It is the time to pull the chariot, and the man is right here,
Thaerukkuththaan kolaarungaThe flaw is only with the chariot,
Female
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Pombalaikku velai illa maamaaThere is no work for a woman, uncle,
Male
Aei….Hey….
Female
Solli thara vaenaaNo need to teach me,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Panthu vilaiyaattuFemale : The ball game,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Vaala aatta vaenaaFemale : Do not wag your tail,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Female :Vaera pakkam neettuFemale : Point it somewhere else,
Chorus :Aa aa…Chorus : Aa aa…
Male
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female
Ae….hae….Ae….hae….
Chorus
…………..…………..
Male
Thannaalae aaduthae maadhulam pooThe pomegranate flower sways on its own,
Vaada pattu vaaduthae poo udambuTouched by the warm breeze, the flower-like body wilts,
Female :Maappilla avasaram meeruthaaFemale : Is the groom's eagerness crossing limits?
Manmathaa kulir vittu ponathaaHas Cupid shed his coldness?
Male
Achchadichcha poochchaleThe printed flower patterns,
Thoda solli thoonduthadiAre tempting to be touched,
Ambu vidum vaelaiyilae aadharikka vaenumadiWhen the arrow is shot, you must support it,
Female :Puththi kodu maaruthadi yaeruthadiFemale : The mind is altering and desire is rising,
Maaman vechcha sokku podiIt is the spell powder cast by the uncle,
Male
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female :Ae…..Female : Ae….
Male :Aaththangarai thoppukkullaMale : Inside the riverbank grove,
Kaavalukku yaarum illa vaamma….There is no guard, come on lady….
Female :Ae…..Female : Ae….
Male
Solli killi thaaraenI will teach you clearly,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Panthu vilaiyaattuMale : The ball game,
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Vekkappada vaenaa….Male : Do not feel shy….
Chorus :Aahaa…Chorus : Aahaa…
Male :Vanthu vilaiyaattuMale : Come and play,
Chorus
Aa….Aaththangarai thoppukkullaAa…. Inside the riverbank grove,
Pombalaikku velai illa maamaaThere is no work for a woman, uncle,
Aaththangarai thoppukkullaInside the riverbank grove,
Pombalaikku velai illa maamaaThere is no work for a woman, uncle

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Mudivalla Arambam (1984) is a flirtatious rural duet featuring playful banter between a man and a woman in a secluded riverbank grove. Using classic Tamil folk metaphors—such as playing a ball game or pulling a temple chariot—the couple engages in a romantic war of words regarding courtship, intimacy, and upcoming togetherness. The lyricist Vairamuthu weaves rustic humor, euphemisms, and natural imagery to build a charming folk sequence full of double entendre and youthful desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Double Entendre / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Male : Panthu vilaiyaattu

The terms 'Panthu vilaiyaattu' (ball game) and 'Thaerizhu' (pulling the chariot) are used as rustic metaphors for intimacy and courtship.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Theredukka ponaa chinna kannu / Thenaiyarukka ponaa kanni ponnu

The lines start with matching phonetic sounds ('Theredukka' / 'Thenaiyarukka'), establishing a rhythmic folk cadence.

Personification

Thannaalae aaduthae maadhulam poo

The natural swaying of the pomegranate blossom is personified to represent the spontaneous awakening of passion in a young woman.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mudivalla Arambam (1984) is a lesser-known Tamil film featuring early rural folk compositions written by Vairamuthu. The song employs traditional Tamil village song patterns ('Naattupura Paattu') popular in 1980s South Indian cinema.

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