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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathukara Mama

From Kattalai · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kattalai1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aathukkaara maamaa…O uncle/husband of the house...
Naan paathu yengalaamaa…Should I just watch and long for you...
Female
Aathukkaara maamaa…O uncle/husband of the house...
Naan paathu yengalaamaa…Should I just watch and long for you...
Pootha poova naarilThe blossomed flowers on a fiber string,
Nee korthu vaangu maamaaStrung together, buy them for me, uncle.
Kaathirukkiren neenda neramaa hoiI have been waiting for a long time, hoi!
Vaa vaa nesamaaCome, come my love,
Nee vandhaal dhoshamaaIs it a fault if you come?
Male
Othu oodhum maamaaA pipe player, uncle,
Naan aagavillai maanaeI am not, my dear deer-like girl!
Othi po nee baamaaMove away, you Baama!
Naan karpu ulla aanaeI am a chaste man!
Route ah maathuraYou are changing the route,
Sootta yethura hoiYou are raising the heat, hoi!
Venaa sodhana haeiDon't test me, hey!
Yen maa rodhanaWhy this lamentation, woman?
Male
Othu oodhum maamaaA pipe player, uncle,
Naan aagavillai maanaeI am not, my dear deer-like girl!
Othi po nee baamaaMove away, you Baama!
Male
Meeraadhae ella koduDo not cross the boundary line,
Maari pogum endhan mooduMy mood will turn bad,
Ottaadhae dhoora ninnuDon't cling, stand at a distance,
Vera paattu paadu neeSing a different song!
Female
Paadaadha paatta polaLike an unsung song,
Ponnu indha boomi melaIs a girl on this earth!
Ninnaalae laabam ennaWhat is the gain in just standing?
Ddhaagam theerkka paaru neeTry to slake my thirst!
Male
Veenaaga seenduraYou tease me in vain,
Vambaaga thoonduraYou provoke trouble,
Villangam pannuraYou create complications,
Villambu pootturaYou load a bow and arrow!
Female
Unna adaiya ..aa…To attain you... ah...
Enna pannanum..mmWhat should I do... mm?
Sollu kekkurenTell me, I am listening,
Naan senju paakkurenI will try doing it.
Male
Othu oodhum maamaaA pipe player, uncle,
Naan aagavillai maanaeI am not, my dear deer-like girl!
Othi po nee baamaaMove away, you Baama!
Naan karpu ulla aanaeI am a chaste man!
Female
Pon maalai neram vandhaalWhen the golden evening arrives,
Poo vaangi kaiyil thandhuBuying flowers and placing them in my hands,
Verenna venuminnuAsking what else I need,
Kaadhil vandhu kekkanumYou should whisper in my ear.
Male
Thanjaavur bomma polaLike a Tanjore doll,
Thalaiyaattum aalum allaI am not someone who just nods his head.
Yen maa naan ponnu kittaWhy should I, before a girl,
Mandi pottu thokkanumKneel down and lose?
Female
Veenaaga pogudhuIt is going to waste,
Nammoda vaalibamOur youth!
Male :HahaaMale: Hahaa
Female :Sernndhae thaan aaganumFemale: Must join together,
Nammoda jaadhagamOur horoscopes!
Male
Appuram ennaAnd then what,
Thappu nadakkumA mistake will happen,
Naanum maaranum haeiI too must change, hey!
Nee thaan kaaranamYou are the reason!
Female
Aathukkaara maamaa…O uncle/husband of the house...
Naan paathu yengalaamaa…Should I just watch and long for you...
Pootha poova naarilThe blossomed flowers on a fiber string,
Nee korthu vaangu maamaaStrung together, buy them for me, uncle.
Male
Route ah maathuraYou are changing the route,
Sootta yethura hoiYou are raising the heat, hoi!
Venaa sodhana haeiDon't test me, hey!
Yen maa rodhanaWhy this lamentation, woman?
Female
Haei aathukkaara maamaa…Hey, uncle/husband of the house...
Male :HmmMale: Hmm
Female :Naan paathu yengalaamaa…Female: Should I just watch and long for you...
Male :Othi po nee baamaaMale: Move away, you Baama!
Naan karpu ulla aanaeI am a chaste man!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a teasing back-and-forth between a romantic heroine seeking affection and a humorously resistant hero. The female lead urges her partner to pay attention to her, buy her flowers, and fulfill her romantic desires, while the male lead comically defends his 'chastity' and insists he won't be swayed easily like a Tanjore doll. As the song progresses, the heroine continues to seduce him, claiming their horoscopes are aligned and that their youth is passing by unused. The hero keeps up his mock-serious defenses while complaining about the rising heat and temptation, maintaining the lighthearted and flirtatious energy throughout.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Meeraadhae ella kodu / Maari pogum endhan moodu

The second consonant 'rr' matches in 'Meeraadhae' and 'Maari', creating rhythmic flow across lines.

Upamai (Simile)

Thanjaavur bomma pola / Thalaiyaattum aalum alla

The male lead compares himself to a Tanjore bobblehead doll ('Thanjaavur bomma pola') to assert that he won't just blindly nod and surrender to her desires.

Iyaibu (End rhyme)

Veenaaga seendura / Vambaaga thoondura

Rhyming words at the end of consecutive lines ('seendura', 'thoondura', 'pannura', 'poottura').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1993 Tamil film 'Kattalai' starring Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya, with music composed by Deva and lyrics written by Vaali.

Keep listening

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