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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Acchu Vellam

From Thotti Jaya · 2005

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Saindhavi, Ranjith
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Thotti Jaya2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Lai lai yae aahaaa…ohooLai lai yae aahaaa… ohoo
Aaaa…aa lai lai lae….Aaaa… aa lai lai lae….
Chorus :Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeahChorus: Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeah
Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeahYehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeah
Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeahYehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeah
Yeiyithae…Yeiyithae…
Male
Achu vella karumbaeJaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyaeWith a heart sharp like a knife, you provoke me.
Nethiyila gerangiGetting dizzy in the forehead,
Mathiyila padhungiHiding in the mind/middle,
Mennu thinnu norukiriyae ..You chew, eat, and crush me to pieces..
Chorus :Yeiyithae…Chorus: Yeiyithae…
Female
Oi achu vella karumbaeHey jaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyaeWith a heart sharp like a knife, you provoke me.
Nethiyila erangiDescending upon the forehead,
Mathiyila padhunkkiHiding in the mind/middle,
Mennu thinnu norukiriyae ..You chew, eat, and crush me to pieces..
Male
Ae….tourin takkisHey... to the touring talkies (touring cinema hall),
Kootti poren variyaaI will take you, will you come?
Chorus :Variyaa variyaa …Chorus: Will you come, will you come...
Male :Padatha vittuMale: Leaving the movie screen,
Unna paappen sariyaaI will keep staring at you, okay?
Chorus :Saariyaa saariyaa …Chorus: Is that okay, is that okay...
Female
Vaasthu paarthuConsulting Vaasthu,
Kattil podu muraiyaa.Set up the bed properly.
Chorus :Muraiyaa oh …Chorus: Is it proper, oh...
Female :Retta pulla porakkumFemale: Twins will be born then,
Appo sariyaaIs that alright then?
Male
Panchu methaiyilaOn a cotton mattress,
Kudithanam nadathalaamWe can set up a home and live together.
Patta paagalila vatta nila pudikkalaamIn broad daylight, we can catch the round moon.
Female :Padam kaattaathaeFemale: Don't show off/act tough,
Kada pirikkathaeDon't open a shop (don't put up a show),
En edaiya nee yethaathae …Don't increase my weight/burden...
Male
Achu vella karumbaeJaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyaeWith a heart sharp like a knife, you provoke me.
Nethiyila gerangiGetting dizzy in the forehead,
Mathiyila padhungiHiding in the mind/middle,
Mennu thinnu norukiriyae ..You chew, eat, and crush me to pieces..
Chorus :Yeiyithae…(3)Chorus: Yeiyithae… (3)
Male
Sarukku mara kalutha paarthenaeI saw a neck sleek like a slide,
Sarukki naan kuppara vizhunthenaeSliding down, I fell flat on my face.
Naan ethaiyo thedi… ethilo modhiSearching for something... bumping into something,
Engo tholanchenaeI got lost somewhere.
Female
Vekkam kettu meyira kannaalaMy saree gets tangled and suffers,
Sikki kittu thavikkuthu en selaBecause of eyes that graze without shame.
Naan ethaiyo moodi… ethaiyo thoranthuClosing something... opening something,
Keranguran thannaala …I get intoxicated automatically...
Male
Kenda kaala azhaga paarkkathaanJust to see the beauty of your calves,
Sanda pottu kaanum alaiyuthadiMy eyes wander around fighting to get a glimpse.
Konda oosi valaivula maattithaanCaught in the bend of a hairpin,
Manasu ippo medhuva karaiyuthadi…My heart is now slowly melting away...
Karaiyuthadii …eee…..Melting away... eee...
Nitha nitha …gari magapa mapaNitha nitha… gari magapa mapa
Gapa gapa ritha saGapa gapa ritha sa
Female
Achu vella karumbaeJaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Male :Oi achu vella karumbaeMale: Hey jaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyaeWith a heart sharp like a knife, you provoke me.
Male
Ohoo yeiOhoo yei
Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeahYehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeah
Yehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeahYehi laahi yehi laahi yehi laahi yeah
Male :Oh yehi laahi yeahMale: Oh yehi laahi yeah
Chorus :Oh yehi laahi yeahChorus: Oh yehi laahi yeah
Male :Oh yehi laahi yeahMale: Oh yehi laahi yeah
Chorus :Oh yehi laahi yeahChorus: Oh yehi laahi yeah
Male :Oh yehi laahi yehi laahiMale: Oh yehi laahi yehi laahi
Yehi laahi yeahYehi laahi yeah
Yehi laahi yeah…..eh ehYehi laahi yeah….. eh eh
Male
Yekku thappa paakka vekkuriyaeYou make me look in awkward/unbecoming ways,
Thappu thappaa pesa vekkuriyaeYou make me talk inappropriate things,
Adi konjam edutha korancha pogumHey girl, if you give a little, will you lose anything?
Kancham yethukendiWhy be such a miser?
Female
Mella nee nallavan pol nadippaYou act softly like a good person,
Kalla chaavi kaiyila vechiruppaWhile holding a master key in your hand.
Vaa maayilae maayilaeCome on, peacock, peacock,
Eragu podunnu. summa thona thonappaDrop your feathers, don't chatter needlessly.
Female
Oooo ooo athigam illaOooo ooo, not too much,
Aasa koncham thaanMy desire is very modest,
Nooru pulla mattum pothum aiyaaJust a hundred children are enough, sir!
Male :Athanaiyum onna padikkathaanMale: For all of them to study together,
Paalikudam thaniyaa venumaadiDo we need a separate school building, girl?
Female :Ohoo ooooFemale: Ohoo oooo
Male
Yemma…Yemma…
Achu vella karumbaeJaggery-sweet sugarcane,
Anchu mani arumbae5 o'clock flower bud,
Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyaeWith a heart sharp like a knife, you provoke me.
Nethiyila gerangiGetting dizzy in the forehead,
Mathiyila padhungiHiding in the mind/middle,
Mennu thinnu norukiriyae ..You chew, eat, and crush me to pieces..
Male
Ae….tourin takkisHey... to the touring talkies,
Kootti poren variyaaI will take you, will you come?
Chorus :Variyaa variyaa …Chorus: Will you come, will you come...
Male :Padatha vittuMale: Leaving the movie screen,
Unna paappen sariyaaI will keep staring at you, okay?
Chorus :Saariyaa saariyaa …Chorus: Is that okay, is that okay...
Female
Vaasthu paarthuConsulting Vaasthu,
Kattil podu muraiyaa.Set up the bed properly.
Chorus :Muraiyaa oh …Chorus: Is it proper, oh...
Female :Retta pulla porakkumFemale: Twins will be born then,
Appo sariyaaIs that alright then?
Chorus :Aaa….aaa……Chorus: Aaa.... aaa......
Male
Panchu methaiyilaOn a cotton mattress,
Kudithanam nadathalaamWe can set up a home and live together.
Patta paagalila vatta nila pudikkalaamIn broad daylight, we can catch the round moon.
Female :Padam kaattaathaeFemale: Don't show off/act tough,
Kada pirikkathaeDon't open a shop,
En edaiya nee yethaathae …Don't increase my weight/burden...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Achu Vella Karumbae' from the movie 'Thotti Jaya' is a playful, romantic duet featuring lighthearted banter between the lead lovers. The hero compliments the heroine's allure using vivid imagery like jaggery-sweet sugarcane and delicate flower buds, describing how her beauty overwhelms him. In return, the heroine teasingly responds to his bold advances and playful dreams of their future together, including funny hyperboles like raising a hundred children.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Achu vella karumbae / Anchu mani arumbu

Comparing the heroine to 'Achu vella karumbu' (jaggery sugarcane) and 'Anchu mani arumbu' (5 o'clock flower bud) to convey sweetness and delicacy.

Simile / Visual Imagery

Kathipola nenja vechu ussuppuriyae

Comparing a sharp, provocative mind/look to a knife ('Kathipola nenja vechu').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

Sarukku mara kalutha paarthenae / Sarukki naan kuppara vizhunthenae

Rhyming second letters in adjacent lines: 'Sarukku' / 'Sarukki'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music for 'Thotti Jaya' was composed by Harris Jayaraj, with lyrics penned by Na. Muthukumar. The song features energetic singing by Shankar Mahadevan along with Anuradha Sriram, making it an iconic folk-pop dance track in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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