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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ada Abishtu Nekkum Nokkuma

From Sathurangam · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Swarnalatha, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Sathurangam1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ada abishtuHey foolish one!
Nekkum nokkuma kalyaanamA marriage with proper perfection?
Nee oru ammaanjiYou are a naive simpleton!
Ada abhistuHey foolish one!
Nekkum nokkuma kalyaanamA marriage with proper perfection?
Nee oru ammaanjiYou are a naive simpleton!
Aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Unga aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Chorus :……………………….Chorus :....................
Female
Mookkenna ivar muzhiyennaLook at his nose, look at his eyes!
Ada kakka kettadhadiOh, even a crow would get ruined looking at him!
Achu pichu pithukuli aasapattathadiThis crazy, confused fool desired something!
Mookkenna ivar muzhiyennaLook at his nose, look at his eyes!
Ada kakka kettadhadiOh, even a crow would get ruined looking at him!
Achu pichu pithukuli aasapattathadiThis crazy, confused fool desired something!
Female
Kaadhal ethuku ada ambhi unakkuWhy do you need love, hey Ambi?
Maalai ethukku ada mandhi unakkuWhy do you need a garland, hey monkey-faced one?
Female :Kaadhal ethuku ada ambhi unakkuFemale : Why do you need love, hey Ambi?
Maalai ethukku ada mandhi unakkuWhy do you need a garland, hey monkey-faced one?
Female :Ettadha kombukku kottaavi vittaandi mutaaluFemale : The fool yawned for a branch way beyond his reach!
Female
Ada abishtuHey foolish one!
Nekkum nokkuma kalyaanamA marriage with proper perfection?
Nee oru ammaanjiYou are a naive simpleton!
Aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Unga aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Female
Achacho idhu muttikaalOh dear, this knock-knee,
Dhinam thattum kazhudhaiyadiIt is a donkey whose knees bump every day!
Achacho idhu muttikaalOh dear, this knock-knee,
Dhinam thattum kazhudhaiyadiIt is a donkey whose knees bump every day!
Athimberum athaiyammavumThe child born to
Petha kuzhandhaiyadiThe uncle and aunt!
Female
Ketti melathai idhu kotta solludhuIt asks to beat the loud wedding drums!
Pattu thaaliyai idhu katta solludhuIt asks to tie the sacred silk thread!
Female
Ketti melathai idhu kotta solludhuIt asks to beat the loud wedding drums!
Pattu thaaliyai idhu katta solludhuIt asks to tie the sacred silk thread!
Female
Sembulli karumbulli angangae kuthunga maapillaikkuTattoo red dots and black dots all over this groom!
Female
Ada abishtuHey foolish one!
Nekkum nokkuma kalyaanamA marriage with proper perfection?
Nee oru ammaanjiYou are a naive simpleton!
Aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Unga aathilae irukka kannadiLook at the mirror in your house,
Paathukko un moonjiGo check your face!
Chorus
……………………….....................

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful teasing song from the movie Sathurangam (1978) is written using classical Brahmin Tamil slang. The female singers mock an overly ambitious, foolish, and awkward young man ('Ambi') who aspires to get married to a woman beyond his league. They mock his looks, walk, and intellect, hilariously advising him to check his face in the mirror at home before dreaming of marriage. Throughout the song, lyricist Vaali uses colloquial Brahmin terms like 'Abishtu' (foolish/unclean person), 'Ammaanji' (innocent simpleton), and 'Athimber' (uncle) to build a humorous domestic banter setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

Ettadha kombukku kottaavi vittaandi mutaalu

Uses the famous Tamil proverb about reaching far beyond one's capability ('Ettadha kombukku kottaavi vittan').

Rhyme / Iyaibu

Ketti melathai idhu kotta solludhu / Pattu thaaliyai idhu katta solludhu

End-rhyming words 'kotta' and 'katta' creating a rhythmic pattern.

Alliteration / Monai & Rhyme

Sembulli karumbulli angangae kuthunga maapillaikku

Internal rhyming and alliteration with 'Sembulli' and 'Karumbulli'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track stands out for its heavy use of Tamil Brahmin dialect vocabulary ('Abishtu', 'Ammaanji', 'Aathilae') penned by Vaali and composed by V. Kumar. The song playfully depicts comic relief through domestic teasing in the film Sathurangam.

Keep listening

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