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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ada Maappillai

From Siva · 1989

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Siva1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa…Aa…
Chorus :Aa…Chorus: Aa…
Male :Dei dei dei deiMale: Hey, hey, hey, hey guys!
Suthi sernthu paadungadaGather around and sing together, guys!
Aa …Aa…
Chorus :aaChorus: Aa
Male
Sari ippa naan paadrathellamAlright, whatever I sing now...
Thiruppi thiruppi paadanum...you must repeat back to me!
Chorus
SarithaanpaaAlright then!
Male
SabaashBravo!
Indha ooril pala pera paarthu puttenI have seen many kinds of people in this town.
Chorus :ParthuputtenChorus: Seen them!
Male
SabaashBravo!
Naa veera soorenI am a brave hero!
Male :Naa vee ee ee veera sooranMale: I am a bra-a-ave hero!
AdikadhappaDon't hit me, man!
Male :Namma pathi naalu peru kettuparadaMale: Ask any four people about us!
Chorus :Namma pathi naalu peru kettuparadaChorus: Ask any four people about us!
Male
SaaruSir!
Chorus :Aa saaruChorus: Ah, Sir!
Male :EdhukkumMale: For anything...
Chorus :Aa edhukkumChorus: Ah, for anything...
Male :ThuninjavandaMale: ...he is a fearless man!
Chorus :Thu nin ja van daChorus: A fear-less man!
Male
Yaara da podringaWhom are you referring to, guys?
Chorus :Yaara da podringaChorus: Whom are you referring to, guys?
Male
Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaHey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Chorus :Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaChorus: Hey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Male
Enna paakkura ippa kalyaana pandhal onnu poduWhat are you staring at? Erect a wedding marquee right now!
Chorus :Enna paakkura ippa kalyaana pandhal onnu poduChorus: What are you staring at? Erect a wedding marquee right now!
Male
HaanAha!
Vanna vanna thoranam vasalilae aadanumColorful festoons should sway at the entrance!
Chorus :Vanna thoranam vasalilae aattanumChorus: Colorful festoons should be shaken at the entrance!
Male :Aattanum illada aadanumdaMale: Not 'shaken', it should 'sway'!
Male :SardhaanMale: Alright, fine!
Male
Melum keelum paarvai ennaWhy are you looking up and down?
Mugoortha neram nerungi varudhu doi doi doi doiThe auspicious time for marriage is drawing near!
Male
Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaHey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Chorus :Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaChorus: Hey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Chorus
Thanthaananaaa thanaanana naaaRhythmic vocalizing
Thanthaananaaa thanaanana naaaRhythmic vocalizing
Male
Ooril ellarum ennoda sondhamEveryone in this town is my relative.
Ullapadi sonna indha onnae en selvamTo tell the truth, this togetherness is my true wealth.
Yaara irundhaalum naan ketppen nyaayamNo matter who it is, I will demand justice!
Namakkenna podaa ena ponaathaan paavamIt is a sin to walk away thinking 'what do I care?'
Nallathukku eppodhum illaedaa kaalamTimes are never favourable for doing good.
Munnavanga sonnaanga poi illadaElders said this, and it is no lie!
Male
AamaYes indeed!
Male
Ullavanga pinnaala vaal aattum koottamA crowd that wags its tail behind wealthy people...
Onga kadhai en kitta selladhudaa...your tricks won't work with me!
Idhu thanjavooru melamThis is the Thanjavur drum beat!
Male
Idhu thanjavooru melamThis is the Thanjavur drum beat!
Male
Adha thattunga konjam ketppomStrike it a bit, let us listen!
Male
Adha thattunga konjam ketppomStrike it a bit, let us listen!
Male
Indha kalyanathula paaruLook at this grand wedding!
Nalla kichadi samba soruDelicious khichdi and samba rice!
Male
Melum keelum paarvai ennaWhy are you looking up and down?
Mugoortha neram nerungi varudhu doi doi doi doiThe auspicious time for marriage is drawing near!
Male
Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaHey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Chorus :Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaChorus: Hey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Male
Maapillai vandhachu aarathi edungooThe groom has arrived, take the holy aarathi!
Chorus
Maapillai vandhachu aarathi edungooThe groom has arrived, take the holy aarathi!
Male
Ungalai aarathi edukka sonnaI asked you to perform aarathi...
Vera aala kaamikkuringalaeda thadipasangalaa...why are you pointing at someone else, you rascals?
Chorus :ThadipasangalaaChorus: You rascals!
Male
Ye kannupada poguthuHey, evil eyes might cast a spell!
Chorus :Kannu pada poguthuChorus: Evil eyes might cast a spell!
Male :Ah thrishti suthi podungooMale: Ah, ward off the evil eye!
Chorus :Thrishti suthi podungooChorus: Ward off the evil eye!
Chorus
Laali lalli laali laali lalli laaliLullaby melody
Laali lalli laali laali lalli laaliLullaby melody
Male
Ooraara ellorum vaaranga paaruLook, all the townspeople are coming!
Vasalukku vandhu konjam panneera thoovuCome to the doorway and sprinkle some rose water!
Ponnu maappila vandhaachu ingaeThe bride and groom have arrived here!
Katti vacha maalai adhai kondadaa inageBring the woven garlands here!
Male
NamaskaramgoSalutations to you all!
Male
Aiyyar enga poningoo vaangonna vaangooWhere did the priest go? Come on, sir, come on!
Aadikittae vaaringa oiyaarammaWalking slowly and gracefully like a diva!
Male
Ooril ethanai kalyanam romba busySo many weddings in town, so busy?
Male
Vettikatta neramilla pongonna pongooNo time to wear the dhoti proper? Move along, sir!
Male
Oorukkullaae onnae thaan kalyaanamaIs this the only wedding happening in town?
Male
Ivan naadaalum raasaHe is a king who rules the land!
Male :Ivan naadaalum raasaMale: He is a king who rules the land!
Male :Idhu namma ooru raasaMale: He is our town's king!
Male :Idhu namma ooru raasaMale: He is our town's king!
Male
Ada vaayara neenga vandhu vazhthunga vaangaCome and bless them wholeheartedly!
Melum keelum paarvai ennaWhy are you looking up and down?
Mugoortha neram nerungi varudhu doi doi doi doiThe auspicious time for marriage is drawing near!
Male
Ada maapla summa moraikkadhaHey groom/friend, don't just glare!
Machaan sonna keluListen to what your friend says!
Enna paakkura ippa kalyana pandhal onnu poduWhat are you staring at? Erect a wedding marquee right now!
Male
Vanna vanna thoranam vasalilae aadanumColorful festoons should sway at the entrance!
Chorus :Vanna thoranam vasalilae aadanumChorus: Colorful festoons should sway at the entrance!
Male :Melum keelum paarvai ennaMale: Why are you looking up and down?
Mugoortha neram nerungi varudhu doi doi doi doiThe auspicious time for marriage is drawing near!
Male
AyareeeO Priest!
Male :SollungooMale: Tell me!
Male :Mantharam sollugoMale: Recite the sacred chants!
Male :Tho solranaMale: Here, I'm chanting...
Male :Mangalyam thanthunaanenaMale: Mangalyam thantunanena...
Male :Mangalyam thunthunaanenaMale: Mangalyam thuntunanena...
Male
Thunthunaaa illa thanthunaaIs it 'thuntuna' or 'thantunan'?
Mama jeevana kethunaaMama jeevana hetuna...
Male :Mama jeevana kethunaaMale: Mama jeevana hetuna...
Male :Hante bathnami shubakeeMale: Dhane bhandhnami subhage...
Male :Hante bathnami shubaaakeeMale: Dhane bhandhnami subhage...
Male :Ssanjeeva saradharshyathamMale: Sanjeeva sharadah shatam...
Kettimelam kettimelamLoud wedding drums! Loud wedding drums!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Siva' (1989) is a festive, theatrical, and comedic celebratory track set in the backdrop of a traditional Tamil wedding setup. The lead protagonist commands his friends and villagers to assemble and join in the celebration, instructing them on setting up the wedding canopy, hanging colorful garlands, and welcoming guests with rose water and traditional Thanjavur drums (Thanjavooru Melam). Interspersed with witty banter and call-and-response choruses, the song highlights themes of communal unity, standing up against opportunists, and enjoying righteous living without arrogance. As the wedding sequence unfolds, the humor escalates with lighthearted teasing of the priest, comedic mispronunciations of Vedic mantras ('Mangalyam Thantunanena'), and mock chaos during rituals like taking 'Aarathi' to ward off evil eyes. The lyrics by Pulamaipithan seamlessly blend folk celebration, moral observations on human nature, and slapstick humor, creating a high-energy celebratory folk anthem.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second letter rhyming / Assonance)

Indha ooril pala pera paarthu putten

The second letters of 'Indha' and 'Sabaash' / 'Naa veera' share structural rhythmic cadence across lines.

Adukkuthoodar (Repetition for emphasis / Rhythm)

Thiruppi thiruppi paadanum

Repetition of words like 'thiruppi thiruppi' and 'vanna vanna' enhances the musical tempo and folk style.

Metaphor (Uvamei)

Ullavanga pinnaala vaal aattum koottam

'Ullavanga pinnaala vaal aattum koottam' metaphorically compares sycophants following wealthy people to tail-wagging animals.

Cultural Allusion & Parody

Male :Mangalyam thunthunaanena

The traditional Sanskrit wedding mantra 'Mangalyam Thantunanena' is humorously mispronounced and chanted in a conversational comedic tone.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features in Rajinikanth's 1989 hit film 'Siva' (directed by Ameerjan), where Rajinikanth plays the lead alongside Shobana. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and this song features a playful performance by Rajinikanth doing comedic vocal exchanges with a chorus and a priest during a wedding setting.

Keep listening

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