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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ada Mama Thattu

From Sattathukku Oru Saval · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, L. R. Anjali
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sattathukku Oru Saval
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
14 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Naan mayakki izhukkiraen vattaaraththa
Adi neeyaa nanaa paaththukalaam
Nerukku neraa pottukkalaam
Pondatti pakkaththula
Pulla rendu kakkaththula
Ennaaththukku ennai kann adichcheenga
Pondatti pakkaththula
Pulla rendu kakkaththula
Ennaaththukku ennai kann adichcheenga
Aasa theera thinnathum azhukku theera kulichchathum
Aambalainga pombalaiyanga yaarumae illa
Ellaarum ponnuthaan
Ellaarumae onnuthaan
Ellaamae irukkura edaththa poruththuthaan
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Naan mayakki izhukkiiraen vattaaraththa
Elachchava korachchaa thuniya
Elachchava korachchaa aabaththunga aanaa
Kozhuththava korachchaa naagareeganga
Poruppil iruppavanga
Podhuvil irukkanuminnu
Poomaalai podurom vaanga saami
Neram nerunguthu niyaayam jeyikkuthu
Naalai pozhuthu oru nanmai irukkuthu
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Naan mayakki izhukkiraen vattaaraththa
Adi neeyaa nanaa paaththukalaam
Haan nerukku neraa pottukkalaam
Vella manasoda ingae
Virunthukku vanthirukkum
Vallavaru nallavaru saamiyo
Vella manasoda ingae
Virunthukku vanthirukkum
Vallavaru nallavaru saamiyo
Nallathaiyum kettathaiyum naalai nadappathaiyum
Naan solven kaiyaiththaan konjam kaamiyo
Nallathaiyum kettathaiyum naalai nadappathaiyum
Naan solven kaiyaiththaan konjam kaamiyo
Kollimala devi kitta nalla varam vaanginaen
Kollimala devi kitta nalla varam vaanginaen
Kuri parththaa sariyaagum sagunam thappaathu
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Ada mama thattu maththalaththa
Naan mayakki izhukkiraen vattaaraththa
Adi neeyaa nanaa paaththukalaam
Nerukku neraa pottukkalaam
Hey uncle, beat the drum!
Hey uncle, beat the drum!
I will charm and pull in the whole neighborhood!
Let's see who wins—you or me!
Let's face each other head-to-head...
With your wife right beside you,
And two kids in your arms,
Why did you wink at me?
With your wife right beside you,
And two kids in your arms,
Why did you wink at me?
No one has eaten till cravings were gone, or bathed till all dirt vanished;
There is no man or woman who has done that!
Everyone is just a woman,
Everyone is one and the same,
It all depends on where you stand!
Hey uncle, uncle, beat the drum!
Hey uncle, beat the drum!
I will charm and pull in the whole neighborhood...
If a poor woman shortens her clothes—
If a poor woman wears less, it's called dangerous, but
If a rich woman wears less, it's called high fashion!
Those who hold public duty
Must be open and fair to all,
So we welcome you with a garland, come on, sir!
The time is drawing near, justice will win,
Tomorrow's dawn will bring good things!
Hey uncle, uncle, beat the drum!
Hey uncle, beat the drum!
I will charm and pull in the whole neighborhood...
Let's see who wins—you or me!
Yeah, let's face each other head-to-head...
With a pure and sincere heart,
Arriving here as our guest,
Is this great and good gentleman!
With a pure and sincere heart,
Arriving here as our guest,
Is this great and good gentleman!
The good, the bad, and what will happen tomorrow,
I will tell it all, just show me your hand!
The good, the bad, and what will happen tomorrow,
I will tell it all, just show me your hand!
I received a true blessing from the Goddess of Kolli Hills,
I received a true blessing from the Goddess of Kolli Hills,
My fortune-telling is accurate, the signs never fail!
Hey uncle, uncle, beat the drum!
Hey uncle, beat the drum!
I will charm and pull in the whole neighborhood...
Let's see who wins—you or me!
Let's face each other head-to-head...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Sattathukku Oru Saval' (1983) is a lively folk dance and fortune-telling track performed by female dancers to entertain and subtly lecture the local crowd. Set to energetic drum rhythms, the lyrics weave playful banter with biting socio-political commentary, calling out male hypocrisy and contrasting how society judges poor versus rich women.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Elachchava korachchaa aabaththunga aanaa / Kozhuththava korachchaa naagareeganga

The second letters of 'Elachchava' and 'Kozhuththava' match in sound, providing a rhythmic folk bounce.

Mona (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Kollimala devi kitta nalla varam vaanginaen / Kuri parththaa sariyaagum

Repetition of the 'K' sound at the beginning of words in 'Kollimala' and 'Kuri' enhances the oral folk storytelling style.

Metaphor

Ellaarum ponnuthaan / Ellaarumae onnuthaan

Comparing all human beings to 'ponnu' (gold) to signify inherent worth regardless of gender or stature.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and penned by Vaali, this song captures the authentic atmosphere of street performances (Karakattam/Therukoothu style setup) used in 1980s Tamil cinema to deliver covert social messages.

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