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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Karthigai Masamadi

From Vaira Nenjam · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vaira Nenjam1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaarthigai maasamadiIt is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Adi kaarthigai maasamadiOh, it is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Saathiram paathukkadiLook at the scriptures and rituals, girl,
Kannaalae ingae maalaiya maathikkadi munnaalae….Exchange garlands right here with your eyes, in front of everyone...
Female
Saathiram paarpadhennaWhy look for rituals and scriptures?
Jathagathai kaetpathennaWhy ask for horoscope matches?
Saathiram paarpadhennaWhy look for rituals and scriptures?
Jathagathai kaetpathennaWhy ask for horoscope matches?
Paathiram kaathirukku rajavaeThe deserving bride is waiting, my king,
Nee maathiram paarthu kollu rojavaeYou just look after her, my precious rose,
Paathiram kaathirukku rajavaeThe deserving bride is waiting, my king,
Nee maathiram paarthu kollu rojavaeYou just look after her, my precious rose.
Male
Adi kaarthigai maasamadiOh, it is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Saathiram paathukkadiLook at the scriptures and rituals, girl,
Kannaalae ingae maalaiya maathikkadi munnaalae….Exchange garlands right here with your eyes, in front of everyone...
Male
{Thanjaavuru thangavaelu{Thanjavur Thangavelu,
Thaalam vechu maelam vechuWith rhythm and music drums playing,
Thangam unnai alli kolla vaenumWants to embrace you like gold,
Female :Ahaa kammanooru sandhaikku poiyiFemale: Aha, going to the Kammanoor market,
Karuga mani vaalaiyaloodaAlong with black-beaded bangles,
Kaalukku thandai vaangi varavenum} (2)You must bring anklets for my feet} (Repeated twice)
Male
Ammavukku paakku veikka marakaadhaeDon't forget to offer betel leaves to mother,
Female :Nee summa summaFemale: Don't needlessly and repeatedly
Sangadhiyellaam thorakaadhaeOpen up all the secret matters!
Male :Adhu vaenum idhu vaenumMale: Wanting this and wanting that,
Edhaiyaenum pera venumWe must get something or the other!
Male
Adi kaarthigai maasamadiOh, it is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Saathiram paathukkadiLook at the scriptures and rituals, girl,
Kannaalae ingae maalaiya maathikkadi munnaalae….Exchange garlands right here with your eyes, in front of everyone...
Female
Aththa ponnu vekkam vittuThe aunt's daughter shed her shyness,
Aada vandhaa paada vandhaaCame to dance, came to sing,
Aasa vachu metha podu saamiLay down a cozy bed with desire, my lord!
Male : Pattu metha kattil ittuMale: Setting up a soft silk mattress bed,
Thottu thottu muthammittuTouching gently and showering kisses,
Paada solli aada veippen vaa neeI will make you sing and dance, come on!
Female
Appo ini en kaiyilae adhigaaamThen authority will be in my hands from now on,
Male :Ada ippo sollu ammavukku namaskaaramMale: Hey, now say greetings to mother!
Female :Magaraasi magaraani palakodi namaskkaraamFemale: Oh blessed queen, millions of respectful greetings!
Male
Adi kaarthigai maasamadiOh, it is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Saathiram paathukkadiLook at the scriptures and rituals, girl,
Kannaalae ingae maalaiya maathikkadi munnaalae….Exchange garlands right here with your eyes, in front of everyone...
Male
Vella kaakka mella vandhuThat a white crow slowly arrived
Pallathilae paayuthinnuAnd swooped down into the pit,
Unmaiyinnu nambuvaanga ammaaPeople will foolishly believe it as truth, my lady!
Female : Ullathilae kallam illaeFemale: There is no deceit in my heart,
Utchiyilae onnum illaeThere is nothing hidden in my head,
Alli vidu ulladhellaam summaaJust shower everything freely, it is all nothing!
Male
Kattaayama kalyaanathukku varuvaangaThey will definitely attend the wedding,
Female :Ahaaa achaaramaa innum onnu tharuvangaFemale: Aha, as advance, they will give one more thing!
Male :Seri podu vilaiyaaduMale: All right, play along now,
Nadai podu nadai poduWalk with style, walk with style!
Male
Adi kaarthigai maasamadiOh, it is the month of Kaarthigai, my girl,
Kalyaana seasonadiIt is the wedding season, my girl!
Saathiram paathukkadiLook at the scriptures and rituals, girl,
Kannaalae ingae maalaiya maathikkadi munnaalae….Exchange garlands right here with your eyes, in front of everyone...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kaarthigai Maasamadi' from the 1975 Tamil film 'Vaira Nenjam' is a playful duet between two lovers anticipating marriage during the auspicious Tamil month of Kaarthigai. The male lead teases the female lead about wedding arrangements, horoscope checks, and exchange of garlands through loving glances, while the female lead responds with demands for traditional gifts like anklets and bangles, and jokes about household dynamics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Saathiram paarpadhenna / Jathagathai kaetpathenna

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Kaarthigai' and 'Kalyaana' or 'Saathiram' and 'Jathagathai'.

Iyaibu (End rhyme)

Kaarthigai maasamadi / Kalyaana seasonadi

Rhyming line endings ending in '-adi' ('maasamadi', 'seasonadi', 'paathukkadi', 'maathikkadi').

Metaphor / Wordplay

Paathiram kaathirukku rajavae / Nee maathiram paarthu kollu rojavae

Kannadasan uses 'Paathiram' (deserving vessel / bride) contrasting playfully with 'Rojavae' (rose / groom's affection).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vaira Nenjam' (1975) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmapriya. Kannadasan's lyricism mixes traditional Tamil wedding customs (such as Kaarthigai month auspiciousness and betel leaf offering) with modern colloquial English words like 'season'.

Keep listening

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