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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Tharapuram Thambaram

From Makkalai Petra Magarasi · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Makkalai Petra Magarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adi thaaraapuram thaambaramHey girl from Dharapuram and Tambaram,
Un thalaiyila kanakaambaramThere are firecracker flowers on your head.
Female
Ada yekaambaram chidhambaramHey Ekambaram and Chidambaram,
Un iduppula peedhaambaramThere is a yellow silk garment around your waist.
Male
Adi thaaraapuram thaambaramHey girl from Dharapuram and Tambaram,
Un thalaiyila kanakaambaramThere are firecracker flowers on your head.
Female
Ada yekaambaram chidhambaramHey Ekambaram and Chidambaram,
Un iduppula peedhaambaramThere is a yellow silk garment around your waist.
Male
Kan jaadaiyaala thavikkiromWe suffer because of your winking glance,
Un vaadaiyaala malaikkiromWe get mesmerized by your fragrance.
Male
Kan jaadaiyaala thavikkiromWe suffer because of your winking glance,
Un vaadaiyaala malaikkiromWe get mesmerized by your fragrance.
Female
Kattaayamaa kannaiyum kaadhaiyumDefinitely, your eyes and ears,
Katta vandiyila anuppuromWe will send them away in a bullock cart.
Kaadhala katta vandiyila anuppuromWe will send love away in a bullock cart.
Kattaayamaa kannaiyum kaadhaiyumDefinitely, your eyes and ears,
Katta vandiyila anuppuromWe will send them away in a bullock cart.
Kaadhala katta vandiyila anuppuromWe will send love away in a bullock cart.
Male
Adi thaaraapuram…Hey Dharapuram...
Thaaraapuram thaambaramDharapuram and Tambaram,
Un thalaiyila kanakaambaramThere are firecracker flowers on your head.
Female
Yekaambaram…Ekambaram...
Female :Ada yekaambaram chidhambaramFemale: Hey Ekambaram and Chidambaram,
Un iduppula peedhaambaramThere is a yellow silk garment around your waist.
Male
Manasukkullae adakki vechuSuppressing it inside our hearts,
Maasakkanakkaa mazhuppuromWe evade and stall for months.
Female
Hmm…Hmm...
Male :Aamaa…Male: Yes...
Male
Manasukkullae adakki vechuSuppressing it inside our hearts,
Maasakkanakkaa mazhuppuromWe evade and stall for months.
Female
Nee marandhuputtu thoonginaalumEven if you forget and sleep,
Mambattiyaalae ezhuppuromWe will wake you up with a spade hoe.
Male
Manasukkullae adakki vechuSuppressing it inside our hearts,
Maasakkanakkaa mazhuppuromWe evade and stall for months.
Female
Nee marandhuputtu thoonginaalumEven if you forget and sleep,
Mambattiyaalae ezhuppuromWe will wake you up with a spade hoe.
Male
Pavusa paatthu pandhu polaeSeeing your charm, like a bouncy ball,
Paanju paanju kudhikkiromWe bounce and leap around.
Un pavusa paatthu pandhu polaeSeeing your charm, like a bouncy ball,
Paanju paanju kudhikkiromWe bounce and leap around.
Female
Un pappaali pazha thalaiya vaangaTo buy your head shaped like a papaya fruit,
Samayam paathu irukkuromWe are waiting for the right time.
Thalaiya vaangaTo buy your head,
Samayam paathu irukkuromWe are waiting for the right time.
Female
Un pappaali pazha thalaiya vaangaTo buy your head shaped like a papaya fruit,
Samayam paathu irukkuromWe are waiting for the right time.
Thalaiya vaangaTo buy your head,
Samayam paathu irukkuromWe are waiting for the right time.
Male
Aalillaama vemburomWe pine away without anyone around,
Female
Idhu noolillaadha pambaramThis is like a spinning top without a string.
Male
Ada naattuppuramHey, countryside,
Female
Nee kaattuppuramYou are woodland side,
Male
Chechae rottuppuramNo no, roadside,
Female
AppuramAnd after that...
Male
Aa… thaaraapuram thaambaramAh... Dharapuram Tambaram,
Un thalaiyila kanakaambaramThere are firecracker flowers on your head.
Female
Yekaambaram chidhambaramEkambaram Chidambaram,
Un iduppula peedhaambaramThere is a yellow silk garment around your waist.
Male
Adi thaaraapuram thaambaramHey girl from Dharapuram Tambaram,
Un thalaiyila kanakaambaramThere are firecracker flowers on your head.
Female
Ada yekaambaram chidhambaramHey Ekambaram Chidambaram,
Un iduppula peedhaambaramThere is a yellow silk garment around your waist.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil folk-style duet features playful banter between lovers expressing their infatuation and playful threats. Using rhythmic place names (Dharapuram, Tambaram, Chidambaram) and rhyming attire references (kanakaambaram flowers, peedhaambaram silk), the singers tease each other about being mesmerized by each other's glances, scent, and looks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

Adi thaaraapuram thaambaram / Un thalaiyila kanakaambaram

Matching second consonants across lines creating rhythmic flow, as in 'thaaraapuram' and 'kanakaambaram' or 'yekaambaram' and 'peedhaambaram'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

thaambaram / kanakaambaram / Chidhambaram / peedhaambaram

The song uses recurring end rhymes featuring '-ambaram' and '-urom' to create a catchy, folk-style cadence.

Upamai (Simile)

Pavusa paatthu pandhu polae / Paanju paanju kudhikkirom

Comparing the playful bouncing reaction to a bouncing ball ('pandhu polae') and comparing their helpless state to a top spinning without a string ('noolillaadha pambaram').

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic duet from the 1957 classic movie 'Makkalai Petra Magarasi' stars Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi. The song features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics written by the legendary folk songwriter Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, renowned for his rhythmic and lively wordplay.

Keep listening

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