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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Veluthupochchu Thaadi

From Nadigan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nadigan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Vaththiyaarae paattu vaaththiyaaraeTeacher, music teacher
Suit-u coat-u mattum maattuvaaraeHe only wears a suit and coat
Sarigama poe padippomaaShall we study sarigama notes?
Sangathiyil poe kuleeppomaaShall we bathe in musical nuances?
Yaiyayaiyaa yaiyayaayyaa…aaa….aa…..Yaiyayaiyaa yaiyayaayyaa...aaa...aa.....
Female
Adi veluththu pochu thaadiHey, your beard has turned white
Rompa uluththu pochchu bodyYour body has aged and worn out completely
Ippa surungi pochchu naadiNow your pulse has weakened
Ivar jeyikka poraar paadiHe is going to sing and win
Female
Paarppomaa unga ettu kattai saareeramLet us see your high-pitched voice
Ketpomaa unga thattu ketta sangeethamLet us hear your terrible music
Chorus :Aaththaadi appadi podu veeraappu kaatti inthaChorus: Oh my, hit it like that, showing off pride
Thaththaathaan ponnungalodu pottaarae pottiThis old grandfather is competing with young girls
Female
Adi veluththu pochu thaadiHey, your beard has turned white
Rompa uluththu pochchu bodyYour body has aged and worn out completely
Ippa surungi pochchu naadiNow your pulse has weakened
Ivar jeyikka poraar paadiHe is going to sing and win
Male
Veeram sangeetham en paattan soththuValor and music are my grandfather's inheritance
Nyaanam undaagum en veettai suththuWisdom will blossom around my house
Female :Pothum un paattu nippaattu ippoFemale: Enough, stop your singing now
Aanthai semmaanguyil aavatheppoWhen does an owl ever become a noble cuckoo?
Male
Bairavi ranjani senjuruttiRaagas like Bhairavi, Ranjani, and Senjurutti
Ennidam nindridum kaiyakkattiWill stand before me with folded hands
Female :Vechchikka vechchikka moottaikkattiFemale: Pack up and put away your bundle
Unnidam ullathu ootta sattiWhat you have is a broken pot
Male
Panakkaaran peththu potta….seemaattiyae…ae…Rich girl born to a wealthy father... oh lady...
Varalaamaa nammakitta vaalaattiyaeShould you come wagging your tail near us?
Adiyae nee kettu paaraen aalaapanaiHey girl, listen to my vocal elaboration
Kazhuthaikku theriyaathammaa poo vaasanaiA donkey does not know the fragrance of flowers
Male
Paamaa kapakama rigamagariPa-ma-ga-pa-ka-ma ri-ga-ma-ga-ri
Mama rimagari sagarisariMa-ma ri-ga-ma-ga-ri sa-ga-ri-sa-ri
Saasasaasasa riririririrgaSaa-sa-saa-sa-sa ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ga
Gaagagaagagaga mapamagarisaGaa-ga-gaa-ga-ga-ga ma-pa-ma-ga-ri-sa
Male
Kudhirai vaalu kondaiPony-tailed hair bun
Idhu kittappaavin thondaiThis voice belongs to Kittappa
Neenga vechchukkaathae sandaiDon't pick a fight with me
Adi veengi pogum mandaiHey, your head will swell up from getting beaten
Male
Koovaathae verum koochchai venaam ippothuDon't shout, no need for empty screams now
Thaavaathae edhir neechchal podu ennoduDon't leap, swim against the tide with me
Aaththaadi appadi podu veeraappai kaattiOh my, hit it like that, showing off pride
Adi kooththaadi kuppura saainji podaathae pottiHey dancer, don't drop down defeated in this competition
Male
Mookkum pullaakkum yaen modhuthadiWhy are your nose and nose-ring colliding in anger?
Mogam undaagum en paattu padiSing my song, and passion will arise
Female :Maattu punnaakku un paattukkalthaanFemale: Your songs are like oil cake food for cattle
Podu un vaaikku nee poottukalthaanPut a lock on your own mouth
Male
Muttaiyai vikkura kozhigalaaAre you chickens that sell eggs
Muttida ennidam vaareegalaaComing to butt heads with me?
Female :Pattathum suttathum paththalaiyaaFemale: Haven't you had enough of getting hit and burnt?
Puththiyum innamum muththalaiyaaHas your wisdom still not matured?
Male
Puc bsc thaan ennaachchudiWhat happened to your PUC and BSc degrees, girl?
Abc theriyaamaththaan ninnaachchudi adiYou stand here without even knowing the basics of ABC, girl
Maravattai rayila pola odaathadi…hhooDon't run like a millipede train... hhoo
Kosuvellaam kuyila pola paadaathadiMosquitoes shouldn't try to sing like cuckoos
Male
Paamaa kapakama rigamagariPa-ma-ga-pa-ka-ma ri-ga-ma-ga-ri
Mama rimagari sagarisariMa-ma ri-ga-ma-ga-ri sa-ga-ri-sa-ri
Saasasaasasa riririririrgaSaa-sa-saa-sa-sa ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ga
Gaagagaagagaga mapamagarisaGaa-ga-gaa-ga-ga-ga ma-pa-ma-ga-ri-sa
Male
Kudhirai vaalu kondaiPony-tailed hair bun
Idhu kittappaavin thondaiThis voice belongs to Kittappa
Neenga vechchukkaathae sandaiDon't pick a fight with me
Adi veengi pogum mandaiHey, your head will swell up from getting beaten
Male
Koovaathae verum koochchai venaam ippothuDon't shout, no need for empty screams now
Thaavaathae edhir neechchal podu ennoduDon't leap, swim against the tide with me
Aaththaadi appadi podu veeraappai kaattiOh my, hit it like that, showing off pride
Adi kooththaadi kuppura saainji podaathae pottiHey dancer, don't drop down defeated in this competition
Male
Adi kudhirai vaalu kondaiHey pony-tailed hair bun
Idhu kittappaavin thondaiThis voice belongs to Kittappa
Neenga vechchukkaathae sandaiDon't pick a fight with me
Adi veengi pogum mandaiHey, your head will swell up from getting beaten

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous duel song from the movie Nadigan features a playful back-and-forth musical clash between an eccentric music teacher disguised as an old man and his young female student. The male protagonist boasts about his classical music heritage, high vocal pitch, and mastery over musical swaras, while the female lead mocks his age, weak physique, and outdated vocal style, comparing his music to noise and cattle feed. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, the song blends traditional Carnatic classical swaras with comedic, rhythmic folk lyrics. The playful banter highlights themes of youthful arrogance versus experienced mastery, creating a lively theatrical musical contest typical of classical Tamil cinematic comedies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paamaa kapakama rigamagari

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'p' across adjacent words ('Paamaa', 'kapakama', 'podi', etc.).

Edukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Adi veluththu pochu thaadi / Rompa uluththu pochchu body

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('veluththu' / 'uluththu' / 'surungi').

Metaphor

Kosuvellaam kuyila pola paadaathadi

Comparing mosquitoes singing to cuckoos to mock unskilled singing.

Idiom / Proverb

Kazhuthaikku theriyaathammaa poo vaasanai

Use of popular Tamil proverb 'Kazhuthaikku theriyaathammaa poo vaasanai' (A donkey doesn't know the fragrance of flowers) to mock lack of artistic sense.

Did you know?

Trivia

In Nadigan (1990), Sathyaraj plays a young man disguised as an elderly music teacher named 'Kittappa' to gain employment in a wealthy household. The reference 'Kittappaavin thondai' in the song pays homage to SG Kittappa, the legendary classical singer and Tamil stage actor known for his high-octane pitch and powerful vocal range.

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