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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Alaathy

From Kalyana Kacheri · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Manjula, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kalyana Kacheri1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Lulululu… lulululu…Lulululu... lulululu...
Chorus
Lulululu… lulululu…Lulululu... lulululu...
Female
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga..aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Female
Varaadha maappillaThe elusive groom who rarely visits,
Vandhaaga oorukkuIf he comes to the village,
Vandhanam koorungaOffer him greetings,
Kaala thaan vaarunga hoiAnd trip up his feet, hey!
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Female
Pulla nalla pulla thennam pullaShe is a good girl, like a tender coconut sapling,
Chorus :Pudhusu pudhusu thozhilukkuChorus: Brand new to this line of work,
Porutham porutham ivalukkuA perfect match for her,
Female
Solla nenjukkulla vaartha illaThere are no words in the heart to describe,
Chorus :Thiruttu thiruttu maappillaChorus: A thieving groom,
Veratti veratti adippomaaShall we chase and beat him?
Female
Manjala thaan poosungadiApply turmeric paste,
Venjaamaram veesungadiWave the white yak-tail fan,
Female
KanniyaThe young maiden,
Chorus :Vechu puttuChorus: Having trapped,
Female :KaatthuFemale: Waiting,
Chorus :IrundhukittuChorus: Being around,
Female :SuthiFemale: Encircling,
Chorus :SuruttikittuChorus: Gathering up,
Oora kedukkum thiruttu payalungaThese thief guys who ruin the village!
Female
Kattai adiBeat with a stick!
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :Vittu pudiFemale: Catch and let go!
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :Mottai adiFemale: Shave his head bald!
Chorus :Manmadha mannanukkuChorus: For the King of Cupid!
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Female
Varaadha maappillaThe elusive groom who rarely visits,
Vandhaaga oorukkuIf he comes to the village,
Vandhanam koorungaOffer him greetings,
Kaala thaan vaarunga hoiAnd trip up his feet, hey!
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Hoi hoihoi hoihoiHoi hoihoi hoihoi
Female
Kolla pagal kollaTo commit robbery in broad daylight,
Poda vandhuComing to do so,
Chorus :Kedachadheduthu suruttuvaanChorus: He steals whatever he gets,
Urutti poratti merattuvaanRolling around, stirring trouble, and threatening,
Female :Nalla namma ooraFemale: Seeking out our good village,
Thedi vandhuComing in search,
Chorus :Paadhi kenaru thaandinaanChorus: He jumped half a well,
Vasadhiyaaga maattinaanAnd got caught conveniently!
Female :Kollai itta aalungalaFemale: Those who looted,
Kooru ketta kaalaingalaThose mindless, senseless bulls,
Female
DhrushtiEvil eye,
Chorus:Kazhichu viduChorus: Ward it off!
Female :MottaFemale: Bald head,
Chorus :Adichu viduChorus: Shave it off!
Female :VittuFemale: Leave them,
Chorus :Ozhichu viduChorus: Get rid of them!
Adhaiyum idhaiyum edhaiyumMixing this, that, and everything,
Kalandhu thaanBlending it all together,
Female
Kattai adiBeat with a stick!
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :Vittu pudiFemale: Catch and let go!
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :Mottai adiFemale: Shave his head bald!
Chorus :Manmadha mannanukkuChorus: For the King of Cupid!
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Female
Varaadha maappillaThe elusive groom who rarely visits,
Chorus :Vandhaaga oorukkuChorus: If he comes to the village,
Female :Vandhanam koorungaFemale: Offer him greetings,
Chorus :Kaala thaan vaarunga hoiChorus: And trip up his feet, hey!
Chorus
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...
Aalaathi thatta edungaPick up the Aalathi plate,
Adi ammaadiOh dear mother!
Aavaaram poova thodunga…aa…aa..Touch the Aavaaram flower... aa... aa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat Tamil folk track captures the vibrant atmosphere of a rural wedding celebration. The women prepare traditional auspicious items like the 'Aalathi' plate and yellow 'Aavaaram' flowers to ward off evil eyes and welcome the guests. The lyrics playfully tease the groom, lightheartedly framing him as a heart-thief who has come to steal the innocent bride.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Chorus :Pudhusu pudhusu thozhilukku

The deliberate doubling of words like 'Pudhusu pudhusu' and 'Thiruttu thiruttu' emphasizes rhythm and emotional intensity in Tamil folk poetry.

Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)

Pulla nalla pulla thennam pulla

Comparing the young bride to a 'thennam pulla' (tender coconut shoot) symbolizes purity, youth, and natural beauty.

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

Pulla nalla pulla thennam pulla / Solla nenjukkulla vaartha illa

The second consonant 'll' is repeated across lines ('Pulla' and 'Solla'), creating internal rhyme.

Moonaai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Aalaathi thatta edunga / Aavaaram poova thodunga

Repetition of initial vowel sound 'Aa' in 'Aalaathi' and 'Aavaaram'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1987 movie 'Kalyana Kacheri', the song highlights cultural wedding customs such as 'Aalathi' (a protective ritual with turmeric water) and the use of 'Aavaaram' flowers, blending folk humor with traditional wedding celebrations.

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