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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadiyo Ayya Kadhaiya

From Kasi Yathirai · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
B. Sasirekha, Kovai Soundararajan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kasi Yathirai1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammadiyoo aiyaa kadhaiyaa sonnaaOh my, if father tells his story,
Oorae sirikkumadi paavam muzhikkudhadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Female
Ammadiyoo chittappa kadhaiyaa sonnaaOh my, if uncle tells his story,
Oorae sirikkumadi paavam muzhikkudhadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Male
Kaasi yaathirai annachiBrother, what about the pilgrimage to Kasi?
Kaavi vaetti ennaachuWhat happened to the saffron veshti?
Kaasi yaathirai annachiBrother, what about the pilgrimage to Kasi?
Kaavi vaetti ennaachuWhat happened to the saffron veshti?
Female
Aasai ippo vandhaachuDesire has arrived now,
Poojai ellam poyaachuAll the prayers and worship are gone.
Aasai ippo vandhaachuDesire has arrived now,
Poojai ellam poyaachuAll the prayers and worship are gone.
Male
Kottu pottu raathiri neramWearing a suit during the night time,
Maapillai pola ponaaru ponaaruHe went off dressed like a bridegroom, went off,
Male
Lotteryodu vandhaaruAnd returned with a lottery ticket.
Male
Ammadiyoo chitthappa kadhaiyaa sonnaaOh my, if uncle tells his story,
Oorae sirikkumadi paavam muzhikkudhadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Female
Ammadiyoo maamaa kadhaiyaa sonnaaOh my, if uncle tells his story,
Oorae sirikkumadi paavam muzhikkudhadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Male
Kaasi yaathirai annachiBrother, what about the pilgrimage to Kasi?
Kaavi vaetti ennaachuWhat happened to the saffron veshti?
Female
Aasai ippo vandhaachuDesire has arrived now,
Poojai ellam poyaachuAll the prayers and worship are gone.
Male
Illarathai veruthu inbam kaana sonnaHe who preached despising domestic life to find spiritual bliss,
Raama bhakthar kaadhal kondathaen gyaana thangameWhy did this devotee of Rama fall in love, my golden wisdom?
Raama bhakthar kaadhal kondathaenWhy did this devotee of Rama fall in love?
Male :Sabalam thaanMale: It is mere temptation!
Female
Aalandhooru mandhiram seidhathindha thandhiramThe spell from Alandur performed this trick,
Vayasu kooda maranthu ponadhae gnyaana thangamaeHe even forgot his age, my golden wisdom,
Vayasu kooda maranthu ponadhaeHe even forgot his age.
Male
Ennachi ennachu bhrammachariyam ennachuWhat happened, what happened, what happened to celibacy?
Female
Vittachu thottachu beedavellam pottachuAbandoned and touched, casting away all inhibitions!
Male
Ammadiyoo aiyaa kadhaiya sonnaaOh my, if father tells his story,
Oorae sirikkum padi paavam muzhikkuthadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Female
Ammadiyoo chitthappa kadhaiyaa sonnaaOh my, if uncle tells his story,
Oorae sirikkumadi paavam muzhikkudhadiThe whole town will laugh, while he blinks innocently.
Male
Kaasi yaathirai chittappaUncle, what about the Kasi pilgrimage?
Kaavi vaetti enngappaWhere is the saffron veshti, father?
Male
Pathara kaaranukku pottachuIt was handed over to the goldsmith!
Male
Kaasi yaathirai annachiBrother, what about the pilgrimage to Kasi?
Kaavi vaetti ennaachuWhat happened to the saffron veshti?
Kaasi yaathirai annachiBrother, what about the pilgrimage to Kasi?
Kaavi vaetti ennaachuWhat happened to the saffron veshti?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted and comical song from the 1973 Tamil film 'Kasi Yathirai' satirizes hypocrisy among elders who pretend to renounce worldly pleasures for spiritual ascetism. It humorously interrogates a man who claimed to go on a holy pilgrimage to Kasi clad in renunciate saffron attire, but ended up succumbing to romantic temptations, luxury suits, gambling via lottery tickets, and material desires.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire and Irony

Kaasi yaathirai annachi / Kaavi vaetti ennaachu / Aasai ippo vandhaachu

The song contrasts pious religious commitments (Kasi pilgrimage, celibacy, saffron clothes) with mundane worldly desires (lottery, courtship, vanity attire).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aasai ippo vandhaachu / Poojai ellam poyaachu

Rhyming line endings created through rhythmic Tamil suffixes.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Kaasi yaathirai annachi / Kaavi vaetti ennaachu

Repeated refrain emphasizing the mock-concern over the main character's failed spiritual journey.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kasi Yathirai' (1973) is a classic Tamil comedy film directed by S. P. Muthuraman, starring V. K. Ramasamy, Suruli Rajan, and Srikanth. The soundtrack composed by Shankar-Ganesh features playful lyricism by Vaali that perfectly captures the comedic situation of elders falling into earthly temptations.

Keep listening

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