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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anna Nadaithanile

From Pattaliyin Vetri · 1960

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Pattaliyin Vetri1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anna nadaithanilaeWalking with the grace of a swan,
Yae yae yae yae yae yaeYae yae yae yae yae yae
Chinn nadaithaan kalanthuMixing in short, playful steps,
Munnaala poguthadaaIt moves ahead, my friend!
Muththu pallu sevala kannuWith pearl-like teeth and reddish eyes,
Adadaa….dirrrrrOh my... dirrrrr!
Male
Anna nadaithanilaeWalking with the grace of a swan,
Yae yae yae yae yae yaeYae yae yae yae yae yae
Chinn nadaithaan kalanthuMixing in short, playful steps,
Munnaala poguthadaaIt moves ahead, my friend!
Muththu pallu sevala kannuWith pearl-like teeth and reddish eyes,
Male
Nannaanae naanae thangakattikku melaattikkuNannaanae naanae, above the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Naan thangakattikku melaattikkuFor the upper drape above the golden block,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Kandavargal meimaranthuMaking onlookers lose themselves in awe,
Karuththu kalangidavaeAnd making their thoughts turn hazy,
Kombugalai aattikkittuShaking its decorative horns,
Konju nadai poduthadaaIt walks along with a tender, coaxing gait!
Male
Shanthana saalai oraththilaeBy the edge of the sandalwood-scented road,
Saayangaala neraththilaeDuring the peaceful evening time,
Shanthana saalai oraththilaeBy the edge of the sandalwood-scented road,
Saayangaala neraththilaeDuring the peaceful evening time,
Jaadaiyaaga naama kaattumThe secret signs and hints we make,
Samaachaaram puriyalaIt fails to comprehend!
Male
Nannaanae hae nannaanae naanaeNannaanae hae nannaanae naanae
Thangakattikku melaattikkuAbove the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Oo….oo….oh….hoiOo….oo….oh….hoi
Pinnaala varum vandiya kadaiFrom the corner of its eyes,
Kannaalaethaan paakkuthuIt keeps watching the cart following behind!
Aiyyae aiyyae aiyyaeOh my, oh my, oh my!
Thannaalae idhu thavikkuthu nallaAll by itself, it twitches with restless desire,
Thadam vittu thadam kadakkuthuStraying off its lane and crossing the path!
Sonnaa aala moraikkuthuIf anyone speaks, it glares angrily at them,
Thudithudikkuthu chummaa vedaikkuthuIt quivers restlessly and puffs up in pride!
Male
Nannaanae haeNannaanae hae
Thangakattikku melaattikkuAbove the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Dei thangakattikku melaattikkuHey, above the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Oo….oo….ooh…ooo…ooh…ooh….Oo….oo….ooh…ooo…ooh…ooh….
Male
Thangakattikku melaattikkuAbove the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!
Male
Thangakattikku melaattikkuAbove the golden block, for the body cloak,
ThangamthaginaalaeShining brightly with gold plating,
Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthuThe fine garland of tinkling bells sways beautifully,
PonnunguyilaalaeOh golden cuckoo-like girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic folk-style song from 'Pattaliyin Vetri' (1960), written by Udumalai Narayanakavi and composed by S. Rajeswararao, is a playful bullock-cart driving song with double entendres comparing a well-adorned bullock/cart to a beautiful, proud young woman. Sung dynamically by T. M. Soundararajan, the singer playfully describes the majestic gait, decorative bells, stubborn temperament, and coy glares of the subject as it moves along the village path during twilight. Through rhythmic folk refrains and vivid imagery of golden ornaments, swinging bells, and mischievous glances, the song captures the rustic joy and romantic teasing typical of Tamil rural music culture. The playful tone mixes physical description of working cattle with classic romantic metaphors of female beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Anna nadaithanilae ... Chinn nadaithaan kalanthu Poguthadaa ... Ponnunguyilaalae ... Muththu pallu sevala kannu ... Kombugalai aattikkittu ... Jaadaiyaaga naama kaattum ... Thangamthaginaalae ... Nalla salangai maala asalakkuthu ... Kandavargal meimaranthu ... Saayangaala neraththilae ... Thadam vittu thadam kadakkuthu ... Thudithudikkuthu chummaa vedaikkuthu ... Nannaanae naanae ... Yae yae yae yae yae yae ... Adadaa….dirrrrr ... Shanthana saalai oraththilae ... Samaachaaram puriyala ... Pinnaala varum vandiya kadai ... Kannaalaethaan paakkuthu ... Aiyyae aiyyae aiyyae ... Thannaalae idhu thavikkuthu nalla ... Sonnaa aala moraikkuthu ... Dei thangakattikku melaattikku ... Oo….oo….oh….hoi ... Oo….oo….ooh…ooo…ooh…ooh….

Metaphor & Double Entendre (Aledutthal / Siledai)

Muththu pallu sevala kannu

The lyrics metaphorically blur the distinction between a decorated bullock leading a cart and a beautiful, proud maiden decorated with gold and bells.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Shanthana saalai oraththilae / Saayangaala neraththilae

Matching starting sounds across lines, such as 'Shanthana saalai' and 'Saayangaala neraththilae'.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kandavargal meimaranthu / Karuththu kalangidavae

Repetition of the second consonant in consecutive lines, such as 'Kandavargal' and 'Karuththu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattaliyin Vetri (1960) was a popular Tamil film starring K. A. Thangavelu and B. Saroja Devi. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi was famous for blending traditional Tamil folk rhythms and social commentaries into film songs, utilizing authentic rural idioms and verbal vocalizations like 'dirrrrr' (sounds used by cart drivers to command bullocks).

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