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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athaik Mesai

From Enga Oor Raja · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Enga Oor Raja1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Athaikum meesai vachuLook at an aunt adorned with a mustache,
PaarungadiCome see, girls!
Mutthathil maalai katti podungadiGarland him with a string of kisses, girls!
Aadai pona vazhi aasai pogumendruThinking desire follows the path where clothes fall,
Aadaamal aadungadiDance without actually dancing, girls!
Chorus
Bambina bambinaBambina bambina
Bambina bambina bamBambina bambina bam
Female :Chacha chachacha chachachaFemale :Chacha chachacha chachacha
Chorus :Bambina bambinaChorus :Bambina bambina
Bambina bambina bamBambina bambina bam
Female :Chacha chachacha chachachaFemale :Chacha chachacha chachacha
Female
Nadakkum nadaiyenna maa maaWhat a grand stride, uncle, uncle!
Female & Chorus :MaamaaFemale & Chorus :Uncle!
Female :Sirikkum sirippenna raa raaWhat a radiant smile, king, king!
Female & Chorus :RaajaaFemale & Chorus :King!
Female
Rasikkum sugamenna aahaaWhat a joyful bliss to relish, ah-ha!
Female & Chorus :AahaaFemale & Chorus :Ah-ha!
Female :Kodukka thadai illai vaa vaaThere is no obstacle to give, come, come!
Female & Chorus :Vaa vaaFemale & Chorus :Come, come!
Female
Kannathil kanni penWhen a young maiden on his cheek
Padam pottaalPaints a mark,
Kannukkum nenjukkumTo the eyes and to the heart,
Thadai poduPlace an embargo!
Chorus
Kannathil kanni penWhen a young maiden on his cheek
Padam pottaalPaints a mark,
Kannukkum nenjukkumTo the eyes and to the heart,
Thadai poduPlace an embargo!
Female
Athaikum meesai vachuLook at an aunt adorned with a mustache,
PaarungadiCome see, girls!
Mutthathil maalai katti podungadiGarland him with a string of kisses, girls!
Aadai pona vazhi aasai pogumendruThinking desire follows the path where clothes fall,
Aadaamal aadungadiDance without actually dancing, girls!
Female
Ulagai padaippadhu pengalIt is women who create the world,
Female & Chorus :PengalFemale & Chorus :Women!
Female :Uyirai izhuppadhu kangalIt is the eyes that draw away life,
Female & Chorus :KangalFemale & Chorus :Eyes!
Chorus
Ennathil pen endraal inikkaadhoIs not the thought of a woman sweet?
Inbathil nenjam thaan thudikkaadhoDoes not the heart throb in pleasure?
Female
Athaikum meesai vachuLook at an aunt adorned with a mustache,
PaarungadiCome see, girls!
Mutthathil maalai katti podungadiGarland him with a string of kisses, girls!
Female
Parakkum paravaigal munnaeIn front of the flying birds,
Female & Chorus :MunnaeFemale & Chorus :In front!
Female :Valaiyai virithadhu yennaeWhy have you spread out the net?
Female & Chorus :YennaeFemale & Chorus :Why?
Female
Nilathai alandhadhu podhumMeasuring the land is enough,
Female & Chorus :PodhumFemale & Chorus :Enough!
Female :Manadhai alandhida vaarumCome now to measure the heart,
Female & Chorus :VaarumFemale & Chorus :Come!
Female
Sittukkal koottathil vilaiyaaduPlay amidst the flock of sparrows,
Illaiyael kaigalil valai poduOtherwise, place bangles/nets on the hands!
Chorus
Sittukkal koottathil vilaiyaaduPlay amidst the flock of sparrows,
Illaiyael kaigalil valai poduOtherwise, place bangles/nets on the hands!
Female
Athaikum meesai vachuLook at an aunt adorned with a mustache,
PaarungadiCome see, girls!
Mutthathil maalai katti podungadiGarland him with a string of kisses, girls!
Aadai pona vazhi aasai pogumendruThinking desire follows the path where clothes fall,
Aadaamal aadungadiDance without actually dancing, girls!
Chorus
Bambina bambinaBambina bambina
Bambina bambina bamBambina bambina bam
Female :Chacha chachacha chachachaFemale :Chacha chachacha chachacha
Chorus :Bambina bambinaChorus :Bambina bambina
Bambina bambina bamBambina bambina bam
Female :Chacha chachacha chachachaFemale :Chacha chachacha chachacha

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful club dance song from the 1968 Tamil movie 'Enga Oor Raja' features lighthearted, satirical lyrics by Kannadasan. The dancers playfully tease a man by humorously likening him to an aunt who has grown a mustache, inviting the chorus girls to shower him with humorous affection and mock-kisses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satirical Metaphor (நகைச்சுவை உவமை)

Athaikum meesai vachu

The opening imagery of adding a mustache to an aunt ('Athaikum meesai vachu') serves as a funny, contradictory image to tease the male subject.

Ethugai / Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை)

Aadai pona vazhi aasai pogumendru / Aadaamal aadungadi

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Aadai' and 'Aadaamal' or 'Kodukka' and 'Padam' establish strong Tamil lyric rhythm.

Wordplay / Pun (சிலேடை / பொருள் நயம்)

Illaiyael kaigalil valai podu

The word 'valai' plays double meaning on 'bangles' (valaiyal) worn on hands and 'net' (valai) cast to catch birds.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Enga Oor Raja' (1968) starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa had music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The song heavily incorporates Latin Western pop elements ('Bambina', 'Cha-Cha') reflecting the late 60s trend of Western cabaret dance tracks in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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