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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chella Mama Onnu

From Naalum Therinthavan · 1968

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, S. V. Ponnusami, Chrous
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Naalum Therinthavan
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
26 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chella mama onnu sollalaama
Chella mama onnu sollalaama
Oorukellam puthi solla vayasu paththala
Oomaiyaga irukkathaan manasu ketkala
Oorukellam puthi solla vayasu paththala
Oomaiyaga irukkathaan manasu ketkala
Chella mama onnu sollalaama
Singam polae ivar kural irukkum aaa…mmm..
Singam polae ivar kural irukkum
Mama sirikkaiyilae hahaa
Mama sirikkaiyilae namma udal nadungum
Pattaalaththu veerarthaan namma maama
Paarvaiyilae left right-u podalaama
Pattaalaththu veerarthaan namma maama
Paarvaiyilae left right-u podalaama
Chella mama onnu sollalaama
Mugaththilaethaan kan irukkum
Mamaa mudhukulaeyum antha muzhi irukkum
Mugaththilaethaan kan irukkum
Mamaa mudhukulaeyum antha muzhi irukkum
Uththu uththu paakkura kannu maama kannu
Uththu uththu paakkura kannu maama kannu
Adhai oppukolla venum oru thuppikkinnu
Manasu thiranthu pesa vantha machchaan
Chorus :Ae….machchaan oo….machchaan
Unga vaalipaththa….aaa…..aa….aa…
Chorus :Hoi unga vaalipaththa
Thaadikulla maraichchidalaama
Female :Unga vaalipaththa unga vaalipaththa
Chorus :Unga vaalipaththa….
Thaadikulla maraichchidalaama
Porumai….
Chorus :Gandhi….
Male :Kadamai….
Chorus :Nehru…
Male :Panpu….
Chorus :Annaa…..
Porumai…..kadamai….panbu
Chorus :Gandhi….nehru….annaa….
Gandhi….nehru….annaa…
Porumaiyil Gandhiyai pol
Kadamaiyilae nehruvai pol
Panbinilae annaavai pol
Irunthidavendum
Antha paadhaiyil naamellam
Nadanthida vendum
Antha paadhaiyil naamellam
Nadanthida vendum
Tamil panbodu naamellaam
Valarnthida vendum…
Attention
Whistle :………………….
Male :Left right left right left right
Left right left right left right
Dear uncle, may I say something?
Dear uncle, may I say something?
I am not old enough to advise the whole town,
but my heart simply refuses to stay silent.
I am not old enough to advise the whole town,
but my heart simply refuses to stay silent.
Dear uncle, may I say something?
His voice roars just like a lion, ah... mm...
His voice roars just like a lion,
when uncle laughs, haha,
when uncle laughs, our whole body shivers!
Our uncle is a soldier from the army,
but must he march us with left-and-right just with his glare?
Our uncle is a soldier from the army,
but must he march us with left-and-right just with his glare?
Dear uncle, may I say something?
Eyes are usually on the face,
but uncle has eyes on his back as well!
Eyes are usually on the face,
but uncle has eyes on his back as well!
Uncle's eyes stare so sharply and fiercely,
Uncle's eyes stare so sharply and fiercely,
we must admit they are just like a gun!
Brother-in-law who came to speak your heart,
Chorus: Hey... brother-in-law! Oh... brother-in-law!
Your youthful charm... ah... ah... ah...
Chorus: Hey, your youthful charm,
should you really hide it behind a beard?
Female: Your youthful charm, your youthful charm,
Chorus: Your youthful charm...
should you really hide it behind a beard?
Patience...
Chorus: Gandhi...
Male: Duty...
Chorus: Nehru...
Male: Good character...
Chorus: Anna...
Patience... duty... good character...
Chorus: Gandhi... Nehru... Anna...
Gandhi... Nehru... Anna...
With patience like Gandhi,
with dedication to duty like Nehru,
with noble character like Anna,
we must live our lives.
Along that very path,
we must all walk.
Along that very path,
we must all walk.
Rooted in Tamil values and culture,
we must all grow...
Attention!
[Whistle]
Male: Left, right, left, right, left, right!
Left, right, left, right, left, right!
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful yet morally uplifting song begins with affectionate teasing aimed at a strict, soldier-like uncle figure. The singer humorously describes his imposing lion-like voice, trembling laugh, sharp eyes that seem to watch everywhere, and how he hides his youthful spirit behind a thick beard.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Singam polae ivar kural irukkum

Compares the stern voice of the uncle to the roar of a lion ('Singam polae').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Mamaa mudhukulaeyum antha muzhi irukkum

Exaggerates the uncle's vigilance by claiming he has eyes on his back as well.

Anaphora / Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)

Porumaiyil Gandhiyai pol / Kadamaiyilae nehruvai pol / Panbinilae annaavai pol

Uses parallel structural rhymes across lines to list virtues alongside iconic leaders.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Poovai Senguttavan weaves references to legendary political figures—Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and C. N. Annadurai (Anna)—aligning civic virtues (patience, duty, virtue) with their legacy, which was a common motif in late 1960s Tamil cinema.

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