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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chengottai Passengeru

From Seervarisai · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Seervarisai1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chenkottai passengerThe Sengottai passenger train
Engaeyum nikkumadiWill stop anywhere, my friend
Aiyyaavum appadiyae ponna kandaaMaster is just like that, if he sees a woman
Kannadichchu nikkumadiHe will wink and stand there, my friend
Female
Chenkottai passengerThe Sengottai passenger train
Engaeyum nikkumadiWill stop anywhere, my friend
Aiyyaavum appadiyae ponna kandaaMaster is just like that, if he sees a woman
Kannadichchu nikkumadiHe will wink and stand there, my friend
Female
Chenkottai passengerThe Sengottai passenger train
Engaeyum nikkumadiWill stop anywhere, my friend
Aiyyaavum appadiyae ponna kandaaMaster is just like that, if he sees a woman
Kannadichchu nikkumadiHe will wink and stand there, my friend
Female
Thanni poda antha vandi nikkumadiThat train stops to fill up water
Thanni pottaa intha vandi nikkumadiThis train stops whenever he drinks alcohol
Thanni poda antha vandi nikkumadiThat train stops to fill up water
Thanni pottaa intha vandi nikkumadiThis train stops whenever he drinks alcohol
Female
Chenkottai passengerThe Sengottai passenger train
Engaeyum nikkumadiWill stop anywhere, my friend
Aiyyaavum appadiyae ponna kandaaMaster is just like that, if he sees a woman
Kannadichchu nikkumadiHe will wink and stand there, my friend
Female
Kootti perukkadi kuppaiyirukkammaaSweep and clean up, there is trash here
Kolam podungadi mudhugula summaaDraw a decorative pattern on his back casually
Kootti perukkadi kuppaiyirukkammaaSweep and clean up, there is trash here
Kolam podungadi mudhugula summaaDraw a decorative pattern on his back casually
Ponnunnaa vaangikkadaa oorai suththi kannaaBuy gold or women after roaming the town, my dear
Ullulaagi aariraaro ullulaagi aariraaroSinging a lullaby deep within
Ponnunnaa vaangikkadaa oorai suththi kannaaBuy gold or women after roaming the town, my dear
Unna ippa vittuvittaa naanum oru pennaaIf I let you off now, am I even a woman?
Female
Ada kannaa odha thinnaaOh dear, if you get kicked and beaten
Rompa nanna adhu manakkumIt will smell really good
Kannaa ada pinnaa ada mannaa thimir adangumOh dear, later on, oh king, your arrogance will subside
Female
Chenkottai passengerThe Sengottai passenger train
Engaeyum nikkumadiWill stop anywhere, my friend
Aiyyaavum appadiyae ponna kandaaMaster is just like that, if he sees a woman
Kannadichchu nikkumadiHe will wink and stand there, my friend
Female
……………….[Music / Interlude]
Female
Aaththi ivarukku ullam rompa aazhamOh my, his mind is very deep
Adhu pol engalathu olakkaiyum neelamJust like that, our pestle is also very long
Aaththi ivarukku ullam rompa aazhamOh my, his mind is very deep
Adhu pol engalathu olakkaiyum neelamJust like that, our pestle is also very long
Female
Parisaa naanga thara verenna venumWhat else do we need to give as a dowry gift?
Bharathan thookki vantha paathugaiyae pothumThe sandals that Bharatha carried back are enough
Female
Rama rama rama rama rama rama rama ramaRama rama rama rama rama rama rama rama
Harae ramHare Ram
Rama rama rama rama rama rama rama ramaRama rama rama rama rama rama rama rama
Ram ramRam ram
Female
Parisaa naanga thara verenna venumWhat else do we need to give as a dowry gift?
Bharathan thookki vantha paathugaiyae pothumThe sandals that Bharatha carried back are enough

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Chenkottai Passenger' is a playful, cheeky folk-pop song from the 1978 movie Seervarisai, composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan and sung enthusiastically by L. R. Eswari. The song uses humorous metaphors comparing a local passenger train that stops at every station to a flirtatious, habituated man who halts at the sight of any woman or a drink. The female protagonist and her companions mock his flirtatious behavior and warn him that his arrogance will be put in check.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Chenkottai passenger engaeyum nikkumadi / Aiyyaavum appadiyae...

Compares a flirtatious man who stops for every woman to the Sengottai passenger train that halts at every small station.

Pun / Double Entendre (Iratura Mozhidhal)

Thanni poda antha vandi nikkumadi / Thanni pottaa intha vandi nikkumadi

Uses 'thanni poda' (filling water for a steam locomotive vs. drinking alcohol) to create clever humor.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai / Ethirai)

Unna ippa vittuvittaa naanum oru pennaa / Ada kannaa odha thinnaa

Rhyming ending words and matched internal syllable sounds like 'kannaa', 'pennaa', 'thinnaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

L. R. Eswari was famed in Tamil cinema for delivering high-energy folk and cabaret tracks with unique vocal inflections, and Kannadasan frequently used colloquial village metaphors in songs like this to ground character dynamics in local flavor.

Keep listening

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