Clutchai Mithichi
From Sabash Thambi · 1967
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Sabash Thambi1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Clutchai midhichi gearai maathi | Press the clutch and change the gear |
| Accelatorai kodukkanum | Give it accelerator |
| Stearingai pidichi hornai amukki | Hold the steering and honk the horn |
| Paadhaiyai paathu poganum | Watch the path and proceed |
| Samayathil breakaiyum podanum | Apply the brake at the right moment |
| Male | |
| Hahaan appadiya | Aha, is that so? |
| Male | |
| Pudhusu idhu pudhusu | This is new, this is new |
| Pudhusu idhu pudhusu azhagenum parisu | This gift of beauty received is new |
| Kidaithathu pudhusu | What was obtained is new |
| Adikkadi manasu thudikkira vayasu | An age where the heart flutters often |
| Pudhusu idhu pudhusu | This is new, this is new |
| Female | |
| Ilasu idhu ilasu | This is young, this is young |
| Ilasu idhu ilasu paruvathil ilasu | Young, this is young, youthfulness in bloom |
| Pathinettu vayasu | Eighteen years of age |
| Idhayangal sirusu ennangal perisu | Hearts are small, thoughts are big |
| Ilasu idhu ilasu | This is young, this is young |
| Male | |
| Sathamittu sathamittu | Buzzing softly, buzzing softly |
| Vandu vandhu parakkum | The beetle comes flying |
| Muthamittu muthamittu | Kissing gently, kissing gently |
| Vanna malar mayangum | The colorful flower swoons |
| Female | |
| Humming …… | Humming |
| Male | |
| Sathamittu sathamittu | Buzzing softly, buzzing softly |
| Vandu vandhu parakkum | The beetle comes flying |
| Muthamittu muthamittu | Kissing gently, kissing gently |
| Vanna malar mayangum | The colorful flower swoons |
| Female | |
| Kovvai nira sevvidhazhai | Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit |
| Konjugira podhu | When coaxed tenderly |
| Male :Humming …… | Male: Humming |
| Female :Kovvai nira sevvidhazhai | Female: Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit |
| Konjugira podhu | When coaxed tenderly |
| Mukkaniyum sakkaraiyum | Between the three sacred fruits and sugar |
| Thithippadhu yedhu | Which one is sweeter? |
| Female | |
| Ilasu idhu ilasu | This is young, this is young |
| Male :Illa pudhusu idhu pudhusu | Male: No, this is new, this is new |
| Male | |
| Nenjamoru panjumethai | The heart is a soft cotton mattress |
| Kannirandum vilakku | Both eyes are glowing lamps |
| Pinju nadai anji varum | Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer |
| Vanji magal enakku | This young lady belongs to me |
| Female | |
| Humming …… | Humming |
| Male | |
| Nenjamoru panjumethai | The heart is a soft cotton mattress |
| Kannirandum vilakku | Both eyes are glowing lamps |
| Pinju nadai anji varum | Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer |
| Vanji magal enakku | This young lady belongs to me |
| Female | |
| Indru muthal anbu mayil | From today onwards, the loving peacock |
| Unnarugil iruppaal | Will stay by your side |
| Male :Humming …… | Male: Humming |
| Female :Indru muthal anbu mayil | Female: From today onwards, the loving peacock |
| Unnarugil iruppaal | Will stay by your side |
| Andhi pagal eppodhum | Day and night, always |
| Kaiyanaithu nadappaal | She will walk holding your hands |
| Male | |
| Clutchai midhichi gearai maathi | Press the clutch and change the gear |
| Accelatorai kodukkanum | Give it accelerator |
| Stearingai pidichi hornai amukki | Hold the steering and honk the horn |
| Paadhaiyai paathu poganum | Watch the path and proceed |
இருவர் வசனம் :
இது க்ளட்ச் ...இது.. கியர்
இது என்ன ...ஆக்சிலேட்டர் ...ஹோ ஹோ ..இது... ப்ரேக்
Press the clutch and change the gear
Give it accelerator
Hold the steering and honk the horn
Watch the path and proceed
Apply the brake at the right moment
க்ளட்சை மிதிச்சி கியரை மாத்தி
ஆக்சிலேட்டரை கொடுக்கணும்
ஸ்டிரிங்கை பிடிச்சி ஹாரனை அமுக்கி
பாதையை பாத்து போகணும்
சமயத்தில் பிரேக்கையும் போடணும்
Aha, is that so?
ஹாஹான் அப்படியா
This is new, this is new
This gift of beauty received is new
What was obtained is new
An age where the heart flutters often
This is new, this is new
புதுசு இது புதுசு
புதுசு இது புதுசு அழகெனும் பரிசு
கிடைத்தது புதுசு
அடிக்கடி மனசு துடிக்கிற வயசு
புதுசு இது புதுசு
This is young, this is young
Young, this is young, youthfulness in bloom
Eighteen years of age
Hearts are small, thoughts are big
This is young, this is young
இளசு இது இளசு
இளசு இது இளசு பருவத்தில் இளசு
பதினெட்டு வயசு
இதயங்கள் சிறிசு எண்ணங்கள் பெரிசு
இளசு இது இளசு
Buzzing softly, buzzing softly
The beetle comes flying
Kissing gently, kissing gently
The colorful flower swoons
சத்தமிட்டு சத்தமிட்டு
வண்டு வந்து பறக்கும்
முத்தமிட்டு முத்தமிட்டு
வண்ண மலர் மயங்கும்
Humming
முனங்கல் :
..............
Buzzing softly, buzzing softly
The beetle comes flying
Kissing gently, kissing gently
The colorful flower swoons
சத்தமிட்டு சத்தமிட்டு
வண்டு வந்து பறக்கும்
முத்தமிட்டு முத்தமிட்டு
வண்ண மலர் மயங்கும்
Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit
When coaxed tenderly
Male: Humming
Female: Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit
When coaxed tenderly
Between the three sacred fruits and sugar
Which one is sweeter?
கொவ்வை நிற செவ்விதழை
கொஞ்சுகிற போது
முனங்கல் .....
கொவ்வை நிற செவ்விதழை
கொஞ்சுகிற போது
முக்கனியும் சர்க்கரையும்
தித்திப்பது ஏது
This is young, this is young
Male: No, this is new, this is new
இளசு இது இளசு
புதுசு இது புதுசு
The heart is a soft cotton mattress
Both eyes are glowing lamps
Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer
This young lady belongs to me
நெஞ்சமொரு பஞ்சு மெத்தை
கண்ணிரெண்டும் விளக்கு
பிஞ்சு நடை அஞ்சி வரும்
வஞ்சி மகள் எனக்கு...
Humming
முனங்கல் .....
The heart is a soft cotton mattress
Both eyes are glowing lamps
Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer
This young lady belongs to me
நெஞ்சமொரு பஞ்சு மெத்தை
கண்ணிரெண்டும் விளக்கு
பிஞ்சு நடை அஞ்சி வரும்
வஞ்சி மகள் எனக்கு...
From today onwards, the loving peacock
Will stay by your side
Male: Humming
Female: From today onwards, the loving peacock
Will stay by your side
Day and night, always
She will walk holding your hands
இன்று முதல் அன்பு மயில்
உன்னருகில் இருப்பாள்
முனங்கல் ....
இன்று முதல் அன்பு மயில்
உன்னருகில் இருப்பாள்
அந்தி பகல் எப்போதும்
கையணைத்து நடப்பாள்
Press the clutch and change the gear
Give it accelerator
Hold the steering and honk the horn
Watch the path and proceed
க்ளட்சை மிதிச்சி கியரை மாத்தி
ஆக்சிலேட்டரை கொடுக்கணும்
ஸ்டிரிங்கை பிடிச்சி ஹாரனை அமுக்கி
பாதையை பாத்து போகணும்
முனங்கல் :
.............
Clutchai midhichi gearai maathi
Press the clutch and change the gear
Accelatorai kodukkanum
Give it accelerator
Stearingai pidichi hornai amukki
Hold the steering and honk the horn
Paadhaiyai paathu poganum
Watch the path and proceed
Samayathil breakaiyum podanum
Apply the brake at the right moment
Hahaan appadiya
Aha, is that so?
Pudhusu idhu pudhusu
This is new, this is new
Pudhusu idhu pudhusu azhagenum parisu
This gift of beauty received is new
Kidaithathu pudhusu
What was obtained is new
Adikkadi manasu thudikkira vayasu
An age where the heart flutters often
Pudhusu idhu pudhusu
This is new, this is new
Ilasu idhu ilasu
This is young, this is young
Ilasu idhu ilasu paruvathil ilasu
Young, this is young, youthfulness in bloom
Pathinettu vayasu
Eighteen years of age
Idhayangal sirusu ennangal perisu
Hearts are small, thoughts are big
Ilasu idhu ilasu
This is young, this is young
Sathamittu sathamittu
Buzzing softly, buzzing softly
Vandu vandhu parakkum
The beetle comes flying
Muthamittu muthamittu
Kissing gently, kissing gently
Vanna malar mayangum
The colorful flower swoons
Humming ……
Humming
Sathamittu sathamittu
Buzzing softly, buzzing softly
Vandu vandhu parakkum
The beetle comes flying
Muthamittu muthamittu
Kissing gently, kissing gently
Vanna malar mayangum
The colorful flower swoons
Kovvai nira sevvidhazhai
Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit
Konjugira podhu
When coaxed tenderly
Male :Humming ……
Male: Humming
Female :Kovvai nira sevvidhazhai
Female: Red lips the color of ivy gourd fruit
Konjugira podhu
When coaxed tenderly
Mukkaniyum sakkaraiyum
Between the three sacred fruits and sugar
Thithippadhu yedhu
Which one is sweeter?
Ilasu idhu ilasu
This is young, this is young
Male :Illa pudhusu idhu pudhusu
Male: No, this is new, this is new
Nenjamoru panjumethai
The heart is a soft cotton mattress
Kannirandum vilakku
Both eyes are glowing lamps
Pinju nadai anji varum
Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer
Vanji magal enakku
This young lady belongs to me
Humming ……
Humming
Nenjamoru panjumethai
The heart is a soft cotton mattress
Kannirandum vilakku
Both eyes are glowing lamps
Pinju nadai anji varum
Walking with delicate steps like a gentle deer
Vanji magal enakku
This young lady belongs to me
Indru muthal anbu mayil
From today onwards, the loving peacock
Unnarugil iruppaal
Will stay by your side
Male :Humming ……
Male: Humming
Female :Indru muthal anbu mayil
Female: From today onwards, the loving peacock
Unnarugil iruppaal
Will stay by your side
Andhi pagal eppodhum
Day and night, always
Kaiyanaithu nadappaal
She will walk holding your hands
Clutchai midhichi gearai maathi
Press the clutch and change the gear
Accelatorai kodukkanum
Give it accelerator
Stearingai pidichi hornai amukki
Hold the steering and honk the horn
Paadhaiyai paathu poganum
Watch the path and proceed
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful duet from Sabash Thambi (1967) playfully uses car driving mechanics—clutch, gears, steering, and brakes—as an extended metaphor for navigating romance and youthful passion. The lovers sing to each other, celebrating the arrival of youth ('ilasu') and novel romantic sensations ('pudhusu'). The song balances whimsical contemporary references with classic Tamil poetic tropes such as comparing lips to Kovvai fruit and tender hearts to cotton mattresses.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor
“Clutchai midhichi gearai maathi...”
The act of driving a car (clutch, gears, steering, brakes) is used as a metaphor for carefully steering a nascent romantic relationship.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition)
“Sathamittu sathamittu / Muthamittu muthamittu”
Words like 'sathamittu sathamittu' and 'muthamittu muthamittu' are repeated for rhythmic effect and poetic intensity.
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Kovvai nira sevvidhazhai / Nenjamoru panjumethai”
Comparing red lips to the bright red Kovvai fruit and the soft heart to a cotton mattress.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features a rare fusion of modern mechanical driving terminology with classic Vaali-style romantic Tamil lyrics, set to an upbeat score by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.
Keep listening
More from Sabash Thambi
Sabash Thambi
Sabash Thambi
Sabash Thambi
Sabash Thambi