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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Devakotta Raasthavula

From Chidambara Ragasiyam · 1985

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Chidambara Ragasiyam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Devakotta raashthaavulaOn Devakottai street
Selambu sanda pottavan naanI am the one who fought in Silambam (stick fighting)
Kuththu sandai pottiyilaeIn the boxing competition
Kottaiyoora jeyichavan naanI am the one who conquered Kottaiyur
Male
Kaalaiyaar kovililae kaalamaatta pudichavan naanAt Kalaiyar Kovil, I am the one who tamed the fierce bull
Kaaraikudi kunnakkudi kadamban kudi paramakudiKaraikudi, Kunnakudi, Kadambankudi, Paramakudi
Iluppakkudi ilaiyaankudi iththanaiyum paaththuputtuIluppakkudi, Ilaiyangudi—having seen all of these
Kallakkudi santhaiyilae kal pudichchu vanthirukkaenI have come to the Kallakkudi market holding a stone
Chorus :Aa….aa…aah….aaa….haei….Chorus: Aa... aa... aah... aaa... haei...
Male
Palae kallappaarttu vesham pottuBravo! Disguised as a thief character
Vanthaendi naan vanthaendiI have come, girl, I have come!
Kallappaarttu vesham pottuDisguised as a thief character
Vanthaendi naan vanthaendiI have come, girl, I have come!
Intha kanni ponna thookki poga poraendiI am going to carry away this young maiden!
Thaththom tharigidathom thaththom tharigidathomRhythmic vocal syllables (Thaththom tharigidathom...)
Thaththom tharigidathom…..thagajunuthaaRhythmic vocal syllables (...thagajunuthaa)
Female
Kallappaarttu vesham potta kannappaaOh Kannappa, disguised as a thief character
Ada kannappaaHey Kannappa!
Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaListen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaListen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Thaththom tharigidathom thaththom tharigidathomRhythmic vocal syllables (Thaththom tharigidathom...)
Thaththom tharigidathom…..thagathimithaa….Rhythmic vocal syllables (...thagathimithaa...)
Chorus
Aa…..thillaa daangu daanguAa... beat the rhythm and step along
Nee podum thaalam wrong-guThe rhythm you beat is wrong
Thillaa daangu daanguBeat the rhythm and step along
Nee podum thaalam wrong-guThe rhythm you beat is wrong
Thillaa daangu daanguBeat the rhythm and step along
Nee thiruppi pottu vaanguTurn it around and take the hit
Male
Akkam pakkam paaththukka yaarumilla kettukkoLook around you, there is no one here, listen to me
Anbaana muththam vachchukko enna neeGive me a sweet kiss
Nenjodu vachchu thachchukko….oo….oo…oo….Hold me close to your heart and stitch me in...
Female
Naano raniI am a queen!
Male :Irukkattum irukkattumMale: Let it be, let it be!
Female :Neeyo thirudanFemale: And you are a thief!
Male :Adhukkenna adhukkennaMale: So what about that, so what?
Female :Poeyya madaiyaaFemale: Go away, you fool!
Male :Thittikko thittikkoMale: Scold me, go ahead and scold me!
Female :Ongi adippaenFemale: I will hit you hard!
Male :Adichchukko adichchukkoMale: Hit me then, hit me!
Ponnae nee vaithaalum ketkka ketkka inbanthaenOh girl, even if you scold me, it is sweet nectar to my ears
Ponnae nee vaithaalum ketkka ketkka inbanthaenOh girl, even if you scold me, it is sweet nectar to my ears
Female
KallappaarttuThief character!
Male :Palkku palae palMale: Bravo, cheer for the beat!
Palkku palae pal palkku palae palBravo, cheer for the beat, cheer for the beat
Palkku palae pal palae palaeBravo, cheer for the beat, bravo, bravo!
Female
Kallappaartti vesham potta kannappaaOh Kannappa, disguised as a thief character
Ada kannappaaHey Kannappa!
Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaListen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaListen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Thaththom tharigidathom thaththom tharigidathomRhythmic vocal syllables (Thaththom tharigidathom...)
Un paattu en paattu kizhinjathu po….Your song and my song are torn to shreds, let it go...
Male
……………………....................
Female
Kannakkolu kaaththappaaOh Kaaththappa with the crowbar
Enna thottathu thappappaaIt is wrong to touch me
Koottaththa ingae paarappaa koottaththilLook at the crowd here, in this crowd
Kizhaviyai nee thaedi paarappaa…aa….Search for the old woman...
Male
ThaedumpothuWhile searching...
Female :Padhunguthu padhunguthuFemale: It is crouching, crouching!
Male :PaarkkumpothuMale: While looking...
Female :Odhunguthu odhunguthuFemale: It is moving aside, moving aside!
Male :Kelambuthu kelambuthuMale: It is setting off, setting off!
Female :Maraichikko maraichikkoFemale: Hide it, hide it!
Male :Povuthu povuthuMale: It is going, going!
Female :Pudichchukko pudichchukkoFemale: Catch it, catch it!
Male :Ippothu vittaalae gundu kizhaviyum sikkaathuMale: If left now, even the plump old woman will escape
Ippothu vittaalae gundu kizhaviyum sikkaathuMale: If left now, even the plump old woman will escape
Male
KallappaarttuThief character!
Female :Palkku palae palFemale: Bravo, cheer for the beat!
Palkku palae pal palkku palae palBravo, cheer for the beat, cheer for the beat
Palkku palae pal palae palaeBravo, cheer for the beat, bravo, bravo!
Male
Kallappaarttu vesham pottuDisguised as a thief character
Vanthaendi naan vanthaendiI have come, girl, I have come!
Intha kanni ponna thookki poga poraendiI am going to carry away this young maiden!
Intha kanni ponna thookki poga poraendiI am going to carry away this young maiden!
Female
Kallappaarttu vesham potta kannappaaOh Kannappa, disguised as a thief character
Male :AahaahMale: Aahaah
Female :Ada kannappaaFemale: Hey Kannappa!
Male :Aa….aaahaahMale: Aa....aaahaah
Female :Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaFemale: Listen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaaListen here, I am not a garden without a guard
Both: Thaththom tharigidathom thaththom tharigidathomBoth: Rhythmic vocal syllables (Thaththom tharigidathom...)
Thaththom tharigidathom…..thagajunuthaaRhythmic vocal syllables (...thagajunuthaa)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Chidambara Ragasiyam' (1985) is a playful and energetic duet featuring dramatic folk theatrical tropes (Kallappaarttu / street play characters). The male character boasts about his strength and exploits across various towns in the Chettinad region (Devakottai, Karaikudi, Kottaiyur, etc.) and playfully threatens to steal the heroine away in his thief persona. The female character counters his boasts with witty remarks, asserting that she is not unprotected and cautioning him against taking liberties. The track features rhythmic dance syllables (Jathi), folk humor, and banter, blending romantic flirting with theatrical street-play dialogues.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthoodar (Anaphora/Repetition)

Kaaraikudi kunnakkudi kadamban kudi paramakudi

Repetition of town names ending with '-kudi' (Kaaraikudi, kunnakkudi, kadamban kudi, paramakudi, Iluppakkudi, ilaiyaankudi) creates a rhythmic, tongue-twister effect characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Naan kaaval illaa thottamilla kelappaa

The heroine compares herself to a garden that is well-guarded ('kaaval illaa thottamilla') to convey that she is not easily accessible or vulnerable.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thillaa daangu daangu / Nee podum thaalam wrong-gu

Rhyming of the second letter 'lla' in 'Thillaa' and 'Nee' across rhythmic lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Muthulingam incorporated classic Chettinad region town names (Devakottai, Karaikudi, Kunnakudi, Paramakudi, etc.) into the song's opening to give it an authentic southern Tamil Nadu folk flavor, mirroring traditional 'Therukoothu' (street theatre) character introductions.

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