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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eena Meena Deeka (Male)

From Athisaya Penn · 1959

Lyricist
V. Seetharaman
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Athisaya Penn1959

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Eenaa meenaa teegaaEenaa meenaa teegaa
Jei jaamaa neegaaJei jaamaa neegaa
Maaga naaga naagaaMaaga naaga naagaa
Seegaa peegaa reegaaSeegaa peegaa reegaa
Male
Eenaa meenaa reegaa teegaaEenaa meenaa reegaa teegaa
Jei jei jaamaa neegaaJei jei jaamaa neegaa
Maaga naaga maaga naagaaMaaga naaga maaga naagaa
Seegaa peegaa rolaa reegaaSeegaa peegaa rolaa reegaa
Sonnaalae sandhosam….It brings delight just to talk about her...
Female
Anna nadai nadanthu varum thangamA golden maiden walking with a swan-like grace
Adhisaya pen ithu pola illai engumThere is no miraculous woman like this anywhere
Anna nadai nadanthu varum thangamA golden maiden walking with a swan-like grace
Adhisaya pen ithu pola illai engumThere is no miraculous woman like this anywhere
Male
Sonna sollai thattaathuShe never disobeys the words spoken to her
Soru thanni ketkaathuShe never demands food or water
Kannaadi mun nikaathuShe never stands in front of the mirror
Kadai theruvai suththaathuShe never wanders around the shopping streets
Aha aa….iie ee…ooohoooo….ooo oooii….Aha aa... iie ee... ooohoooo... ooo oooii...
Male
Eenaa meenaa teegaaEenaa meenaa teegaa
Chorus :Eenaa meenaa teegaaChorus: Eenaa meenaa teegaa
Male :Jei jaamaa neegaaMale: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Chorus :Jei jaamaa neegaaChorus: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Male :Maaga naaga naagaaMale: Maaga naaga naagaa
Chorus :Maaga naaga naagaaChorus: Maaga naaga naagaa
Male :Seegaa peegaa reegaaMale: Seegaa peegaa reegaa
Chorus :Seegaa peegaa reegaaChorus: Seegaa peegaa reegaa
Male
Pudavai nagai porulumSarees, jewelry, or material things
KetkamaattaalShe will never ask for
Purushanaiyum sandaikkuAnd her husband into a fight
IzhukkamattaalShe will never drag
Pudavai nagai porulumSarees, jewelry, or material things
KetkamaattaalShe will never ask for
Purushanaiyum sandaikkuAnd her husband into a fight
IzhukkamattaalShe will never drag
Male
Aaththirame konduOut of sudden anger
Naaththiyai thitta maataaShe won't scold her sister-in-law
Appaavi maamiyaaraiHer innocent mother-in-law
Aattiyae vaikkamattaalShe won't boss around or trouble
Aha aa….iie ee…ooohoooo….ooo oooii….Aha aa... iie ee... ooohoooo... ooo oooii...
Male
Eenaa meenaa teegaaEenaa meenaa teegaa
Chorus :Eenaa meenaa teegaaChorus: Eenaa meenaa teegaa
Male :Jei jaamaa neegaaMale: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Chorus :Jei jaamaa neegaaChorus: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Male :Maaga naaga naagaaMale: Maaga naaga naagaa
Chorus :Maaga naaga naagaaChorus: Maaga naaga naagaa
Male :Seegaa peegaa reegaaMale: Seegaa peegaa reegaa
Chorus :Seegaa peegaa reegaaChorus: Seegaa peegaa reegaa
Male
Kanavanaaiyea thanHer husband alone
Dhievamenum mangaiIs God to this woman
Karpu nagai anivaal intha nangaiWears chastity as her ornament, this maiden
Male
Karpanaiyumillae soppanamum illaeIt is neither fantasy nor a dream
ippadiyor pennai engum kandathillaiNever has such a woman been seen anywhere
Aanaalum onnum illaiAnd yet, there is one missing thing
Aanaalum onnum illaiAnd yet, there is one missing thing
Chorus
EnnaWhat is it?
Male
Pechilae moochilae uyirae illai haeIn her speech and breath, there is no life at all!
Male
Eenaa meenaa teegaaEenaa meenaa teegaa
Chorus :Eenaa meenaa teegaaChorus: Eenaa meenaa teegaa
Male :Jei jaamaa neegaaMale: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Chorus :Jei jaamaa neegaaChorus: Jei jaamaa neegaa
Male :Maaga naaga naagaaMale: Maaga naaga naagaa
Chorus :Maaga naaga naagaaChorus: Maaga naaga naagaa
Male :Seegaa peegaa reegaaMale: Seegaa peegaa reegaa
Chorus :Seegaa peegaa reegaaChorus: Seegaa peegaa reegaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous lighthearted song from Athisaya Penn (1959) describes a seemingly perfect, ideal woman who exhibits every traditional virtue to an extreme degree. She never complains, demands expensive clothes or jewelry, fights with her husband, or quarrels with her in-laws, nor does she waste time admiring herself in the mirror or roaming the market. The lyrics playfully set up an exaggerated standard of a quiet, obedient woman, framed by rhythmic gibberish phrases ('Eenaa meenaa teegaa'). The comedic punchline at the end reveals why this woman is so perfect and untroublesome: she is actually a mannequin or inanimate figure with no breath or life in her, turning traditional idealizations of women into a witty satire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Sonna sollai thattaathu / Soru thanni ketkaathu / Kannaadi mun nikaathu / Kadai theruvai suththaathu”

Consecutive lines end with identical rhyming suffixes (-aathu), creating a punchy, rhythmic cadence typical of satirical Tamil songs.

Uvamai (Metaphor / Comparison)

“Anna nadai nadanthu varum thangam”

Compares the woman's graceful walking style to a swan (Anna nadai) and her intrinsic worth to precious gold (thangam).

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Pudavai nagai porulum... / Purushanaiyum sandaikku...”

Repetition of the initial 'Pu' sound across lines to establish musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Athisaya Penn' (1959) starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Vyjayanthimala in lead roles and was a remake of the Hindi hit 'Asha' (1957). The nonsense vocalic phrases like 'Eenaa meenaa teegaa' are playful rhythmic scatting used in early South Indian cinema, inspired by Western rock-and-roll novelty refrains.

Keep listening

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