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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellorum Mavatta

From Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haiyyare haiyyare haiyyareHaiyyare haiyyare haiyyare
Hoyyare hoyyare hoyyareHoyyare hoyyare hoyyare
Male
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappilae othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so
Female :Ellarkum ellamum therinjirunthaFemale: If everyone knew everything
Athu illaatha nerathil kaikodukkomIt would come in handy when needed
Male
Hoi hoiHoi hoi
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappilae othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so
Female :AmaFemale: Yes
Ellarkum ellamum therinjirunthaIf everyone knew everything
Athu illaatha nerathil kaikodukkomIt would come in handy when needed
Male
MA yum BA yumHolders of M.A. and B.A. degrees
Vela illama ee otturaanAre swatting flies without jobs
Annaadum vazhkai odaAnd in daily life, grinding
MaavatturaanThe batter of life
Chorus
Haiyyare haiyyare haiyyareHaiyyare haiyyare haiyyare
Hoyyare hoyyare hoyyareHoyyare hoyyare hoyyare
Haiyyare haiyyare haiyyareHaiyyare haiyyare haiyyare
Hoyyare hoyyare hoyyareHoyyare hoyyare hoyyare
Female
Athirathilae thaanIn haste and hurry
Paathiramum thechi thechiScrubbing and scrubbing the vessels
Thenji pochiThey wear out
Thechi vaikirathaeAnd get cleaned
Male
Sathirathilae thaanIn the choultry
Sonna solluThe words spoken
Pirichi pirichi padichi padichiAnalyzing, reading, and studying
Mulichi nikkirathaeThey stay awake and watch
Female
Aakki vaikirathaWhat has been cooked
Nitham nitham moppam pudikkaSniffing around daily to find it
Mulinggi mulinggiSwallowing greedily
Baakki vaikirathaeAnd leaving behind leftovers
Male
Soru vikkiravanThe one selling rice
VikkaiyilaeWhile selling
Koovi koovi kurallum varanduShouting continuously till his voice dries up
Thondai vikkurathaeHis throat gets choked
Female
Aooji aaoCome on, come
Sardarji bhaiya bhaiyaSardarji brother, brother
Aooji aao aaoCome on, come, come
Male
Ghaoji ghaaooEat and enjoy
Sultanji bhaiya bhaiyaSultanji brother, brother
Ghaoji ghao ghaoEat and enjoy
Chorus
Ellorum ippo ingaeEveryone here now is
Bhai bhaiBrothers together
Jaihind bholoSay Jai Hind!
Chorus
Haiyyare haiyyare haiyyareHaiyyare haiyyare haiyyare
Hoyyare hoyyare hoyyareHoyyare hoyyare hoyyare
Male
Hare ellorum maavattaHey, everyone should grind batter
KathukedanumAnd learn it well
Ithil eppothum thappilaeThere is no mistake in this
OthukedanumAccept it without hesitation
Male :Vaa vaaMale: Come, come
Male
Meenu vikkiravanThe fish seller
Sinna ida alukki kulukkiSwaying her slim waist with style
Minikki thalukkiDressed up elegantly
Othungi nikirathaeStands aside gracefully
Female
Daaww adikiravanThe guy who flirts
Kannu rendum meratti verattiWith wide, intimidating eyes
Thorathi thorathiChasing continuously
Dive adikirathaeTakes a dive
Male
Ravikka thaikiravanThe tailor stitching blouses
Kattazhaga morachi morachiStaring intently at beauty
Veraikka veraikkaWith eyes wide open
AlavedukirathaeTakes the measurements
Female
Thaali kattinavanThe wedded husband
Parthuputtu adichi pudichiLooking closely, rushing and grabbing
Avala ilutthuPulls her along
Nadaiya katturathaeAnd makes his exit
Male
Aooji aaoCome on, come
Sardarji bhaiya bhaiyaSardarji brother, brother
Aooji aao…aoa arae aaooCome on, come... oh come on
Female
Ghaoji ghaaooEat and enjoy
Sultanji bhaiya bhaiyaSultanji brother, brother
Ghaoji ghao ghaoEat and enjoy
Chorus
Ellorum ippo ingaeEveryone here now is
Bhai bhaiBrothers together
Jaihind bholoSay Jai Hind!
Male
BholoSay it!
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappilae othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so
Female :Hoi hoiFemale: Hoi hoi
Ellarkum ellamum therinjirunthaIf everyone knew everything
Athu illaatha nerathil kaikodukkomIt would come in handy when needed
Male
MA yum BA yumHolders of M.A. and B.A. degrees
Vela illama ee otturaanAre swatting flies without jobs
Annaadum vazhkai odaAnd in daily life, grinding
MaavatturaanThe batter of life
Male
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappu ledhu othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so
Male :Ellarkum ellamum therinjirunthaMale: If everyone knew everything
Athu illaatha nerathil kaikodukkomIt would come in handy when needed
KetooListen!
Chorus
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappilae othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so
Male
Ellorum maavatta seekhna achaIt is good for everyone to learn grinding batter
Ithil eppothum thappilae samajgaiyenaDid you understand that there is no fault in it?
Ellarkum ellamum aanachagiyaeEveryone should learn all skills
Athu illaatha samai mae kaam aayaegaIt will be useful in times of need
Male
Ellorum maavatta kathukedanumEveryone should learn how to grind batter
Ithil eppothum thappu ledhu othukedanumAnd accept that there is no fault in doing so

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ellorum Maavatta' from the movie 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal' (1989) is a lighthearted yet insightful social commentary on the dignity of labor and practical life skills. It humorously addresses the reality of highly educated graduates (MA and BA degree holders) who face unemployment and emphasizes that learning basic chores like grinding batter or cooking is essential and carries no shame.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ellorum maavatta kathukedanum / Ithil eppothum thappilae othukedanum

The second character 'll' (ள்ள/ல்ல) rhymes across consecutive lines.

Monaai (Alliteration)

MA yum BA yum / Vela illama ee otturaan

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words across lines.

Anaphora / Onomatopoeia

Haiyyare haiyyare haiyyare / Hoyyare hoyyare hoyyare

Rhythmic vocables like 'Haiyyare', 'Hoyyare', and 'Aooji aao' used for energetic folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali for K. Balachander's critically acclaimed film 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal' (1989), this track blends Tamil folk rhythms with Hindi lines ('Jaihind bholo', 'Sardarji bhaiya') to emphasize national unity and universal dignity of labor.

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