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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enna Machchaan

From Pennukku Yaar Kaval · 1980

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janagi
Music director
Ramesh Naidu
Details
Pennukku Yaar Kaval1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Enna machchanaeWhat, my dear man?
Ne ippadi panniputtaeYou went and did this to me!
En nilaiya paaththuttuSeeing my state,
Engammaa keppaalaeMy mother will ask me!
Enna soldrathuWhat do I say?
Naan enna soldrathuWhat should I say?
Ennaa soldrathu amma…What do I tell mother...
Ennaa soldrathuWhat do I say?
Naan ennaa soldrathuWhat should I say?
Male
Yeandi pulla neeHey girl, why are you...
Ippadi nadungungraTrembling like this?
Naan enna pannittaenWhat did I even do?
Nee edhukku kalanguraeWhy are you so worried?
Yeadho sollikkoJust tell her something!
Nee yeadho sollikkoYou just make up some excuse!
Male
Yeadho sollikkoJust tell her something!
Nee yeadho sollikko…You just make up some excuse...
Podi po Yeadho sollikko…Go on, just tell her something...
Nee yeadho sollikko….You just make up some excuse...
Female
{Podava kalanju pochchu{My saree has come undone,
Poovum kasangi pochchuThe flowers in my hair are crushed,
Neththi vervaivaiyaalaBecause of the sweat on my forehead,
Saanthu pottum karainju pochchu} (2)The sandal bindi has completely melted away}
Female
Odhungi odhungi paarthenI tried to keep my distance,
Naan ongittathaanyaa thoththeanBut I ended up losing to you, my man!
Enna soldrathu naan ennaa soldrathuWhat do I say, what should I say?
Ha appo enna soldrathuHa, then what do I say?
Naan ennaa soldrathu aahnWhat should I say, ah?
Male
Ada soldren keluHey listen, I'll tell you!
Thudukkukaara kaalai thoraththi vanthaalaeWhen a playful bull came chasing,
Thuvandu pochchu selai thuninju puzhugu mealeThe saree got crumpled, so lie boldly about it!
Female :HhhumFemale: Hhhum...
Male
Thudukkukaara kaalaiA playful bull,
Thoraththi vanthaalaeCame chasing,
Thuvandu pochchu selaiThe saree got crumpled,
Thuninju puzhugu mealeLie boldly on top of that!
Male
Merandu merandu keezheaGetting terrified and startled,
Vizhnthuvittathu polaeAs if you fell down below!
Yedho sollikkoJust tell her something like that!
Female :HaaFemale: Haa...
Male :Ne yeadho sollikkoMale: You just make up some excuse!
AvlothaanThat is all!
Yedho sollikkoJust tell her something!
Nee yedho sollikko….haan….You just make up some excuse... haan...
Female
{Kannam sevanthu pochchu{My cheeks have turned red,
Chinna kaayam kooda aachuThere is even a small wound mark,
Enna marunthu pottuApplying what medicine,
Adha eppadi maraikka porean} (2)How am I going to hide this?}
Female
Sirichchu sirichchu pesiTalking and laughing so sweetly,
Enna sikka vachchuttiteyYou got me completely trapped!
Enna soldrathuWhat do I say?
Naan ennaa soldraathuWhat should I say?
Ammaa enna soldrathuWhat do I say to mother?
Naan ennaa soldrathuWhat should I say?
Male
Pazhuththu irunthuchchu koiyaaThe guava fruit was fully ripe,
Adhu palapaluththchchu meiyaaIt was shining so temptingly, truly!
Female :Haan….Female: Haan...
Male :Pasi eduththuchchu kilikku vanthuMale: A hungry parrot arrived,
Pazhaththa kadichchu pudichchuBit into the fruit and held it tight!
Female :AahaanFemale: Aahaan...
Male
Pazhuththu irunthuchchu koiyaaThe guava fruit was fully ripe,
Adhu palapaluththchchu meiyaaIt was shining so temptingly, truly!
Pasi eduththuchchu kilikku vanthuA hungry parrot arrived,
Pazhaththa kadichchu pudichchuBit into the fruit and held it tight!
Male
Rasichchu rasichchu thinna kiliThe parrot that relished and ate it,
Paranthuduchunnu veliyaFlew away into the open!
Edho sollikkoJust tell her something like that!
Female :HanFemale: Han...
Male :Nee edho sollikko….yaeiMale: You just make up some excuse... hey!
Yedho sollikkoJust tell her something!
Nee edho sollikko….You just make up some excuse...
Female
Haan enna soldrathuHaan, what do I say?
Naan ennaa soldrathaWhat should I say?
Haan enna soldrathuHaan, what do I say?
Naan ennaa soldrathaWhat should I say?
Male
Aa…yeadho sollikkoAa... make up some excuse!
Nee yeadho sollikkoYou just make up some excuse!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a young woman who is panic-stricken after a passionate moment with her lover. Her appearance is disheveled—her saree is loosened, the flowers in her hair are crushed, her bindi has melted from forehead sweat, and her cheeks are flushed with minor bite or pinch marks. She repeatedly asks her lover what excuse ('Enna soldrathu') she should give her mother when she goes back home. The male protagonist playfully reassures her and suggests humorous, creative excuses ('Yeadho sollikko'). He tells her to blame a wild bull chasing her for her messy clothes, and uses the metaphor of a hungry parrot biting a ripe guava fruit to explain away her flushed cheeks and mark. The song balances coy bashfulness with rural romantic wit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Odhungi odhungi paarthen / Merandu merandu keezhea / Sirichchu sirichchu pesi / Rasichchu rasichchu thinna

Tamil poetic structure where words are repeated twice back-to-back to heighten the emotion, action, or state of being.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Podava kalanju pochchu / Poovum kasangi pochchu / Saanthu pottum karainju pochchu

Lines ending with the identical verb phrase 'pochchu', producing a natural musical rhythm.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Pazhuththu irunthuchchu koiyaa... Pasi eduththuchchu kilikku vanthu... Pazhaththa kadichchu pudichchu

The woman's ripe beauty and flushed cheeks are compared to a ripe guava fruit, and the playful lover is portrayed as a hungry parrot taking a bite.

Monai (Alliteration)

Pazhuththu irunthuchchu koiyaa / Adhu palapaluththchchu meiyaa

Initial consonant sound 'Pa' repeated across adjacent words/lines creating phonetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by acclaimed folk-style lyricist Aalangudi Somu for the 1980 Tamil film 'Pennukku Yaar Kaval', this song utilizes authentic Tamil village idiom and banter between young lovers to express intimacy while adhering to traditional romantic storytelling tropes.

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