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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hello Mister Ethirkatchi

From Iruvar · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Harini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Iruvar1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hello mister ethirkatchiHello Mr. Opposition Party
Kelvikku badhilum ennaachuWhat happened to the answer to my question?
Kaatthu kaatthu naalaachuDays have passed waiting and waiting
Pathinettu vayasaachuI have turned eighteen now
Female
Hello mister ethirkatchiHello Mr. Opposition Party
Kelvikku badhilum ennaachuWhat happened to the answer to my question?
Kaatthu kaatthu naalaachuDays have passed waiting and waiting
Pathinettu vayasaachuI have turned eighteen now
Female
Kaadhalaa kaadhalaaOh lover, my lover
Unai naan vidamaattenI will not let you go
Kaitthalam patruvenI will hold your hands in marriage
Piriya vidamaattenI will not let us separate
Kangal meenaadaiEyes like fish
Azhagu meedhaanaiBeauty draped over me
Vidavae vidamaattenI will never, ever let go
Female
Hello mister ethirkatchiHello Mr. Opposition Party
Kelvikku badhilum ennaachuWhat happened to the answer to my question?
Kaatthu kaatthu naalaachuDays have passed waiting and waiting
Pathinettu vayasaachuI have turned eighteen now
Chorus
…………………………….
Female
Kannai naan pirindhaalIf I part from my eyes
Kaadhal poo udhirndhaalIf the flower of love sheds its petals
Ullatthil ulaga por moolumaeA world war will erupt inside my heart
Nee yennai marandhaalIf you forget me
Nillaamal maraindhaalIf you vanish without stopping
Yen kangal paalaivanamaagumaeMy eyes will turn into a desert
Female
Paruvangal santhiththaalWhen seasons meet
Pirivondru undaagumA separation eventually occurs
Dhuruvangal santhiththaalWhen opposite poles meet
Piriyaadhu ennaalumThey never separate forever
Kamban paartthaalIf the great poet Kamban saw us
Kaaviyam uruvaagumAn epic poem would be created
Female
Hello mister ethirkatchiHello Mr. Opposition Party
Kelvikku badhilum ennaachuWhat happened to the answer to my question?
Kaatthu kaatthu naalaachuDays have passed waiting and waiting
Pathinettu vayasaachuI have turned eighteen now
Chorus
…………………………………..
Female
Mannai vergal pirinthaalumEven if the roots separate from the earth
Vinnai neelam pirinthaalumEven if the blue separates from the sky
Kannai manigal pirinthaalumEven if the pupils separate from the eyes
Unai naan piriyeanI will never separate from you
Female
Sangam thamizhai pirinthaalumEven if Sangam separates from Tamil
Sattham isaiyai pirinthaalumEven if sound separates from music
Thaalam surudhiyai pirinthaalumEven if rhythm separates from pitch
Unai naan piriyeanI will never separate from you
Female
Unnodu vaazhaththaanWas it to live with you
Yen annai petraaloThat my mother gave birth to me?
Unnodu seratthaanWas it to unite me with you
Vidhi mannan ittaanoThat King Destiny issued a decree?
Unnai paartthaThe day I saw you,
Naaldhaan ponnaaloDid that day turn into pure gold?
Female
{Hello mister ethirkatchi{Hello Mr. Opposition Party
Kelvikku badhilum ennaachuWhat happened to the answer to my question?
Kaatthu kaatthu naalaachuDays have passed waiting and waiting
Pathinettu vayasaachu} (2)I have turned eighteen now} (x2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Hello Mister Ethirkatchi' from the film 'Iruvar' (1997), a young woman playfully teases her lover by referring to him as the 'Opposition Party' (Ethirkatchi), blending political terminology with youthful, romantic demands. Having turned eighteen, she demands a commitment from him, using clever metaphors to express her undivided affection and impatience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Political Metaphor

Hello mister ethirkatchi

The song uses the concept of an 'opposition party' in politics as a metaphor for a reluctant or teasing lover who delays giving his consent.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Mannai vergal pirinthaalum / Vinnai neelam pirinthaalum / Kannai manigal pirinthaalum

The second letter 'nna' (ன்ன) rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a pleasing rhythmic structure characteristic of classical Tamil poetry.

Hyperbole

Yen kangal paalaivanamaagumae

Exaggeration claiming her eyes will turn into a dry desert if her lover forgets her or disappears.

Anaphora / Refrain

Unai naan piriyean

The line 'I will not separate from you' is repeated after listing various impossible physical separations to reinforce her unshakeable devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the context prompt, the song features music composed by A.R. Rahman, sung by Harini and Rajagopal, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song marks one of the iconic early onscreen appearances of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Mani Ratnam's acclaimed film 'Iruvar' (1997), where her character performs a retro 1960s cinema-style dance sequence.

Keep listening

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