Inji Idupazhagi
From Vaigasi Poranthachu · 1990
- Lyricist
- Kalidasan
- Singers
- Sundar Rajan, Rajan Sakaravarthi
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Vaigasi Poranthachu1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi | O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion, |
| Aaa…haan….aaa…..haan | Aaa…haan….aaa…..haan, |
| Male | |
| Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi | O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion, |
| Manjal kezhangu onnu kulichcha | When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath, |
| Ava kulichacha | Did she take a bath? |
| En mansathaan thoondil pottu izhuthaa | She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it. |
| Male | |
| Adi maayavaram mayile | Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai, |
| Dhinam manjal kulikkum kuyilae | O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day, |
| Male | |
| Haa haa haa | Haa haa haa, |
| Male | |
| Maayavaram mayile | Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai, |
| Dhinam manjal kulikkum kuyilae | O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day, |
| Namma mannu manakkura | For this girl who carries the fragrant scent of our native soil, |
| Ponnukku intha | For this young woman, |
| Machchaan vaipaen achcharamthaan | Her maternal cousin will offer a token of commitment for marriage. |
| Male | |
| Inji….ee….ee…ee… | Ginger….ee….ee…ee…, |
| Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi | O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion, |
| Male | |
| Manjal kezhangu onnu kulichcha | When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath, |
| Ava kulichacha | Did she take a bath? |
| En mansathaan thoondil pottu izhuthaa | She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it. |
| En mansathaan thoo thoo thoo thoo | My heart... thoo thoo thoo thoo, |
| Ada thoo….. | Oh thoo... |
இஞ்சி இடுப்பழகி எழும்மிச்சை நிறதழகி
ஆஅ....ஹான் ஆஅ....ஹான்
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
Aaa…haan….aaa…..haan,
இஞ்சி இடுப்பழகி எழும்மிச்சை நிறதழகி
மஞ்சள் கெழங்கு ஒன்னு குளிச்சா
அவ குளிச்சா
என் மனசதான் தூண்டில் போட்டு இழுத்தா
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath,
Did she take a bath?
She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it.
அடி மாயவரம் மயிலே
தினம் மஞ்சள் குளிக்கும் குயிலே
Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai,
O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day,
ஹா ஹா ஹா
Haa haa haa,
மாயவரம் மயிலே
தினம் மஞ்சள் குளிக்கும் குயிலே
நம்ம மண்ணு மனக்குற
பொண்ணுக்கு இந்த
மச்சான் வைப்பேன் அச்சாரம்தான்
Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai,
O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day,
For this girl who carries the fragrant scent of our native soil,
For this young woman,
Her maternal cousin will offer a token of commitment for marriage.
இஞ்சி...ஈ.....ஈ....ஈ...
இஞ்சி இடுப்பழகி எழும்மிச்சை நிறதழகி
Ginger….ee….ee…ee…,
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
மஞ்சள் கெழங்கு ஒன்னு குளிச்சா
அவ குளிச்சா
என் மனசதான் தூண்டில் போட்டு இழுத்தா
என் மனசதான் தூ தூ தூ தூ
அட தூ....
When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath,
Did she take a bath?
She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it.
My heart... thoo thoo thoo thoo,
Oh thoo...
Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
Aaa…haan….aaa…..haan
Aaa…haan….aaa…..haan,
Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
Manjal kezhangu onnu kulichcha
When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath,
Ava kulichacha
Did she take a bath?
En mansathaan thoondil pottu izhuthaa
She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it.
Adi maayavaram mayile
Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai,
Dhinam manjal kulikkum kuyilae
O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day,
Haa haa haa
Haa haa haa,
Maayavaram mayile
Oh peacock of Mayiladuthurai,
Dhinam manjal kulikkum kuyilae
O cuckoo that bathes in turmeric every day,
Namma mannu manakkura
For this girl who carries the fragrant scent of our native soil,
Ponnukku intha
For this young woman,
Machchaan vaipaen achcharamthaan
Her maternal cousin will offer a token of commitment for marriage.
Inji….ee….ee…ee…
Ginger….ee….ee…ee…,
Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi
O fair lady with a slender ginger-like waist and lemon-tinted complexion,
Manjal kezhangu onnu kulichcha
When a girl like a golden turmeric root took a bath,
Ava kulichacha
Did she take a bath?
En mansathaan thoondil pottu izhuthaa
She hooked my heart like a fishing bait and pulled it.
En mansathaan thoo thoo thoo thoo
My heart... thoo thoo thoo thoo,
Ada thoo…..
Oh thoo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful folk song expresses a young man's vivid fascination with a young woman's natural rural beauty. Using traditional imagery, he compares her waistline to ginger, her fair complexion to lemons, and her golden radiance to turmeric. He playfully describes how she captured his heart effortlessly, like hooking a fish on a bait, and declares his intention to give her a token of commitment for marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaimai)
“Inji iduppazhagi ezhummichai niraththazhagi”
Compares the woman's slender waist to a ginger root ('Inji iduppazhagi') and her skin tone to a lemon ('ezhummichai niraththazhagi').
Imagery & Visual Metaphor
“Manjal kezhangu onnu kulichcha”
Compares the woman to a golden turmeric root ('Manjal kezhangu') taking a bath, highlighting her traditional charm.
Analogy / Metaphor
“En mansathaan thoondil pottu izhuthaa”
Describes the emotional pull of love as a fishing hook catching and pulling a fish.
Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai / Edhugai)
“Maayavaram mayile / Dhinam manjal kulikkum kuyilae”
Rhyming words 'mayile' (peacock) and 'kuyilae' (cuckoo) combined with 'Maayavaram' and 'Manjal' form rich auditory rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
While the phrase 'Inji Iduppazhagi' is widely remembered from the iconic song in 'Thevar Magan' (1992) composed by Ilaiyaraaja, this earlier folk-style composition set to Deva's music in 'Vaigasi Poranthachu' (1990) showcases lyricist Kalidasan's penchant for rustic Tamil metaphors celebrating village beauty.
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