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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iyer Aathu Ponnu

From Unga Veettu Kalyanam · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Kovai Soundararajan, L. R. Anjali
Music director
K. Vijaya Baskar
Details
Unga Veettu Kalyanam1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Aaththukkaariyaa ennaiAs your wife,
Yaeththukodaa nambiAccept me with trust!
Un aaththukkaariyaa ennaiAs your wife,
Yaeththukodaa nambiAccept me with trust!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Male
Maattraan thottaathu malligaiyae vaaCome, jasmine flower from another's garden!
Puratchiyai virumbum kannigaiyae vaaCome, maiden who desires revolution!
Maattraan thottaathu malligaiyae vaaCome, jasmine flower from another's garden!
Puratchiyai virumbum kannigaiyae vaaCome, maiden who desires revolution!
Male
Edhaiyum thaangum idhayamae nee vaaCome, heart that can endure anything!
Naan thallaadi ponaalumEven if I stumble in old age,
Thaaththaavaa aanaalumEven if I become a grandfather,
Neethaandi pondaanttiYou alone are my wife!
Kannae…asadu….My darling... foolish girl...
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Aaththukkaariyaa ennaiAs your wife,
Yaeththukodaa nambiAccept me with trust!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Mylapore vakkeelaaththuThe aunt from the Mylapore lawyer's house
Maami ennai paarththaaSaw me and...
Maattu ponnaa vaakkappadaTo take me as her daughter-in-law,
Jadhakaththa kettaaAsked for my horoscope.
Female
Mylapore vakkeelaaththuThe aunt from the Mylapore lawyer's house
Maami ennai paarththaaSaw me and...
Maattu ponnaa vaakkappadaTo take me as her daughter-in-law,
Jadhakaththa kettaaAsked for my horoscope.
Female
Unna manasula nenachunduHaving you in my heart,
Sollittaendaa taattaaI said goodbye to her!
Unna manasula nenachunduHaving you in my heart,
Sollittaendaa taattaaI said goodbye to her!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Aaththukkaariyaa ennaiAs your wife,
Yaeththukodaa nambiAccept me with trust!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Odi vantha deivamaeO divine deity who came running to me,
Unnai vida maattaenI will never let you go.
Unnai vittu veru enthaApart from you, no other
Pennai thoda maattaenWoman will I ever touch.
Female
Medaiyilae ninnapothaeWhile standing on the stage,
Jadaiyilae paarththaenI looked at you through your braid,
Jaadaiyilae unnidaththilThrough subtle gestures with you,
Sammathaththai kettaenI asked for your consent.
Female
Samaththudaa nee….You are so smart, my dear!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Edhuthaaththu homampujamHemambujam in the opposite house is pregnant for
Yaezhettu maasamSeven or eight months.
Pakkaththaaththu padmaavukkuFor Padmavathi next door,
Seemantham pona maasamThe baby shower took place last month.
Female
Kodi aaththu komalaavinFor Komala in the corner house,
Kalyaanam aduththa maasamThe wedding is scheduled for next month.
Naekkumthaan vayasaatchudaaI too have come of age, my dear!
Eppa namoa jaanavaasamWhen is our marriage procession going to happen?
Solludaa kannaa…Tell me, my darling!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!
Female
Aaththukkaariyaa ennaiAs your wife,
Yaeththukodaa nambiAccept me with trust!
Female
Iyaraaththu ponnu sonnaaIf the girl from the Iyer house says something,
Kettukkodaa ambiListen to it, my dear young lad!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Iyaraaththu Ponnu Sonnaa is a playful, romantic duet from the 1975 Tamil film Unga Veettu Kalyanam, composed by K. Vijaya Baskar and penned by Vaali. Sung by Kovai Soundararajan and L. R. Anjali, the song highlights lighthearted banter between two lovers using traditional Brahmin dialect words such as 'Ambi', 'Aaththukkaari', and 'Jaanavaasam'. The heroine playfully pressures the hero to accept her as his wife, recounting how she rejected a prestigious proposal from a Mylapore lawyer's family because her heart belonged to him, and pointing out how all her neighbors are getting married or having children. The hero responds affectionately, reassuring her of his lifelong commitment. He uses famous political and literary phrasing in his teasing responses, promising that regardless of age, she will always be his wife. The song remains a quintessential example of mid-70s comedic romantic Tamil cinema numbers rooted in distinct regional and community cultural idioms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion and Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maattraan thottaathu malligaiyae vaa

The phrase 'Maattraan thottaathu malligai' is a famous Tamil literary and political metaphor popularized by C. N. Annadurai. Vaali cleverly recontextualizes it into a romantic compliment.

Iyaibhu (End Rhyme)

Pakkaththaaththu padmaavukku / Seemantham pona maasam

The lyrics utilize end-rhyming patterns like 'homampujam / maasam / pona maasam / aduththa maasam' to establish a rhythmic, comic storytelling flow.

Dialectal Diction (Vattara Vazhakku)

Eppa namoa jaanavaasam

The lyricist makes intentional use of authentic Tamil Brahmin dialect words such as 'Aaththukkaariyaa', 'Ambi', 'Jadhakam', and 'Jaanavaasam' to build character flavor and humor.

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Maattraan thottathu malligaiyilum manam உண்டு' ('Even the jasmine in another's garden has fragrance') was famously coined by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai to encourage appreciating good ideas regardless of political origin. Lyricist Vaali humorously adapted this iconic political phrase into a playful romantic duet in this song.

Keep listening

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