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MGR Magan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jilla Asanthu Nikkum

From MGR Magan · 2020

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Meenakshi Elayaraja
Music director
Anthony Daasan
Movie name
MGR Magan
Movie release year
2020
Lyrics added on
23 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jilla asandhu nikkum
Silukoda chithi ponnu
Nalla udukku adicha
Unakku naan aththai ponnu
Ooru sanam koodi ninna
Uthamiya pol iruppen
Othaiyila neeyum vandha
Motha kadhai naan padippen
Motha kadhai naan padippen
Jilla asandhu nikkum
Silukoda chithi ponnu
Nalla udukku adicha
Unakku naan aththai ponnu
Ooru sanam koodi ninna
Uthamiya pol iruppen
Othaiyila neeyum vandha
Motha kadhai naan padippen
Pattasu vangan naanum
Anga inga ponadhillai
Aana naan mathappunu
Sivagasiyil pechirukken
Neiyaana neiya vanga
Uththukuli ponadhillai
Aana naan vennayinum
Mailapuru kaathirukken
Marikozhunthu vanga naanum
Mamadurai ponadhillai
Aana en vaasathillai
Javvathumae koothurukkae
Aathula naan mungayila
Meenum thalli poguthamma
Ambalaga kannu mattum
Kandapadi meiyuthamma
Jilla asandhu nikkum
Silukoda chithi ponnu
Nalla udukku adicha
Unakku naan aththai ponnu
Kattantharaiyila naan
Sikku kolam pottadhillai
Aana en kannukulla
Color-u pola nooru irukkae
Aarupadai ayyanukku
Maavizhakku pottadhillai
Aana naan kettathellam
Alli thara aalu irukkae
Azhagan sittu naanum
Poomalai pottadhillai
Aana en thozh sehra
Aayiram poo poothirukkae
Koda idu koyilyamma
Koothedukka en pozhappu
Koodi neenga nikkayila
Angam ellam pul arippu
Jilla asandhu nikkum
Silukoda chithi ponnu
Nalla udukku adicha
Unakku naan aththai ponnu….
The whole district stands amazed,
I am Silk Smitha's cousin!
If you beat your drum just right,
I am the cousin made for you!
If the townspeople gather around,
I will act like a saintly girl.
But if you come to me all alone,
I will show you the whole show!
I will show you the whole show!
The whole district stands amazed,
I am Silk Smitha's cousin!
If you beat your drum just right,
I am the cousin made for you!
If the townspeople gather around,
I will act like a saintly girl.
But if you come to me all alone,
I will show you the whole show!
To buy firecrackers,
I have never gone here and there.
Yet calling me a bright sparkler,
They talk about me in Sivakasi!
To buy rich, pure ghee,
I have never gone to Uthukuli.
Yet knowing I am soft like butter,
All of Mylapore waits for me!
To buy fragrant marikolunthu (sweet marjoram),
I have never gone to Manamadurai.
Yet in the magic of my fragrance,
Even javvadhu (sacred perfume) dances with joy!
When I take a dip in the river,
Even the fish swim aside in awe.
Only the eyes of the men
Keep wandering wildly all over me!
The whole district stands amazed,
I am Silk Smitha's cousin!
If you beat your drum just right,
I am the cousin made for you!
On the hard, bare ground,
I have never drawn tangled kolam (rangoli) patterns.
Yet right inside my eyes,
A hundred colorful designs shine!
To the Lord of the six abodes,
I have never offered rice-flour lamps.
Yet for anything I ask for,
There are men ready to shower it on me!
A pretty young bird like me,
I have never offered a garland of flowers.
Yet just to rest upon my shoulders,
A thousand fresh flowers have bloomed!
At the temple celebrating its festival,
Dancing in the show is my living!
When all of you stand gathered together,
My entire body gets goosebumps!
The whole district stands amazed,
I am Silk Smitha's cousin!
If you beat your drum just right,
I am the cousin made for you!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Jilla Asandhu Nikkum' is a lively and seductive Tamil folk track sung from the perspective of a charismatic village woman boasting about her beauty, charm, and fame. She compares herself to famous regional specialities across Tamil Nadu—such as Sivakasi sparklers, Uthukuli ghee, and Madurai marikolundhu flowers—stating that while she never had to travel to these places, her glamour naturally eclipses them. She teasingly warns her lover that while she acts prim and proper in public, she is open and playful in private.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aana naan mathappunu Sivagasiyil pechirukken

The singer compares her glowing beauty to Sivakasi sparklers ('Mathappu') and smooth butter ('Vennai').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Uthamiya pol iruppen / Othaiyila neeyum vandha

Rhyming of the second letter 'th' across consecutive lines ('Uthamiya' / 'Othaiyila').

Hyperbole (Adukyani)

Aathula naan mungayila Meenum thalli poguthamma

Exaggeration that even river fish move aside out of respect/awe when she takes a bath.

Cultural Allusion

Neiyaana neiya vanga Uththukuli ponadhillai

References iconic Tamil regional pride landmarks such as Sivakasi crackers, Uthukuli ghee, Madurai flowers, and Mylapore.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Anthony Daasan for the movie MGR Magan (2021), this song highlights traditional folk rhythms blended with energetic vocals by Meenakshi Ilaiyaraja. The lyrics written by Yugabharathi subtly pay homage to the legendary actress Silk Smitha while showcasing iconic cultural markers of various towns in Tamil Nadu.

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