Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jothi Lingam Jothi Lingam

From Michael Raj · 1987

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Michael Raj1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………...
Female
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingamIt is rising up rapidly, O Jothi Lingam!
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingamIt is rising up rapidly, O Jothi Lingam!
Female
Nellu kuthth ponapullaOh girl who went to pound rice,
Mullu kuththi vanthathennaWhy have you returned pricked by a thorn?
Naanaa vanthu potti ittenI came forward to place a bet myself,
Neeyae vanthu maattikittaeAnd you got caught yourself!
Addaadaddaa….Ahadadaa...
Female
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingamIt is rising up rapidly, O Jothi Lingam!
Female
Ennada pannuningaWhat did you guys do?
Yaedhetho solluraalaeShe is blabbering all sorts of things!
Male Chorus :Aaththa adha nambaathaeMale Chorus: Mother, do not believe that!
Saththiyama onnumillaeSwearing on God, there is nothing!
Female
Natta nadu theruvula kottamadichchaanHe made a scene right in the middle of the street,
Suththi suththu vanthu enna vattamadichchaanHe circled around me and surrounded me,
Natta nadu theruvula kottamadichchaanHe made a scene right in the middle of the street,
Suththi suththu vanthu enna vattamadichchaanHe circled around me and surrounded me,
Naanthandi aambalaiyinnu sirichchukittaanHe laughed boasting 'I am the real man!'
Poo potta thaavanita kizhichuputtaanHe tore my floral half-saree!
Female
Melam kottungo thattungoBeat the drums, tap the rhythm!
Kottungo thattungoBeat it, tap it!
Thaali katta sollungoTell him to tie the sacred wedding thread!
Female
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingamIt is rising up rapidly, O Jothi Lingam!
Male
Annaikku enakku vachchaa maiyadaaThat day he trapped me with his trickery, man,
Intha pombalainga pechu ellam poiyyadaAll this talk by women is purely lies, man!
Chorus : PoiyadaaChorus: It is a lie, man!
Female
Pakkaththila nerungi kaiya pudichchaanHe came close to me and held my hand,
Paiya paiya izhuththu ukkaara vachchaanGently, slowly he pulled me and made me sit,
Pakkaththila nerungi kaiya pudichchaanHe came close to me and held my hand,
Paiya paiya izhuththu ukkaara vachchaanGently, slowly he pulled me and made me sit,
Maattennu sonnathukku adikka vanthaanWhen I refused, he came to beat me,
Katti anaichukitta…..thanthanaanaaHe embraced me tightly... thanthanaanaa!
Female
Adhu ennadi thanthanaanaaWhat is that 'thanthanaanaa'?
Female
Haa…avarai kettukko pesikkoAha... ask him and speak with him,
Kettukko pesikkoAsk him and speak with him,
Vivaram enna purinjukkoUnderstand what the actual details are!
Female
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingamIt is rising up rapidly, O Jothi Lingam!
Female
Nellu kuthth ponapullaOh girl who went to pound rice,
Mullu kuththi vanthathennaWhy have you returned pricked by a thorn?
Naanaa vanthu potti ittenI came forward to place a bet myself,
Neeyae vanthu maattikittaeAnd you got caught yourself!
Addaadaddaa….Ahadadaa...
Female
Jothi lingam jothi lingamJothi Lingam, Jothi Lingam!
Ellaaththaiyum solliputten jothi lingamI have revealed everything, Jothi Lingam!
Jothi lingam hoi….. jothi lingamJothi Lingam hoi... Jothi Lingam!
Ellaaththaiyum solliputten jothi lingamI have revealed everything, Jothi Lingam!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Jothi Lingam" from the 1987 Tamil film 'Michael Raj' is a lively folk comedy song written by lyricist Mu. Metha. The song takes the form of a humorous village banter and playful public confrontation between a young woman and the protagonist, Jothi Lingam. The woman dramatically accuses him of teasing her, pulling her half-saree, and courting her, demanding that the elders compel him to tie the marital thread (thaali). Meanwhile, the male protagonist vigorously denies all her exaggerated claims, pleading innocence and declaring her stories to be pure fiction. Through rhythmic folk refrains, allegorical phrases (such as going to pound rice and getting pricked by a thorn), and expressive chorus responses, the song captures a playful romantic conflict filled with humor, village theatricality, and spirited banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Nellu kuthth ponapulla / Mullu kuththi vanthathenna

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating a rhythmic folk cadence.

Anaphora / Repetition (Ettukku / Tirumpavaruthal)

Jothi lingam jothi lingam

Repetition of words at the start of phrases for emphasis and rhythmic momentum.

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi / Oli-k-kurippu)

Jivvunnu yaeruthaiyaa jothi lingam

Use of sensory sound words like 'Jivvunnu' to indicate sudden swift movement or excitement.

Metaphor / Allegory (Uvamai / Marapu)

Nellu kuthth ponapulla / Mullu kuththi vanthathenna

'Pricked by a thorn while pounding rice' is a traditional folk euphemism/allegory for getting entangled in romantic trouble.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Michael Raj' (1987) stars Raghuvaran in the lead role alongside Madhuri, directed by V. C. Guhanathan. Lyricist Mu. Metha composed this song using traditional rural folk dialogue formats ('Sattam/Panchayat' conversation style) frequently seen in 1980s Tamil commercial cinema.

Keep listening

More from Michael Raj