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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaiyale Type Adikka

From Iniya Uravu Poothathu · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Iniya Uravu Poothathu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaaOh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Kannaalae type adippaen naanaeI will type using my eyes instead!
Adiyaenin pakkam variyaaWill you come beside this humble servant?
Engengae thattanum ellaamae kaththu tharanumYou must teach me everywhere I need to press,
Ennaiththaan sishyanaa ammaa nee yaeththukkidanumOh lady, you must accept me as your disciple!
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaaOh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Haei kannaalae type adippaen naanaeHey, I will type using my eyes instead!
Adiyaenin pakkam variyaaWill you come beside this humble servant?
Male
Anbe en kaanikkai guru thatchinaiMy beloved, my gift and teacher's fee,
Un appaavin jippaavil irukkuIs right inside your father's shirt pocket!
Anbe en kaanikkai guru thatchinaiMy beloved, my gift and teacher's fee,
Un appaavin jippaavil irukkuIs right inside your father's shirt pocket!
Male
Naan kettikkaaran en thozhilai paaruI am a clever fellow, look at my skills,
Oru thappu thandaa naan senjaa keluIf I make any mistake, feel free to correct me!
Male
Nee aanai ittaal naal muzhukka type adippaenIf you command, I will type all day long,
Nee viratti vittaal koovaththilae dive adippaenIf you drive me away, I will dive into the Cooum river!
Oru vaasanai poongodi vanthathu kanduSeeing a fragrant flowering creeper arrive,
Vattangal poduthu vaaliba vandammaaThe youthful beetle circles around it, oh lady!
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaaOh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Haan kannaalae type adippaen naanaeAha, I will type using my eyes instead!
Adiyaenin pakkam variyaaWill you come beside this humble servant?
Engengae thattanum ellaamae kaththu tharanumYou must teach me everywhere I need to press,
Ennaiththaan sishyanaa ammaa nee yaeththukkidanumOh lady, you must accept me as your disciple!
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaa…aa……Oh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Male
Seeraathae sinungaathae vaaththiyaarammaaDo not get angry or pout, my teacher lady,
Un singaara poo maeni nalamaa hoiIs your beautiful, flower-like body doing well, hoi?
Seeraathae sinungaathae vaaththiyaarammaaDo not get angry or pout, my teacher lady,
Un singaara poo maeni nalamaaIs your beautiful, flower-like body doing well?
Male
Ila vani poove enai vanikkaathaeOh young spring flower, do not torment me,
Enai saeththu kolla nee sinthikkaathaeDo not hesitate to take me into your heart!
Male
Enai vaatturathum ootturathum yaenadiyoWhy do you tease me and nurture me like this?
Pudhu maanavanaa vanthavan thaan naanadiyoAfter all, I am the one who came as your new student!
Adi maan vizhi meen vizhi anjuvathennaOh deer-eyed, fish-eyed girl, why do you fear?
Sattunnu pattunu sammatham sollammaaQuickly and directly give me your consent, my lady!
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaaOh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Kannaalae type adippaen naanaeI will type using my eyes instead!
Adiyaenin pakkam variyaa…aa……Will you come beside this humble servant?
Engengae thattanum ellaamae kaththu tharanumYou must teach me everywhere I need to press,
Ennaiththaan sishyanaa ammaa nee yaeththukkidanumOh lady, you must accept me as your disciple!
Male
Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanaeIs it only meant for typing with hands?
Kiliyae nee kaththu thariyaaOh parrot-like girl, will you teach me?
Haei kannaalae type adippaen naanaeHey, I will type using my eyes instead!
Adiyaenin pakkam variyaaWill you come beside this humble servant?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic track from 'Iniya Uravu Poothathu' uses the metaphor of learning to type on a typewriter as an allegory for romantic courtship. The male protagonist whimsically addresses the heroine as his teacher ('vaaththiyaarammaa') and begs her to teach him how to 'type' not with hands, but with romantic glances from the eyes. He humorously offers his guru dakshina (teacher's fee) which he claims is hidden in her father's pocket, and promises to be an obedient student who will type all day if she commands, or dramatically jump into the river if rejected. In the second stanza, he admires her grace and beauty, comparing her to a flowering creeper attracting a young beetle. He implores her to drop her shyness, stop teasing him, and accept his love without hesitation. Vaali's lyrics blend conversational Tamil with English loanwords to create a lively, modern, and humorous romantic duet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Oru vaasanai poongodi vanthathu kandu / Vattangal poduthu vaaliba vandammaa

Comparing the heroine to a parrot ('Kiliyae') and a fragrant flowering creeper ('vaasanai poongodi'), and the hero to a youthful beetle ('vaaliba vandu').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaiyaalae type adikkathaanae / Kannaalae type adippaen naanae

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive key words.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Loanword Rhyming)

Nee aanai ittaal naal muzhukka type adippaen / Nee viratti vittaal koovaththilae dive adippaen

Rhyming English loanwords 'type adippaen' and 'dive adippaen' at the end of consecutive lines for humorous effect.

Traditional Metaphor (Maan vizhi / Meen vizhi)

Adi maan vizhi meen vizhi anjuvathenna

Standard Tamil poetic imagery comparing beautiful eyes to a deer's eyes ('maan vizhi') and fish ('meen vizhi').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the song features a quirky late-1980s synth-pop arrangement. Lyricist Vaali was renowned for seamlessly weaving modern English everyday terms like 'type' and 'dive' into classical Tamil poetic tropes, creating an iconic comedic-romantic style.

Keep listening

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