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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kakki Satta Potta Machaan

From Shankar Guru · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Shankar Guru1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ye..he..ye..he…Ye..he..ye..he…
Female :Ye..he..ye..he…Female: Ye..he..ye..he…
Female
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Kannam vaikka vandha machaanThe guy who came to make a breach,
Kannathila kannam vechaanPlaced his cheek against my cheek.
Pakkam vandhu pakkam vandhuComing close, coming close,
Paavi manasa pathavachaanHe set my poor heart ablaze.
Enga veettu thinnaiyila ithukku thaanaaDid he squat on our home's veranda,
Kuththa vechaanJust for this?
Male
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Kannam vaikka vandha machaanThe guy who came to make a breach,
Kannathila kannam vechaanPlaced his cheek against my cheek.
Pakkam vandhu pakkam vandhuComing close, coming close,
Paavi manasa pathavachaanHe set my poor heart ablaze.
Unga veettu thinnaiyila athukku thaanaaDid he squat on your home's veranda,
Kuththa vechaanJust for that?
Female
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Female
Anthikku pinnae santhippathengaeWhere shall we meet after dusk?
Sinthichu paarthen onnumillaiI thought about it, but couldn't figure out anywhere.
Male
Aathukku vadakkae aiyappan thoppuTo the north of the river is Aiyappan's grove,
Athukkulla vaadi yaarumilleCome inside there, no one is around.
Male
Ye..hei..ye..hei..Ye..hei..ye..hei..
Female
Hei..thoppukkullae sathamirukkuHey, there's noise inside the grove,
Aamaa nenjil achamirukkuYes, there is fear in my heart.
Male
Maanae enna acham unakkuMy sweet deer, why are you afraid?
Maamankittae machamirukkuYour lover has good fortune on his side.
Female
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Male
Kannam vaikka vandha machaanThe guy who came to make a breach,
Kannaththila kannam vechaanPlaced his cheek against my cheek.
Male
Velakka anaichaa vevaram ennaWhat happens if we turn off the lamp?
Othigai paarthaa thappu illaiThere's no harm in having a trial rehearsal.
Female
Othigai ingae unmaiyaa ponaaIf the trial rehearsal turns real here,
Kalyaanam nadakkum namakkullaMarriage will take place between us.
Female
Ye..hei..ye..he..Ye..hei..ye..he..
Male
Hei..innum ennai nambavillaiyaaHey, do you still not trust me?
Female
Im..hum..Mmm... hum...
Male
Kannam thara ennamillaiyaaDo you have no intention to give me your cheek?
Female
Thaali innum seiyavillaiyaaHaven't you crafted the sacred marriage thread yet?
Sedhi solla thaedhi sollaiyaaTell me the date to break the happy news!
Male
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Female
Haan kannam vaikka vandha machaanAh, the guy who came to make a breach,
Kannaththila kannam vechaanPlaced his cheek against my cheek.
Male
Pakkam vandhu pakkam vandhuComing close, coming close,
Paavi manasa pathavachaanHe set my poor heart ablaze.
Female
Enga veettu thinnaiyila ithukku thaanaaDid he squat on our home's veranda,
Kuththa vechaanJust for this?
Male
Kaakki sattai potta machaanThe guy wearing a khaki shirt,
Kalavu seiya kannam vechaanLaid a plan to break in and steal.
Female
Kannam vaikka vandha machaanThe guy who came to make a breach,
Kannaththila kannam vechaanPlaced his cheek against my cheek.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features romantic banter between two lovers. The heroine playfully accuses the hero, who wears a khaki shirt, of acting like a thief who broke into her home veranda only to steal her heart and press his cheek against hers. The dialogue shifts to planning a secret rendezvous in a quiet grove past dusk, where the lovers express their intimacy, mild apprehension, and mutual affection. As the song progresses, the hero suggests rehearsing their romantic bonding, assuring her that their secret intimacy will lead to a formal marriage. The heroine playfully demands to know when the sacred wedding thread ('thaali') will be made and when the official wedding date will be announced, blending flirtatious banter with a commitment to marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sledai / Pun (Double Entendre)

Kannam vaikka vandha machaan / Kannathila kannam vechaan

The word 'Kannam' is used cleverly with two distinct meanings: 'kannam vechaan' (making a hole in a wall to commit burglary) and 'kannathila kannam' (touching cheek to cheek).

Edukku (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kaakki sattai potta machaan / Kalavu seiya kannam vechaan

Rhyming of the second letter 'k' across consecutive lines (Kaakki / Kalavu / Kannam).

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Pakkam vandhu pakkam vandhu

The phrase 'pakkam vandhu' is repeated consecutively to emphasize physical closeness and romantic tension.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aamaa nenjil achamirukku / Maamankittae machamirukku

Matching end sounds with 'achamirukku' and 'machamirukku' to maintain a musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Shankar Guru' (1987) features music composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The track relies heavily on classic folk rhythm and Vairamuthu's signature wordplay on Tamil homonyms like 'Kannam'.

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