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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kallanalum Kanavanthandi

From Mappillai Sir · 1988

Lyricist
Idhaya Chandran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Mappillai Sir1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiEven if I am like stone, I am your husband.
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi adiyaei…..Even if I am like grass, I am your husband, hey woman...
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiEven if I am like stone, I am your husband.
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandiEven if I am like grass, I am your husband.
Male
Anju naan valaiyalaI did not bend when I was five,
Aimpathula valaikkiraeYet at fifty I am bending you to my will!
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaaIf you try to twist or provoke me beyond this,
Theriyumdi saedhiYou will face the severe consequences, woman!
Male
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiOld woman, even if I am like stone, I am your husband,
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi adiyaei…..Even if I am like grass, I am your husband, hey woman...
Male
Pathminiya unakku theriyumaaDo you even know Padmini?
Enna kadhalichch vishayam puriyumaaDo you understand how deeply she loved me?
Banumathiyai kaettu paarudiJust ask Bhanumathi, girl!
Avanga yaengi ninna kadhaiyai keladiListen to the tale of how she yearned for me!
Male
Intha mesai konjam vellaiThis mustache may be a bit white,
Adhu plus point diBut that is my plus point, girl!
Ippa kooda pala pengalEven today, so many women
Ennai suththuraangadiKeep hovering around me!
Male
Radha kooda enna paarkkaEven Radha, just to catch a glimpse of me,
Thoodhu vittaa neththuSent an emissary yesterday!
Anu radhaa kooda enna paarkkaEven Anuradha, just to see me,
Thoodhu vittaa neththuSent an emissary yesterday!
Naanum unna kattikkittaenAnd yet I ended up marrying you,
Vaalipamae waste-tuWasting my whole prime youth!
Male
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiEven if I am like stone, I am your husband.
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandiEven if I am like grass, I am your husband.
Male
Anju naan valaiyalaI did not bend when I was five,
Aimpathula valaikkiraeYet at fifty I am bending you to my will!
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaaIf you try to twist or provoke me beyond this,
Theriyumdi saedhiYou will face the severe consequences, woman!
Male
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiOld woman, even if I am like stone, I am your husband,
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandiEven if I am like grass, I am your husband.
Male
Vayasula enna irukkuWhat is there in age?
En manasula thembu irukkuThere is immense vigor and strength in my heart!
Odambuthaan kojam perusuMy body is only slightly oversized,
Adhu parambara thantha parisuThat is a hereditary gift passed down by my ancestors!
Male
Amalaavum kamalaavumAmala and Kamala
Enna thedurangadiAre constantly looking for me, girl!
Amalaavum kamalaavumAmala and Kamala
Enna thedurangadiAre constantly looking for me, girl!
Nadhiyaavum sarithaavumNadhiya and Saritha
Anga vaaduraangadiAre pining for me over there!
Male
Enga appan paattan vamsaththukkuIn my father's and grandfather's lineage,
Rendu veeduthaandiHaving two households was the standard tradition!
Naan raman pola maattikittaenI got trapped like Lord Rama,
Oththa veeduthaandiStuck with just one single house!
Adhu soththa veeduthaandiAnd that too is a completely useless house!
Adhu soththa veeduthaandiAnd that too is a completely useless house!
Male
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiEven if I am like stone, I am your husband.
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandiEven if I am like grass, I am your husband.
Male
Anju naan valaiyalaI did not bend when I was five,
Aimpathula valaikkiraeYet at fifty I am bending you to my will!
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaaIf you try to twist or provoke me beyond this,
Theriyumdi saedhiYou will face the severe consequences, woman!
Male
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandiOld woman, even if I am like stone, I am your husband,
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi….haei….Even if I am like grass, I am your husband... hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous duet/solo-style banter track from the movie Mappillai Sir portrays an elderly or middle-aged husband boasting playfully to his wife about his enduring charm, authority, and masculine pride. He twists traditional Tamil maxims—such as 'Kallaanaalum Kanavan, Pullaanaalum Purushan' (husband is husband regardless of flaws) and 'Anjil Valaiyaathathu Aaimpathil Valaiyuma' (what doesn't bend at five won't bend at fifty)—to playfully threaten her and establish his upper hand.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi / Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi

Matching of the second consonant sound 'll' between 'Kallaanaalum' and 'pullaanaalum' across initial lines.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound in 'Kallaanaalum' and 'kanavan'.

Proverbial Subversion / Irony

Anju naan valaiyala / Aimpathula valaikkirae

Playful subversion of the famous Tamil proverb 'Anjil valaiyaathathu aimpathil valaiyuma' to suit the speaker's ego.

Pop Culture Name-dropping / Allusion

Amalaavum kamalaavum / Enna thedurangadi

Referencing famous Tamil screen heroines (Padmini, Bhanumathi, Radha, Anuradha, Amala, Kamala, Nadhiya, Saritha) to exaggerate romantic charisma.

Did you know?

Trivia

The phrase 'Kallaanaalum Kanavan, Pullaanaalum Purushan' originates from ancient Tamil cultural idiomatic sayings emphasizing marital loyalty, which is humorously inverted in modern comedy songs to showcase playful domestic disputes.

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