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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kallanalum Kanavanthandi

From Mappillai Sir · 1988

Lyricist
Idhaya Chandran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Mappillai Sir
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
17 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi adiyaei…..
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi
Anju naan valaiyala
Aimpathula valaikkirae
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaa
Theriyumdi saedhi
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi adiyaei…..
Pathminiya unakku theriyumaa
Enna kadhalichch vishayam puriyumaa
Banumathiyai kaettu paarudi
Avanga yaengi ninna kadhaiyai keladi
Intha mesai konjam vellai
Adhu plus point di
Ippa kooda pala pengal
Ennai suththuraangadi
Radha kooda enna paarkka
Thoodhu vittaa neththu
Anu radhaa kooda enna paarkka
Thoodhu vittaa neththu
Naanum unna kattikkittaen
Vaalipamae waste-tu
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi
Anju naan valaiyala
Aimpathula valaikkirae
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaa
Theriyumdi saedhi
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi
Vayasula enna irukku
En manasula thembu irukku
Odambuthaan kojam perusu
Adhu parambara thantha parisu
Amalaavum kamalaavum
Enna thedurangadi
Amalaavum kamalaavum
Enna thedurangadi
Nadhiyaavum sarithaavum
Anga vaaduraangadi
Enga appan paattan vamsaththukku
Rendu veeduthaandi
Naan raman pola maattikittaen
Oththa veeduthaandi
Adhu soththa veeduthaandi
Adhu soththa veeduthaandi
Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi
Anju naan valaiyala
Aimpathula valaikkirae
Idhukku maelae murukkikittaa
Theriyumdi saedhi
Kelavi Kallaanaalum kanavan thaandi
Naan pullaanaalum purushan thaandi….haei….
Even if made of stone, I am still your husband, woman!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am your man, hey!
Even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am still your man!
I didn't bend at the age of five,
and you think you can bend me at fifty?
If you act too stubborn after this,
you will see what happens to you!
Old woman, even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am your man, hey!
Do you even know who Padmini is?
Do you realize that she was in love with me?
Just go and ask Bhanumathi!
Listen to the story of how she longed for me!
This mustache of mine has turned a little gray,
and that is actually a plus point!
Even today, so many women
keep chasing after me!
Even Radha, just to see me,
sent word yesterday!
Even Anuradha, just to see me,
sent word yesterday!
And yet, I went and married you,
and completely wasted my youth!
Even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am still your man!
I didn't bend at the age of five,
and you think you can bend me at fifty?
If you act too stubborn after this,
you will see what happens, old woman!
Old woman, even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am still your man!
What does age even matter?
There is still plenty of energy in my heart!
It is only that my body is a little large,
a gift passed down by my family!
Amala and Kamala
are searching all over for me!
Amala and Kamala
are searching all over for me!
Nadhiya and Saritha
are pining away over there!
In the lineage of my father and grandfather,
having two wives was the tradition!
Like Lord Rama, I got trapped
with just a single wife!
And that too is a broken-down home!
Yes, a totally broken-down home!
Even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Understand that even if just a blade of grass, I am your man!
I didn't bend at the age of five,
and you think you can bend me at fifty?
If you act too stubborn after this,
you will see what happens to you!
Old woman, even if made of stone, I am still your husband!
Even if just a blade of grass, I am your man... hey!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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