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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kamal Kavidhai

From Manmadhan Ambu · 2010

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Trisha Krishnan
Music director
Devi Sri Prasad
Details
Manmadhan Ambu2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannodu kannaiIf eyes meet eye to eye
Kalanthal endraaland blend together,
Kalangam ullaval echarikkaiwarning: she has a flaw!
Female
Udanae kaiyudanIf immediately hand in
Kai korthalaahand is entwined,
Ozhukkam kettaval echarikkaiwarning: she lacks conduct!
Female
Aadai kalaigayilWhen clothes are shed,
Kooduthal pesinaalif she talks too much,
anubavam mikkaval echarikkaiwarning: she has too much experience!
Female
Kalavi mudinthapinAfter lovemaking ends,
Kidanthu pesinaalif she lies down and talks,
Kadhalaai maaralaam echarikkaiwarning: it might turn into love!
Female
Kavithai ilakkiyamIf poetry and literature
Pesinalaayinare spoken by her,
Kaasai mathiyaal echarikkaiwarning: she won't value money!
Female
Unnudan iruppathuTo be with you
Sugamendralaaif she says it's bliss,
Urithiyaai sikkal echarikkaiwarning: definitely trouble ahead!
Female
Aruvadai kolmudhalConsider lust to be
Endrae kaamamjust a temporary harvest;
Amaivathu podhuvaetake it generally
Nalamaaga-kolas a good thing.
Female
Koottal ondraeOnce addition alone
Kuriyendraana pinbecomes the goal,
Kazhivadhu kaamamknow that subtraction
Mattum ena-kolis lust alone.
Female
Unnai mangayarHow women view you,
Ennena kolvarwhatever they deem,
Yosikkamal varuvathai edhir kolface whatever comes without overthinking.
Female
Munnum pinnumBack and forth,
Aattum sagadaia swaying cart;
Aanum pennum adhuvae ena kolconsider man and woman as that.
Female
Kaamam enappadumIn the ancient act
Pandai seyalilcalled lust,
Kaadhal kalavaathu kaathu kolprotect it without mixing love.
Female
Ippennuraiku ethiraaiAgainst this female manifesto,
Aanurai ondraia male response,
Iyattra thuniyum ani serthu koljoin the force to dare compose one.
Male
AahaAha!
Iyattra thuniyumDare to compose and
Ani serthu-kanumaa?join as a force?
Thunivae aniyum thuni endrana pinWhen courage itself is the garment worn,
Aniyondru etharkku?why need another ornament or garment?
Thaniyae varuven…I will come alone...
Female
Appadi vaanga vazhikkuAh, now you are coming to the point!
Oh… neenga kavingar thaanae?Oh... so you are a poet, aren't you?
Male
Guilty as accusedGuilty as accused!
Female :Appo judgement solrenFemale: Then I'll pronounce the judgment!
Male: SollungaMale: Go ahead and say it!
Female :Padhilukku neegha oruFemale: In return, you must
Kavithai sollanum adhaan thandanairecite a poem—that is the punishment!
Male
Yaarukku ?For whom?
Female :Adhu kavithaya kettaFemale: Once you hear the poem,
Thaanae theriyumyou will know!
Male :Ahaan ha ha ha seri solrenMale: Aha ha ha, alright I will recite it.
Aana neenga kovichukka koodathuBut you shouldn't get angry!
Female :Yen… pengalai pathi keliya?Female: Why... is it a joke about women?
Male :Cha cha .. athellaam ilainghaMale: Cha cha... nothing like that!
Idhu oru pennudaya vendukol maathiriThis is like a woman's plea,
Oru pen than theivathu kittaa hymn of praise sung by a woman
Padura thothira paadal…to her deity...
Female
Oh neenga bakthi-maanaa?Oh, are you a devout person?
Male :Adhellam illengaMale: Nothing like that,
Naan buthi maana-nnae kelvikuriya irukku…it's doubtful if I'm even an intellectual...
Female :Kavithaya ketta kelvi kuriFemale: Hearing the poem, the question mark
Acharya kuriya maaraalam illiyamight turn into an exclamation mark, right?
Male :Hmmm… may be… may i?Male: Hmmm... maybe... may I?
Female :PleaseFemale: Please!
Male
Kalavi seigayil kathil pesiSpeaking in the ear while making love,
Kanivaai melithaai kazuthai kavvumsoftly and tenderly biting the neck,
Vellai palichidum parkkal vendumbright white teeth are needed.
Male
Kuzhanthai vaayaiLike smelling
Nugarnthathu polaa baby's mouth,
Kadum nantramillathaa mouth without harshness or foulness
Vaayum vendumis also needed.
Male
Kama kanavugalWhen sensual dreams
Kalaiyum velaiyilfade away,
Kooda nindravanthe man standing beside
Udhavida vendummust help out.
Chorus :VendumChorus: Needed!
Samayalin podhumEven while cooking,
Uudhavida vendumhe must help out.
Chorus :VendumChorus: Needed!
Saaindhu negizhnthidaTo lean and relax upon,
Thinthozh vendumstrong shoulders are needed.
Chorus :VendumChorus: Needed!
Male
Modhi kobamTo clash and vent anger,
Theerkka vasathiyaaifor convenience,
Paarai padhathila chest as solid as stone
Nenjum vendumis also needed.
Chorus :VendumChorus: Needed!
Male
Adharku pinnalBehind that,
Thudikkum idayamuma beating heart,
Adhu ratham paaichiand the intellect made flexible
Neguzhthiya sinthaiyumby pumping blood,
Moolai madippugal adhigam ullaa brilliant head with extra
Medaavilaasa mandayum vendumfolds in the brain is needed.
Chorus :Vendum vendumChorus: Needed, needed!
Vendum vendumNeeded, needed!
Male
Vangiyin iruppuBank balance as black money
Veettil karuppenastored at home,
Vazhangi puzhangidato spend freely,
Panamum vendummoney is also needed.
Chorus :Vendum vendumChorus: Needed, needed!
Vendum vendumNeeded, needed!
Male
Nermai vendumHonesty is needed,
Bakthiyum vendumdevotion is needed,
Enakena suthanthiramWhen I ask for my
Ketkum velayilown freedom,
pagutharigindraa rational mind
Buthiyum vendumthat reasons is also needed.
Chorus :Vendummm….Chorus: Needed!
Male
Ippadi kanavanTo get a husband like this,
Varavendum ena naanI observed a fast
Onbathu naatkal nonbu irunthenfor nine days.
Varam tharuvaal en varalakshi-enaHoping Varalakshmi would grant the boon,
Kadum nonbu mudinthum thedi ponenafter completing the severe fast, I went searching.
Female
Thedi enga ponaa andha ponnuWhere did that girl go searching?
Male :Beach-kku thaanMale: To the beach!
Male
Podi nadai pottaeWalking on foot
Idai meliyum enaso her waist grows slim,
Kadarkarai thorumalong the shores
Kaalaiyum maalayummorning and evening,
Thonthi ganapathigalpot-bellied Ganapathis
Thirivathu kandenI saw wandering around!
Mutrum thuranthu mangayaroduRenouncing everything, along with women,
Ammana thuravigal koodida kandenI saw naked ascetics gathered!
Female
Engae ? tv-laiiyo?Where? On TV?
Male :IssshhhhhhhhMale: Shhh!
Male
Mootha akkal kanavanukkuFor the elder sister's husband,
Mukkkal thaguthigal irunthum koodadespite having three-quarters of qualities,
Akkalilla velayilae avanwhen the sister wasn't around,
Sakkalathi vendum endraanhe wanted a mistress!
Male
Ekkulamaanaal enna endruThinking what difference does caste make,
Vetru madham varai thedi paarthenI even searched across other religions.
Varavara purusha lakshanam ullavarGood men with ideal husband qualities
Thirumana santhayil migamiga kuraivuare extremely rare in the marriage market!
Male
Varamthara kettaOh Varalakshmi, asked to grant boons,
Varalakshmi unakkuto you,
Veettukaarar amainthathu eppadi?how did your husband turn out?
Nee ketta varangalThe boons you requested,
Eduvarai palithathu?how far were they fulfilled?
Urangi kondae irukkum unthanYour husband Aranganathan,
Aranganathan aal eppadi?who is always sleeping, how is he?
Male
Prabantham sollumAll the mischief told
Athanai settayumin the Prabantham scriptures,
Vaasthavamaaga nadappathu undo?do they actually happen in reality?
Idhuvum adhuvum udhuvum seiyumDoes anyone have a sweet husband
Iniya kanavar yaarkumundo?who does this, that, and everything?
Male
Unakkenumathu amaiyapettraalIf such a husband was granted to you,
Unmayileyae athirshtasaalithaanyou are truly lucky!
Nee adhupol enakkum amaiyaseiyenMake sure I get one just like that too!
Sri varalakshmi namosthudhae…O Goddess Sri Varalakshmi, I bow to you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sequence from Manmadhan Ambu presents a witty, satirical poetic exchange between a man and a woman exploring love, lust, societal double standards, and modern marital expectations. The opening section offers tongue-in-cheek 'warnings' about women's behavior and sexual freedom, mocking conservative anxieties. It then transitions into a female perspective, articulating an ideal husband who is sexually passionate, domestic, intellectually sharp, supportive, and respectful of women's independence, contrasting this ideal with the reality of hypocrisy in society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Kannodu kannai

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds, such as 'Kannodu' and 'Kalanthal' in the opening couplets.

Anaphora / Refrain

Kalangam ullaval echarikkai

The repeated usage of 'echarikkai' (warning) at the end of every satirical rule line.

Satire & Irony

Varavara purusha lakshanam ullavar / Thirumana santhayil migamiga kuraivu

Kamal Haasan uses witty, sharp commentary on traditional religious vows, societal double standards, and marital expectations.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Kamal Haasan himself for the film Manmadhan Ambu (2010), this track showcases his passion for modern Tamil free-verse poetry (Puthukavithai). The verse references classical themes, Varalakshmi Viratham, and Tamil literature while offering sharp contemporary social critique.

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