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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanchi Paanai

From Velli Thirai · 2008

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Jassie Gift
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Velli Thirai2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanji paanaiyin melaLike on top of a pot of rice porridge
Oru inji oorugaa polaLike a piece of ginger pickle
Naan uththu paarthumEven as I stare closely
Udhadu rendumBoth my lips
Uchi kotta vaikkuthadi… eee..heyAre made to smack in delight!
Female
Ho anthi saayura velaOh, during dusk time
Oru thanthi vanthatha polaAs if an urgent telegram arrived
Naan pathari adichi odi vanthaaWhen I came running in panic
Pallakaatti nikkuriyae ye ye..heyYou stand there grinning broadly!
Male
ThodaChorus :Hai haiTouch! Chorus: Hai hai
Male :ThodaChorus :Hai haiMale: Touch! Chorus: Hai hai
Female
Naan nellu kuthura olakkaiyilaWith the pestle used for threshing paddy
Un palla kuththa porenI am going to poke your teeth out!
Male
Ahh haa kanji paanaiyin melaAh ha, on top of the porridge pot
Oru inji oorugaa polaLike a ginger pickle
Naan uththu paarthumEven as I stare closely
Udhadu rendumBoth my lips
Uchi kotta vaikkuthadi..eee..ee…heyAre made to smack in delight!
Chorus
……………………….(Musical interlude)
Male
Adiyae en muthathaaHey girl, my pearl
Ada kaathu nee thoongaHey, even if the wind sleeps
Kan thoongumThe eyes will sleep
Kaadhal thoongaadhae..But love will never sleep..
Dhae dhae dhae….Dhae dhae dhae....
Female
Ainooru mutham thaanFive hundred kisses
Annadam nee thanthaIf you give me every single day
Uyirthaangum udhadu thaangadhaeThe soul may survive, but the lips won't endure it
Hey hey heeeyyy….Hey hey heeeyyy....
Male
Oru kaadhal kadidhathaA love letter
Naan koduthenThat I gave to you
Atha ungkoppan kitta neeYou went and gave that
KoduthuputtaaTo your father!
Male
Enna aala marathulaMe, tied to a banyan tree
Katti vachuthaanBound tight
Thola urikka paarkkaanHe is trying to skin me alive!
Female
HaiyaaChorus :Ahaa..Oh my! Chorus: Ahaa..
Female :Adanj koiyaaChorus :OhooFemale: You wild fruit! Chorus: Ohoo
Female
Un kaadhal kadidhathaYour love letter
Kilichi pottenI tore it to pieces
Kaluthaiyum thingalaiyaeEven a donkey didn't eat it!
Male
Ohhhooo..kanji paanaiyin melaOhhhooo.. like on top of a pot of rice porridge
Oru inji oorugaa polaLike a ginger pickle
Naan uththu paarthumEven as I stare closely
Udhadu rendumBoth my lips
Uchi kotta vaikkuthadi…ee…ee…heyAre made to smack in delight!
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Female
Mottagi poovaagiBecoming a bud, then a flower
Poomaalai aanenaeI became a flower garland
Un kaiyi korangu kai thaanaeBut your hand is just a monkey's hand!
Nae nae naeNae nae nae
Male
Karppora vaasana polLike the fragrance of camphor
Kaathoda vanthenaeI came along with the breeze
Ariyaatha kalautha neethaanaeBut you are an ignorant donkey!
Nae nae nae…eehh…Nae nae nae...eehh...
Female
Oru poli saamiyaar pola neeLike a fake saint
Pala thaaliyoda thaan alaiyuriyaeYou roam around with many sacred threads!
Intha kavunthupadukkuraTrusting this deceitful person who lies prone
Aazha nambi naan kalutha neetta maatenI will not offer my neck to be tied!
Male
PodiFemale :HeiiiGo away girl! Female: Hey!
Male :Adi podiChorus :Hoi hoiMale: Hey, go away! Chorus: Hoi hoi
Male :Unna uthu paarthu naanMale: Staring right at you
Pathu pullaiya pethukittu povenI will end up siring ten children!
Male
Ah kanji paanaiyin melaAh, on top of the porridge pot
Chorus :Mela…Chorus: On top...
Male :Oru inji oorugaa polaMale: Like a ginger pickle
Chorus :PolaChorus: Like
Male
Naan uththu paarthumEven as I stare closely
Udhadu rendumBoth my lips
Uchi kotta vaikkuthadi..ee..ee..heyAre made to smack in delight!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kanji Paanaiyin Mela is a playful, energetic folk duet from the movie Velli Thirai (2008). The song depicts a witty, lighthearted banter between a young man and woman. The male protagonist compares the woman's tempting, sharp presence to ginger pickle paired with rice porridge, expressing his irresistible attraction and yearning for her affection. In response, the female protagonist banteringly rejects his advances, mocking his attempts at romance, calling him foolish, and recalling how his love letter was destroyed. Despite the playful insults and comedic arguments—ranging from threats with pestles to calling each other monkeys and donkeys—their fiery chemistry and underlying affection shine through as they exchange teasing retorts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kanji paanaiyin mela / Oru inji oorugaa pola

Compares the woman's sharp, irresistible allure to ginger pickle eaten along with rice porridge.

Simile (Uvamai)

Oru thanthi vanthatha pola

Compares the urgency of rushing to meet his lover to receiving an urgent telegram.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Ainooru mutham thaan / Annadam nee thantha / Uyirthaangum udhadu thaangadhae

Exaggerates that while 500 daily kisses can sustain life, the physical lips won't endure such intense affection.

Assonance & Alliteration (Monai & Edhukai)

Kanji paanaiyin mela / Oru inji oorugaa pola

Uses matching rhyming sounds 'Kanji' / 'Inji' and 'Mela' / 'Pola' typical of rural Tamil folk songwriting.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song feature in the movie Velli Thirai (2008), composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar with lyrics by Kabilan. The track is well known for its rustic, rural folk dialogue structure reminiscent of traditional Tamil 'Dappankuthu' and 'Villu Paattu' banter songs.

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