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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanchipattu Saelakatti

From Rettai Jadai Vayasu · 1997

Lyricist
Ilakiyan
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Deva
Details
Rettai Jadai Vayasu1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaanjipatu saela kattiWearing a Kanchipuram silk saree
Kaal kolusil thaalam thattumTapping a rhythm with anklets on her feet
Kannipennae ninnu kelammaO young maiden, stop and listen, dear
En manaivi vandha pinnaalAfter my wife comes into my life
Ennavellaam seiven endruWhat all I will do for her
Serthu vecha aasai sollavaShall I tell you the desires I've accumulated?
Male
Saelaithaan old-aachuSarees have become old-fashioned
Chudithaarum bore-aachuSalwar-kameez has become boring
Nitham oru jeans-u pottuWearing jeans every day
Mutti thodum midiyum pottuWearing knee-length skirts too
Konjam konjam lipstick pottuApplying a little bit of lipstick
Avalai naan rasippenI will admire her
Male
Maasathukku rendu tharamTwice a month
Beauty parlour kootippovenI will take her to the beauty parlour
Raathiriyil nightiyai polAt night like a nightdress
Nanae thaan iruppenI myself will stay close to her
Male
Kaanjipatu saela kattiWearing a Kanchipuram silk saree
Kaal kolusil thaalam thattumTapping a rhythm with anklets on her feet
Kannipennae ninnu kelammaO young maiden, stop and listen, dear
Male
Scooter otta solluvenI will ask her to ride the scooter
Iduppil kaiyai poduvenI will place my hands on her waist
Munnaal paarthu ottunnuSaying 'Look forward and ride'
Pinnaal mella killuvenI will gently pinch her from behind
Male
Thoongipona sammathamIf she falls asleep, with her consent
Thosai naanae oothuvenI will make dosas myself
Oorukkaethum poyittaIf she goes to her native town
Ullukullae yenguvenI will long for her deep inside
Male
Aval mugam en magalukkumaeSo that her face comes to my daughter as well
Varumpadi oru varam ketppenI will ask for a boon
Aval peyar thanai initialaaiHer name as an initial
Idumpadi naan seithiduvenI will make sure to set it
Male
Aval thaavani paruvathuFrom her half-saree days
Love letter anaithayumAll the love letters
Iruvarum padithiduvamWe both will read together
Engal muthumai paruvathuEven in our old age
Muththangal koodaEven the kisses
Inippena rusithiduvomWe will relish with sweetness
Male
Vengaayathai vettum podhumWhile chopping onions
Kan kalanga koodaathammaHer eyes should not tear up, dear
Vengaayamae vendaam kannaeI don't even want onions, my dear
Naan athai veruthiduvenI will hate them
Male
Kaanjipatu saela kattiWearing a Kanchipuram silk saree
Kaal kolusil thaalam thattumTapping a rhythm with anklets on her feet
Kannipennae ninnu kelammaO young maiden, stop and listen, dear
Male
Adada enthan mummykumOh my, for my mother too
Hi tech nadayai pazhakkanumTeach her high-tech posture and walk
Chudithaar pottum paarkanumSee her wearing a salwar kameez
Thozhi polae pazhaganumBond with her like a friend
Male
Azhagaa ponnu pogaiyilWhen a pretty girl walks by
Athai naan rasichu paarkaiyilAnd when I admire her
Kaadhai mella thiruganumShe should gently twist my ear
Aanaa enna rasikkanumBut still enjoy and admire me
Male
Aval thalai thanil poo thaithuPlacing flowers in her hair
Athai pugaipadam eduthu veippenI will take a picture of her
Aval pidikkalai endru sonnaalIf she says she doesn't like it
Beer adippathai niruthiduvenI will stop drinking beer
Male
Oru naalaiku moonenaThree times a day
Murai veithuBy setting a routine
Aval tharum cigarettai kudithiduvenI will smoke the cigarette she gives
En silmisa kanangalil sitharidumScattered during my playful moments
Jacket hook-inai thaithiduvenI will stitch her blouse hooks
Male
Koba pattu thittivittuGetting angry and scolding me
Kollappakkam poyi ninnuGoing and standing in the backyard
Akkam pakkam paarthu vittuLooking around on all sides
Mella naan azhuvenI will softly weep
Male
Kaanjipatu saela kattiWearing a Kanchipuram silk saree
Kaal kolusil thaalam thattumTapping a rhythm with anklets on her feet
Kannipennae ninnu kelammaO young maiden, stop and listen, dear
En manaivi vandha pinnaalAfter my wife comes into my life
Ennavellaam seiven endruWhat all I will do for her
Serthu vecha aasai sollavaShall I tell you the desires I've accumulated?
Male
Saelaithaan old-aachuSarees have become old-fashioned
Chudithaarum bore-aachuSalwar-kameez has become boring
Nitham oru jeans-u pottuWearing jeans every day
Mutti thodum midiyum pottuWearing knee-length skirts too
Konjam konjam lipstick pottuApplying a little bit of lipstick
Avalai naan rasippenI will admire her

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this playful song from 'Rettai Jadai Vayasu', the protagonist humorously fantasizes about his future married life and the quirky ways he plans to adore and care for his wife. He imagines breaking traditional norms by encouraging her to wear modern western clothes like jeans and skirts, taking her to beauty parlors, cooking for her, and even swearing off onions just so her eyes won't water while cooking. His vision spans from playful romantic antics on scooter rides to growing old together while reading nostalgic love letters. The song blends humorous modern sensibilities with affectionate devotion, capturing a young man's lighthearted yet sweet expectations of matrimony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaanjipatu saela katti / Kaal kolusil thaalam thattum / Kannipennae ninnu kelamma

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ka' across consecutive lines for rhythmic harmony.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Scooter otta solluven / Iduppil kaiyai poduven

Matching of the second consonant sound across lines to create end-line rhyme patterns in Tamil poetry.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Vengaayamae vendaam kannae / Naan athai veruthiduven

Comically exaggerating his willingness to give up eating onions entirely just to prevent her eyes from tearing up while cutting them.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rettai Jadai Vayasu' (1997) is a Tamil romantic comedy film starring Ajith Kumar and Goundamani, featuring music composed by Deva.

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