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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannazhaga Kannazhaga

From Madurai Sambavam · 2009

Lyricist
Yurekha
Singers
Anuradha Sriram, Harikumar
Music director
Jhon Peter
Details
Madurai Sambavam2009

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Chorus
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Female
Kannazhgaa kannazhagaa hoi hoiHandsome eyes, oh handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Uppukanda kannazhagaa hoi hoiSalt-cured meat-like handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Vedakkozhi pudikkiriyaaAre you catching a young tender hen?
Virunthukku adikkiriyaaAre you slaughtering it for a feast?
Female
Oththaikku oththa mallukattudaaCome wrestle one-on-one, man!
Vaada idhu kozhi pudikkum jallikattudaa haaCome on, man! This is a hen-catching jallikattu (bull-taming event)!
Male
Iduppazhagi iduppazhagi hoi hoiSlender-waisted beauty, slender-waisted beauty, hoi hoi
Urumi mela iduppazhagi hoi hoiBeauty with a waist shaped like an Urumi drum, hoi hoi
En jottu ponnukkaariMy suitable girl
Kodikkaalu veththalaikkaariThe girl who sells betel leaves from the field
Male
Oththaikku oththa thevai illadiOne-on-one fight is not needed, girl
Podi idhu uppukkusappu jallikattudiGo away, this is just a light and playful jallikattu, girl!
Chorus
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Female
Kannazhgaa kannazhagaa hoi hoiHandsome eyes, oh handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Male :Iduppazhagi iduppazhagi hoi hoiMale: Slender-waisted beauty, slender-waisted beauty, hoi hoi
Chorus
………………...
Female
Sokkapaanai suththaravan nee daaYou are the one who spins the bonfire, man
Ippo soodhanammaa nikkiriyae yaendaa deiWhy are you standing so cautiously now, man?
Male :Thagaraaru senjaa naanum gilliMale: If trouble starts, I am an expert player
Nee thaavaniyil pooththa madhura malliYou are the Madurai jasmine blooming in a half-saree
Female
Usilapatti azhaga pazhakkoodaiUsilampatti beauty, a basket of fruits
Enakku ippo needhaan edai medaiTo me, you are the weighing scale platform now
Male
Haa pombala sirichchaa pochchuHa, if a woman smiles, it is game over
Intha bhoomiyum tharisu aachchuEven this land becomes a barren wasteland
Male
Yaei edhukku vakkanai pechchuHey, why this smart talking?
Ippa isthiri poduthu moochchuNow my breath is pressing like a hot iron
Male
Aah….neruppa kelari kuliru kaayaathadiAh... do not stoke the fire to warm yourself from the cold, girl
Sevala kaala seiga thaangaathadiThe rooster's action cannot be tolerated, girl
Chorus
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Female
Kannazhgaa kannazhagaa hoi hoiHandsome eyes, oh handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Uppukanda kannazhagaa hoi hoiSalt-cured meat-like handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Male
Iduppazhagi iduppazhagi hoi hoiSlender-waisted beauty, slender-waisted beauty, hoi hoi
Urumi mela iduppazhagi oo…..oiBeauty with a waist like an Urumi drum, oo...oi
Chorus
…………….....
Yaesaa yaesaa yaesaa yaesaaYeesaa yeesaa yeesaa yeesaa
Yaesaa yaesaa yaesaa yaesaaYeesaa yeesaa yeesaa yeesaa
Male
Murppokkaa sinthikkira ponnuA progressive-thinking girl
Adi muyalukku moonu kaalaa ennuAdmitting that a rabbit has three legs (being stubborn)
Female
Kannagiyum naanum ippa onnuKannagi and I are one and the same now
Male :AiiMale: Hey!
Female :Naan kaduppaanaa eriyumadaa mannuFemale: If I get angry, even the earth will burn, man
Male
Karmaaththooru aruvaa kayil irukkuA scythe from Karumathur is in my hand
Kai kozhanthai onakku adhu edhukkuYou are like a infant child, why do you need that?
Female
Yaei kaattaathadaa poochchiHey, do not show off or scare me
Inga meenaatchi aatchiGoddess Meenakshi rules here!
Male :Sonnathu orae pechchuMale: Words once spoken remain final
Antha sokkanum varum saatchiThat Lord Sundareswarar (Sokkan) will come as witness
Female
Aah kozhi manasil seval neethaanadaaAh, in the hen's heart, you are the rooster, man
Kudharkkam pannaa kolaiyum seivenadaaIf you play tricks, I will even commit murder, man!
Chorus
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Female
Kannazhgaa kannazhagaa hoi hoiHandsome eyes, oh handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Uppukanda kannazhagaa hoi hoiSalt-cured meat-like handsome eyes, hoi hoi
Male :Iduppazhagi iduppazhagi hoi hoiMale: Slender-waisted beauty, slender-waisted beauty, hoi hoi
Urumi mela iduppazhagi hoi hohoiBeauty with a waist like an Urumi drum, hoi hohoi
Female
Aah vedakkozhi pudikkiriyaaAh, are you catching a young tender hen?
Aah virunthukku adikkiriyaaAh, are you slaughtering it for a feast?
Male :Oththaikku oththa thevai illadiMale: One-on-one fight is not needed, girl
Female :ApparamFemale: What next?
Male :Podiyo uppukkusappu jallikattudiMale: Go away, this is just a light, easy jallikattu, girl
Female :AamaamFemale: Yes!
Chorus
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo
Popo popo popoPopo popo popo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy, rustic folk duet set in the culturally vibrant region of Madurai. The lead couple engages in playful banter, teasing each other's looks, strength, and local pride. The female singer challenges the hero's bravado using metaphors of local traditions like Jallikattu and references to regional icons such as Kannagi and Goddess Meenakshi. The hero responds with equal fervor, admiring her beauty while asserting his own charm and strength.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathal)

“Urumi mela iduppazhagi hoi hoi”

Comparing the female waist to an 'Urumi' drum ('Urumi mela iduppazhagi') and describing her as a basket of fruits ('pazhakkoodai').

Rhyme / Monnai (Initial Rhyming)

“Vedakkozhi pudikkiriyaa / Virunthukku adikkiriyaa”

Use of matching initial sounds in consecutive words and lines (e.g., Vedakkozhi / Virunthukku).

Cultural Allusion (Ilaikkiya Kurippu)

“Kannagiyum naanum ippa onnu”

References to historical and mythological figures deeply associated with Madurai, such as Kannagi, Meenakshi, and Sokkan (Lord Shiva).

Idiom / Local Expression (Vattara Vazhakku)

“Adi muyalukku moonu kaalaa ennu”

Use of regional Madurai Tamil idioms like 'Muyalukku moonu kaalu' (stubbornly persisting in an argument) and 'Uppukkusappu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Madurai Sambavam' (2009) is an action drama film starring Harikumar and Anuya Bhagvath. The film's soundtrack was composed by John Peter, with lyrics penned by Yurekha, capturing the authentic rural flavor and folk musical traditions of southern Tamil Nadu.

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