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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannukku Azhaga

From Aval Yaar · 1959

Lyricist
V. Seetharaman
Singers
Jikki, T. V. Rathinam
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Aval Yaar1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa….aa….aa….aa…Aa....aa....aa....aa...
Kannukkazhakaaga pengalai padaiththuvittaanGod created women to be a feast for the eyes;
Kadavul endroru kai thaerntha sirpiyavanHe is a master sculptor called God.
Enni parththaalo kanniyargal azhagaalaeWhen you think about it, because of maidens' beauty,
Eththanaiyo thunbangal irukkuthu adhanaalaeSo many troubles arise as a result!
Chorus
Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathuI do not walk out on the street,
Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathuNor can I do any work.
Female
Aaa….aa….aa…Aaa....aa....aa...
Kollum vizhiyaal endraeWith killer eyes, they say,
Sollugindraar ellorumEveryone talks this way.
Lesaaga en paarvai pattu aasaamiIf my light glance falls on a fellow and he
Close aagi vittaaloGets 'closed' (drops dead) because of it?
AdhanaalaeTherefore...
Chorus
Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathuI do not walk out on the street,
Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathuNor can I do any work.
Female
Muththukkalaam En parkalendru'Her teeth are like pearls',
Eththanaiyo per sonnaargalSo many people said so.
Paarththavargal maalai kattaWhat if onlookers knock out my teeth
En pallai thatti vittaaloTo make a pearl necklace?
AdhanaalaeTherefore...
Chorus
Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathuI do not walk out on the street,
Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathuNor can I do any work.
Female
Maan vizhiyaal kili mozhiyaal'With deer-like eyes, parrot-like voice,','With hair like dark clouds,','She sings like a cuckoo and dances like a peacock,','With the gait of a gentle elephant,'
Vannadanaiya koondhaludaiyaalThus they speak whenever they see us.
Kuyilaaga paaduvaal mayilaaga aaduvaalWhat if ignorant people lock us up
Female
Pidiyaanai nadaiyaalIn an exhibition hall? That is why...
Endrae pesugiraar emai kandaeI do not walk out on the street,
Vishayamariyaathavar kankaatchi saalaiyilaeNor can I do any work.
Emmai adaiththuvittaalo adhanaalaethanI do not walk out on the street,
Chorus
Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathuNor can I do any work.
Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathu
Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathu
Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous and playful Tamil song from the 1959 movie 'Aval Yaar' features women lightheartedly lamenting the exaggerated compliments they receive regarding their beauty. They joke about the extreme consequences of poetically hyperbolic praise—such as their 'killer eyes' literally ending someone's life, onlookers knocking out their 'pearl-like teeth' to make jewelry, or being locked in an exhibition due to their rare beauty. As a result, they comically claim they cannot even step onto the street or do any daily work. Through witty lyrics and lively music composed by S. Rajeswararao, the song satirizes poetic cliches about female beauty in Tamil literature and film music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Simile (Upamai)

Muththukkalaam En parkalendru

The lyricist uses poetic comparisons standard in classical literature (pearls for teeth, deer for eyes, parrot for voice, peacock for dance, clouds for hair) in a satirical context.

Hyperbole (Uyirvu Navirtchi Ani)

Close aagi vittaalo

Exaggerated comic anxiety about poetic compliments causing dramatic real-world consequences like being put in an exhibition or causing someone to drop dead.

Refrain / Anaphora

Veedhiyil povathu kidaiyaathu / Entha velaiyum seithida mudiyaathu

Repetition of the core complaint throughout the song after each comical scenario to reinforce the thematic humor.

Did you know?

Trivia

An early example of Tanglish (Tamil-English blend) in 1950s cinema lyrics, using the English word 'close' in a Tamil lyric for comedic effect ('close aagi vittaalo').

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