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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kathavai Thiradi Bama

From Bhama Rukmani · 1980

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Bhama Rukmani1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kadhava theradi baamaOpen the door, Bhama
En kaalu valikalaamaWon't my legs start hurting?
Male
Kadhava theradi baamaOpen the door, Bhama
En kaalu valikalaamaWon't my legs start hurting?
Paarthavan sirippandi pathini pendaattiPeople who see this will laugh, my virtuous wife
Thaappala podathae adi aayiram aanaaalumDon't bolt the door, after all, no matter what happens
Veetukkullae vachikko veliyae verattadhaeKeep me inside the house, don't chase me away
Male
Oorilulla aambalai seivadhai thaanaeWhat men in this town usually do
Unarchiyin vegathil naanum ingu seidhenIn the heat of emotion, I did as well here
Male
Kaadhalicha pennai naan kai vidalaamaShould I abandon the girl I loved?
Kai vitta paavathai naan seiyalaamaShould I commit the sin of abandoning her?
Male
Kurai illaa manidhanae ulagilae illaiyaeThere is no human being in this world without flaws
Veettukkullae kooppittu nee ennai mannithuCall me inside the house, forgive me
Serthu kolla kettukkirenI beg you to accept me back
Kadhava theradi baama en kaalu valikalaamaOpen the door, Bhama, won't my legs start hurting?
Kadhava theradi baama en kaalu valikalaamaOpen the door, Bhama, won't my legs start hurting?
Male
Pillai pola ennai nee valarpaadhaai solliSaying you would nurture me like a child
Paadiya paattaiyum yen marandhaai baamaWhy did you forget the song you sang, Bhama?
Male
Paai viricha raathiri nadanthathai konjamWhen I think back a little to what happened on the night the mat was spread
Enniyae paarkaiyil yenguthu nenjamMy heart longs with yearning
Male
Kanavanai thozhuvadhaai sonnaval neeyadiYou were the one who said you worship your husband
Kai pidicha kaalathil nee sonna varthaigalThe words you spoke when I took your hand
Kaathula thaan poi vittadhaeHave they gone into the wind?
Male
Kadhava theradi rukkuOpen the door, Rukku
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
Male
Kadhava theradi rukkuOpen the door, Rukku
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
Paarthavan sirippandi pathini pendaattiPeople who see this will laugh, my virtuous wife
Thaappala podathae adi aayiram aanaaalumDon't bolt the door, after all, no matter what happens
Veetukkullae vachikko veliyae verattadhaeKeep me inside the house, don't chase me away
Male
Aththa petha po mayil enakkena yengiYearning for me, the lovely peacock born to aunt
Thavipadhaai thudipadhaaiWas suffering and squirming in longing
Thaayum vandhu sonnaalMother came and told me so
Male
Thaayin ullam kulirnthida avalukku naanaeTo gladden my mother's heart, I tied the wedding thread
Thaaliyai kattinen ver enna senjenTo her myself, what else did I do?
Thavaru thaan iruppinum thayavu nee puriyanumEven if there is a mistake, you must show mercy
Ponadhellam pogattum aanadhu aagattumLet bygone be bygone, let whatever happened be done
Kobathaiyum nee maathanumYou must change your anger
Male
Kadhava theradi rukkuOpen the door, Rukku
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
Male
Aayar paadi kannanin kadhaiyinai polaeLike the story of Lord Krishna in Ayarpadi
Adiyavan vazhkaiyum aagi pochu pennaeMy humble life too has become like that, woman
Male
Ingum angum odhapadum pandhu pol ennaiLike a ball kicked back and forth here and there
Iruvarum seigaiyil engu naan povenWhen both of you treat me this way, where will I go?
Irandu naal pattini irakkam nee kaattadiStarved for two days, show some mercy
Kenji kenji ketkkiren sonnadha seigirenI am begging and pleading, I will do as you say
Ulla vara nee solaldiJust tell me to come inside
Male
Kadhava theradi rukkuOpen the door, Rukku
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
Paarthavan sirippandi pathini pendaattiPeople who see this will laugh, my virtuous wife
Thaappala podathae adi aayiram aanaaalumDon't bolt the door, after all, no matter what happens
Veetukkullae vachikko veliyae verattadhaeKeep me inside the house, don't chase me away
Male
Kadhava theradi rukkuOpen the door, Rukku
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
En kaalum valichukedakkuMy legs are aching terribly
En kaalum valichukedakku….My legs are aching terribly...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a humorous and desperate pleading monologue by a husband locked outside the house by his two wives, Bhama and Rukmani (Rukku). Standing at the threshold, he complains about his aching legs and expresses embarrassment that onlookers will laugh at their domestic conflict. He attempts to defend his actions, admitting his human flaws while appealing to nostalgia, love, and filial duty to justify his second marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Ingum angum odhapadum pandhu pol ennai

Compares his miserable condition of being passed around between two wives to a football being kicked back and forth.

Mythological Allusion

Aayar paadi kannanin kadhaiyinai polae

References Lord Krishna's life in Ayarpadi who was famously surrounded by and caught between multiple consorts (Sathyabhama and Rukmini).

Repetition (Anaphora)

En kaalum valichukedakku

Repetition of the refrain highlighting physical discomfort to evoke sympathy.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1980 Tamil comedy film 'Bhama Rukmani', starring K. Bhagyaraj, Radhika, and Praveena. The thematic conflict mirrors the legendary tales of Lord Krishna with his consorts Bhama and Rukmini, adapted into a contemporary domestic comedy.

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