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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kiliyapola

From Veera Thalattu · 1998

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singers
Gangai Amaran, S. P. B. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Veera Thalattu1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ei kiliya pola naan irukkaHey, while I am here like a beautiful parrot,
Kuranga pola pall ilikkumYou go searching for a prostitute
Koothiyaala thedi poriyaeWho grins like a monkey!
Ada aasa machaanOh my dear husband,
Peru kettu naari poriyaeYou are ruining your name and stinking up!
Female
Machaan kiliya pola naan irukkaMachaan, while I am here like a beautiful parrot,
Kuranga pola pall ilikkumYou go searching for a prostitute
Koothiyaala thedi poriyaeWho grins like a monkey!
Ada aasa machaanOh my dear husband,
Peru kettu naari poriyaeYou are ruining your name and stinking up!
Male
Kokkarakkoo ketkkum munnaeBefore the rooster crows in the morning,
Kovanaththa katti kittu…Tying up a loincloth...
Kokkarakkoo ketkkum munnaeBefore the rooster crows in the morning,
Kovanaththa katti kittu…Tying up a loincloth...
Male
Kaasu saekka kasta pattuStruggling hard to save up money,
Naan… veyilu pattu verva sindhiI, sweating under the hot sun,
Vala vetti senju puttuDoing hard labor and making nets,
Velakku vekka veetukku vandhaaWhen I return home at dusk to light the lamp,
Male
Ennai vittuttuLeaving me behind,
Cinemavukku odi poguraYou run away to watch movies!
Kattilumela kavundhadichuPouncing onto the bed,
Padukka vekkura…aaa…Making you lie down... ah...
Female
Kannadichu kandavanaWinking at any stranger,
Kaikkulla thaan poduvaaShe will bring him under her control!
Male :YeiiMale: Hey!
Female :Pathiniyaa vesham pottuFemale: Posing as a virtuous woman,
Kaasu panam theduvaaShe only hunts for money and wealth!
Male :Avala paththi mattum pesadhaMale: Just don't talk about her!
Female
Sirukki mava pogaiya pottuShe is a cunning woman who puts up smoke
Kulukki ava aaduvaaAnd sways her body in dance!
Onna vida panam irunthaaIf someone has more money than you,
Vera pakkam oduvaaShe will run towards them!
Female
Sokka thangam naan irukkaWhile I remain here like pure refined gold,
Pithalaiya thedi poraYou go searching for cheap brass!
Idhu unakku nyaayamaagumaIs this fair on your part,
Kannaana machaanMy darling husband?
Neeyum naanum vera aagumaCan you and I ever become separate?
Male
Kaiyil vandha kaasai ellaamMale: All the money that came into my hands,
Kandabadi vittuttenI wasted recklessly!
Female :Ippo theriyuthaaFemale: Do you realize it now?
Male :Kattunava sonna sollaMale: Without listening to the words of my wedded wife,
Ketkkaama thaan kettuttenI went astray listening to foolishness!
Female :Buththi vanthiruchaaFemale: Has wisdom dawned on you now?
Male
Veshakkari pecha kettuMale: Listening to the words of that deceitful woman,
Buththi kettu poyittenI lost my mind and got ruined!
Kai pudicha unna naanumTo you whose hand I held in marriage,
Kann kalanga vechittenI brought tears to your eyes!
Male
Kallaanaalum kanavanninnuFemale: 'Even if he is like a stone, he is the husband,'
Pullaanaalum purushanninnu'Even if he is like a blade of grass, he is the man,'
Kallaanaalum kanavanninnu'Even if he is like a stone, he is the husband,'
Pullaanaalum purushanninnu'Even if he is like a blade of grass, he is the man,'
Enna nambi nee irukkiraBelieving in this proverb, you stay trusting me.
Male
Sathiyamaaga unna vittuMale: Truly I swear, leaving you
Poga mattendiI will never go away!
Kirukkanaaga oora suththiWandering around town like a madman,
Thiriya maattendiiI will wander no more!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a dramatic, folk-style duet between a wife and her repentant husband. The wife confronts her husband for squandering his hard-earned money on vices, movie-going, and deceitful women, contrasting her genuine beauty and loyalty ('pure gold') with the cheap and fake affection of outsiders ('brass'). The husband eventually realizes his grave mistakes, acknowledges how he neglected his devoted wife, and promises never to stray again. The song concludes with a thematic reaffirmation of marital commitment rooted in traditional cultural adages.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Ei kiliya pola naan irukka / Kuranga pola pall ilikkum

The wife compares herself to a parrot ('kiliya pola') and pure gold ('sokka thangam'), while comparing the other woman to a grinning monkey ('kuranga pola') and cheap brass ('pithalai').

Metaphor & Contrast

Sokka thangam naan irukka / Pithalaiya thedi pora

The contrast between 'Sokka thangam' (pure gold) representing true marital devotion and 'Pithalai' (brass) representing superficial deception.

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Kallaanaalum kanavanninnu / Pullaanaalum purushanninnu

Refers to the traditional Tamil adage 'Kallaanaalum kanavan, pullaanaalum purushan' highlighting the steadfast loyalty of a wife regardless of circumstances.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Veera Thalattu' (1998) was directed by Kasthuri Raja, who also wrote the lyrics for the songs. The movie stars Murali, Vineetha, and Khushbu, featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

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