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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Konjum Kili Pakkathile

From Bombay Mail 109 · 1980

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Bombay Mail 1091980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Konjum kili pakkaththilaeNext to a sweet-talking parrot,
Kottaan pol nikkiriyaeYou are standing like an owl!
Anjaamae settai panniFearlessly doing mischief,
Ponna paarththu sokkuriyaeYou are swooning upon looking at the girl!
Anjaamae settai panniFearlessly doing mischief,
Ponna paarththu sokkuriyaeYou are swooning upon looking at the girl!
Male
Nee allikittu vanthavanaa illaiDid you come gathering her up, or
Thalli kittu vanthavanaaDid you come pushing her away?
Aahaa yaehae soldra deiAahaa yaehae tell me, hey man!
Male
Nee allikittu vanthavanaa illaiDid you come gathering her up, or
Thalli kittu vanthavanaaDid you come pushing her away?
Yaaru ntha chinna mainaaWho is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaaTell me and go, my buddy!
Ada yaaru intha chinna mainaHey, who is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaa nainaaTell me and go, my buddy, buddy!
Male
Ponna paaru jilujilunnuLook at the girl, sparkling and fresh
PoomaalaiyaattamLike a garland of flowers!
Ada unnai paaru kooththu medaiHey, look at yourself, on the theatrical stage
KomaaliyaattamLike a buffoon joker!
Male
Ponna paaru jilujilunnuLook at the girl, sparkling and fresh
PoomaalaiyaattamLike a garland of flowers!
Ada unnai paaru kooththu medaiHey, look at yourself, on the theatrical stage
KomaaliyaattamLike a buffoon joker!
Male
Pullimaanin roopam kanduSeeing the form of a spotted deer,
Kullanari mogam konduDesiring it like a sly fox,
Pullimaanin roopam kanduSeeing the form of a spotted deer,
Kullanari mogam konduDesiring it like a sly fox,
Thulli enna laabam unduWhat is the use of leaping around?
Solluvatha kelu manduListen to what I say, you fool!
Male
Nee allikittu vanthavanaa illaiDid you come gathering her up, or
Thalli kittu vanthavanaaDid you come pushing her away?
Yaaru ntha chinna mainaaWho is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaaTell me and go, my buddy!
Yae….nainaa….ae….Hey... buddy... ae...
Male
Veththuvettu raajapaatt vesham podaathaeDon't put on a fake royal attire!
Puththi ketta paiththiyamae neeyum odaathaeYou foolish madman, don't run around!
Adaai veththuvettu raajapaatt vesham podaathaeHey, don't put on a fake royal attire!
Puththi ketta paiththiyamae neeyum odaathaeYou foolish madman, don't run around!
Male
Piththanae nee vetkkam kettuYou madman, shameless as you are,
Vairaththukku aasaipattuCoveting a diamond!
Piththanae nee vetkkam kettuYou madman, shameless as you are,
Vairaththukku aasaipattuCoveting a diamond!
Male
Nee allikittu vanthavanaa illaiDid you come gathering her up, or
Thalli kittu vanthavanaaDid you come pushing her away?
Yaaru ntha chinna mainaaWho is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaaTell me and go, my buddy!
Yae….nainaa….Hey... buddy...
Yaaru ntha chinna mainaaWho is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaaTell me and go, my buddy!
Male
Maadu nalla maadunnaa soodum onnaethaanIf a bull is a good bull, it bears only one brand mark!
Manushan nalla manushannaa sollum onnaethaanIf a man is a good man, his word is only one!
Maadu nalla maadunnaa soodum onnaethaanIf a bull is a good bull, it bears only one brand mark!
Manushan nalla manushannaa sollum onnaethaanIf a man is a good man, his word is only one!
Male
Sollai ketkkum aanumillaeThere is no man who listens to wise words,
Soodu thaangum maadumillaeNor a bull that withstands heat!
Pallizhanthu odapporaYou will run away losing your teeth,
Sollizhanthu vaada poraYou will wither away losing your honor!
Male
Nee allikittu vanthavanaa illaiDid you come gathering her up, or
Thalli kittu vanthavanaaDid you come pushing her away?
Yaaru ntha chinna mainaaWho is this little maina bird?
Enakku solliputtu poyaen nainaa…..Tell me and go, my buddy.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively Tamil song from Bombay Mail 109 (1980) is a playful and mocking track directed at a foolish man who is making unwelcome romantic advances towards a woman way beyond his standing. Using sharp rural proverbs and animal imagery, the singer compares the woman to a delicate parrot, a spotted deer, and a fresh garland, while ridiculing the man as an owl, a sly fox, and a clown on stage. The lyrics warn him against living in a fantasy world and putting on fake appearances, reminding him that a true man stands by his word and knows his limits before facing humiliation. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, the song blends playful teasing with practical moral advice written by veteran lyricist A. Maruthakasi.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama)

Poomaalaiyaattam ... Komaaliyaattam

Compares the girl to a floral garland (Poomaalaiyaattam) and the foolish man to a circus or theatre joker (Komaaliyaattam).

Animal Allegory / Imagery

Konjum kili pakkaththilae / Kottaan pol nikkiriyae

Uses contrasting animal imagery to highlight the absurdity of the match—contrasting a sweet parrot (Konjum kili) and spotted deer (Pullimaan) with an owl (Kottaan) and sly fox (Kullanari).

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pullimaanin roopam kandu / Kullanari mogam kondu

Classic Tamil rhyming convention where the second letter of consecutive lines matches (e.g., 'll' in Pullimaan / Kullanari / Thulli / Solluvatha).

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Maadu nalla maadunnaa soodum onnaethaan / Manushan nalla manushannaa sollum onnaethaan

Incorporates traditional folk proverbs comparing a honorable man keeping his single word to a fine bull bearing a single brand mark.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bombay Mail 109' featured music by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, one of Tamil cinema's pioneer lyricists famous for integrating folk idioms and proverbs into film music.

Keep listening

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