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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kora Paaya

From Therku Theru Machan · 1992

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Deva
Details
Therku Theru Machan1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
……………….....
Female
Kora paaya virikalaiyaeHaven't you spread out the grass mat?
Indha koora pudavaiyum kasangalaiyaeThis bridal saree hasn't even been crumpled yet.
Oru kozhi manasu thavikkiradhaeA hen-like gentle heart is yearning,
Indha kondaseval nenaikaliyaeYet this crested rooster isn't realizing it.
Female
Idhu vaasam pootha malliThis is fragrant blooming jasmine,
Ada saethu kaiyiil alliGathering it in your hands,
Nee aasa theera anaichukka maamaEmbrace me to your heart's content, uncle!
Andhapura kadhaiya solliBy telling me harem stories,
Male
Andha kora paaiya suruttikkadiRoll up that grass mat, girl!
Un koora pudavaiya maduchukkadiFold up your bridal saree, girl!
Indha thaatha thaadiyai izhukaamaWithout pulling on this old grandpa's beard,
Nee thaniya paduthu thoongikkadiGo lie down and sleep by yourself!
Female
Apple-ai eduthu kaiyila koduthaWhen an apple is offered right into your hands,
Maapilla marukalaamaShould the bridegroom refuse it?
Aasa manasukku poosaiyai podaTo perform a ritual for the yearning heart,
Avasaranthaan ippa maamaThere is great urgency now, uncle!
Male
Kaavi kamandalam edukkura vayasuThis is the age to take up saffron robes and a water pot,
Naadi thalanthu nadunguthu manasuMy pulse is weak and my mind is trembling.
Kaavi kamandalam edukkura vayasuThis is the age to take up saffron robes and a water pot,
Naadi thalanthu nadunguthu manasuMy pulse is weak and my mind is trembling.
Adiyae kiliyae naan poren veliyaeOh parrot-like girl, I am going outside!
Female
Kora paaya virikalaiyaeHaven't you spread out the grass mat?
Indha koora pudavaiyum kasangalaiyaeThis bridal saree hasn't even been crumpled yet.
Male
Indha thaatha thaadiyai izhukaamaWithout pulling on this old grandpa's beard,
Nee thaniya paduthu thoongikkadiGo lie down and sleep by yourself!
Male
Thookam asathuthu thoda thoda verukkudhuSleep overwhelms me, and being touched disgusts me,
Thalli paduthukkadiLie down further away from me!
Paal palam kasakkudhu paruvam kadanthathuMilk and fruit taste bitter, my prime youth has passed,
Padukaiyai suruttikkadiRoll up the bed!
Female
Kaanja tharaiyaa kanni manam kedakkudhuThe young girl's heart lies like dry, parched land,
Kaadhal mazhaiyaa unnathaan nenaikkudhuIt thinks of you as the rain of love.
Kaanja tharaiyaa kanni manam kedakkudhuThe young girl's heart lies like dry, parched land,
Kaadhal mazhaiyaa unnathaan nenaikkudhuIt thinks of you as the rain of love.
Thodavaa thodavaa thozh meedhu vizhavaaMay I touch you? May I fall upon your shoulders?
Male
Kora paaiya viruchikkadiSpread out the grass mat!
Un koora pudavaiya kasakkikkadiCrumple up your bridal saree!
Adi kozhi koovum neram varaiUntil the rooster crows,
Nee koothu kummalam adichukkadiHave fun and make merry!
Adi moodu thirumbuthu enakkuHey girl, my mood is changing back!
Oru soodu parakkudhu odambuA warmth is flying through my body!
En naadi kokkarichu paadi pakkarichuMy pulse is cackling and singing,
Kickkadikka nikkudhadi narambuMy nerves are standing up, buzzing with excitement!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet depicts a humorous interaction between a young bride eager for romance on her wedding night and her older groom who feels too old and weary for such passions. The bride tries to seduce him with romantic metaphors, while the groom initially resists, claiming his age calls for ascetics rather than romance. However, towards the end, the groom's mood unexpectedly revives, leading to a comic turnaround where he embraces the night's excitement. Written with rich rural Tamil metaphors by Kalidasan, the song captures comedic romantic banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kaanja tharaiyaa kanni manam kedakkudhu / Kaadhal mazhaiyaa unnathaan nenaikkudhu

The young bride's heart is compared to parched land ('Kaanja tharai') waiting for love depicted as rain ('Kaadhal mazhai').

Monai (Alliteration)

Kaanja tharaiyaa kanni manam kedakkudhu

Initial letter alliteration with 'K' sound in 'Kaanja' and 'Kaadhal'.

Metaphor / Imagery

Oru kozhi manasu thavikkiradhae / Indha kondaseval nenaikaliyae

The couple is metaphorically referred to as a hen ('kozhi') and a crested rooster ('kondaseval').

Ethukai (Rhyme)

Thookam asathuthu thoda thoda verukkudhu / Thalli paduthukkadi

Second letter rhyming with 'oo' sound in 'Thookam' and 'Thalli'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Therku Theru Machan' is a 1992 Tamil village drama film directed by Manivannan, starring Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya. The lyrics written by Kalidasan rely heavily on folk style phrasing and humor.

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