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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kothamalli Vaasam

From Indhu · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Minmini, Chorus
Music director
Deva
Details
Indhu1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vennaiyila maamaa nei vaasamUncle, butter smells like ghee
En thinnaiyila …maamaa un vaasamOn my veranda, uncle, it is your fragrance
Female
Kothamalli vaasamFragrance of coriander
Chorus :Ho…hoi…Ho... hoi...
Female :Kothu kothaa veesumIt blows in rich clusters
Chorus :Ho…hoi…Ho... hoi...
Female Chorus :Appdithaan maamanThat is how it is, maternal uncle's
Athai mava naesamAnd cousin's deep affection
Female
Nonsense….Nonsense...
Male
Yaei enna thitturaHey, why are you scolding me?
Unakku paattu thaanae vaenumYou just want a song, right?
Yaeh pattaasu ippo paaruHey firecracker, now watch this
Pattaiya kilappuraenI am going to rock the floor!
Male
Haai vaa munimmaa vaa munimmaaHey, come Munimma, come Munimma
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Haai vaa munimmaa vaa munimmaaHey, come Munimma, come Munimma
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Male
Adi neeyum naanum jodiGirl, you and I are a pair
Chumma beach pakkam vaadiJust come towards the beach
Chorus :Adi neeyum naanum jodiGirl, you and I are a pair
Chumma beach pakkam vaadiJust come towards the beach
Chorus
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Male :MunimmaaMunimma
Male :Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Male
Adho vara ponnuThere comes a girl
Namma aayaa kadai bun-uShe is like a bun from our grandmother's shop
Adho vara ponnuThere comes a girl
Namma aayaa kadai bun-uShe is like a bun from our grandmother's shop
Ilichidaadha ninnuDon't stand there grinning stupidly
Ava kattiduva tinnuShe will humiliate you
Chorus
Thanni kondaa sombulaBring water in a brass pot
Thalli nikkum pombalaiOh woman standing at a distance
Thanni kondaa sombulaBring water in a brass pot
Thalli nikkum pombalaiOh woman standing at a distance
Kovam vandhaa vambulaIf I get angry in a fight
Naan adichiduvaen kombulaI will hit hard and sound the trumpet
Male
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Male
Onnum onnum renduOne plus one is two
Naan kinathu kadavu nanduI am the crab at the well steps
Onnum onnum renduOne plus one is two
Naan kinathu kadavu nanduI am the crab at the well steps
Neeyum naanum friend-uYou and I are friends
Unga vaathiyaaru manduYour teacher is a fool
Chorus
Hey..naalum naalum ettuHey... four plus four is eight
Namma pirikka vandha vettuCut down anyone who comes to separate us
Ettu rendu paththuEight plus two is ten
Namma nanbar ellam muthuAll our friends are precious pearls
Female
Ayyo …amma kaaluOh my, mother, my leg!
Anga kottiduchaan thaeluA scorpion stung right there!
Ayyo …amma kaaluOh my, mother, my leg!
Anga kottiduchaan thaeluA scorpion stung right there!
Chorus
Adi kai kodutha aaluLook at the person who was given a helping hand
Namma kazhutharuthaan paaruLook, he slit our throat in betrayal
Male
Haa Summa ninna sanguA conch sitting idle
Idhai oodhipputta inguIf it gets blown right here
Engae enga panguWhere is our rightful share?
Illa eduththiduvom nonguOtherwise we will squeeze you out!
Male
Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaa.Come Munimma, come
Chorus :Vaa munimmaa vaaCome Munimma, come
Vaa munimmaa vaa.Come Munimma, come
Male :Stop it….Stop it...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vaa Munimmaa Vaa is a celebrated Chennai Gaana track from the 1994 film Indhu, composed by Deva and written by Vaali. The song opens with humorous romantic banter between the lead characters before pivoting into a fast-paced, high-energy dance number filled with local Madras slang, whimsical counting rhymes, and lively street humor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Onnum onnum rendu / Naan kinathu kadavu nandu / Neeyum naanum friend-u / Unga vaathiyaaru mandu

Extensive use of English-Tamil rhyming endings characteristic of Gaana poetry (rendu, nandu, friend-u, mandu).

Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)

Adho vara ponnu / Namma aayaa kadai bun-u

Comparing a young girl humorously to a fresh bun from a street bakery.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Haai vaa munimmaa vaa munimmaa / Vaa munimmaa vaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds created for rhythmic dance tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vaa Munimmaa Vaa is iconic for establishing Deva as the 'Gaana King' of Tamil cinema in the 1990s. Paired with Prabhudeva's explosive choreography and Mano's energetic vocal delivery, the song cemented Madras Bashai folk music into mainstream Tamil cinema.

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