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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maamanukku Paramakudi

From Guru · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Guru1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maaamanukku paramakudiParamakudi for uncle
Machinikku thoothukkudiThoothukudi for sister-in-law
Manasila nenachapadiJust as you wished in your heart
Vanthu ennai anaichi pudiCome and embrace me tight
Female
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Female
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Female
Athai mavanumThe aunt's son is also
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Muthu karuppanMuthu Karuppan is
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Male
Ellam jora oru thadavaiEveryone, smartly together, once
Kai thattungoClap your hands!
HaanHaan!
Claps and Whistle :……………………….[Claps and Whistles]
Female
Pattu melaakuWearing a silk shawl
Paavadai pottuAnd a skirt
Mettu podamaWithout composing a tune
Naan paadum paatuThe song I sing
Ketaalae em melaeJust listening to it, on me
ThonumWill feel like
Gunam maaraChanging character
Female
ThodarnthaContinuous
Sogam seraSorrow joining
Sonnalum niruthathuWon't stop even if told
Summavum irukaathuWon't stay quiet either
Suthama suthum vayasuYouth that spins around completely
Female
Maaamanukku paramakudiParamakudi for uncle
Machinikku thoothukkudiThoothukudi for sister-in-law
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Female
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Female
Athai mavanumThe aunt's son is also
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Muthu karuppanMuthu Karuppan is
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Female
Aasai veetukkuFor the house of desires
Thaappavum yethuWhy a latch?
Azhagu ponnoramNext to a beautiful girl
Nee nikkum pothuWhen you stand
Female
Poovaatam ponnaatamLike a flower, like gold
Ponnu onnu irukkuThere is a girl
Pudicha vanthu nerukkuIf you like, come closer
Naanaachu neeyaachuIt's either me or you
Naan parthu naalaachuIt's been days since I saw you
Raasavae unga nenappuOh King, thoughts of you!
Female
Maaamanukku paramakudiParamakudi for uncle
Machinikku thoothukkudiThoothukudi for sister-in-law
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Female
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Female
Athai mavanumThe aunt's son is also
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Muthu karuppanMuthu Karuppan is
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Female
Aadi kaathatumEven if the Aadi wind blows
Aadatho manasuWon't the heart sway?
Anaiyae pottalumEven if a dam is built
Odatho vayasuWon't youth flow away?
Female
Engeyo pogathoWon't it go somewhere?
Thuninja ulagam thurumbuTo the courageous, the world is a mere straw
Thudikkum ennam irumbuA thumping mind is like iron
Thadai poda aal yethuWho is there to place an obstacle?
Thadai yethum kidaiyathuThere are no obstacles at all
Thaavatho chinnanchirusuWon't young hearts leap forward?
Female
Maaamanukku paramakudiParamakudi for uncle
Machinikku thoothukkudiThoothukudi for sister-in-law
Manasila nenachapadiJust as you wished in your heart
Vanthu ennai anaichi pudiCome and embrace me tight
Female
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Koota ninna ennaWhat if standing as a crowd?
Kurukurunu paartha ennaWhat if looking intently?
Female
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Endha ooru thaanWhich native town is it?
Kunnakudi thaanIt is Kunnakudi!
Female
Athai mavanumThe aunt's son is also
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!
Muthu karuppanMuthu Karuppan is
Kunnakudi thaanFrom Kunnakudi!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Maamanukku Paramakudi' is an exuberant, folk-inspired song from the 1980 movie Guru. In the song, the female protagonist expresses her playful affection and tease towards her cousin (athai mavan) and family, using famous town names of Tamil Nadu (Paramakudi, Thoothukudi, Kunnakudi) in a rhythmic, festive cadence. The lyrics radiate high energy, celebrating romance, dancing, and audience interaction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Maaamanukku paramakudi / Machinikku thoothukkudi

Repetition of the initial 'M' consonant across adjacent words.

Etuhaai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pattu melaaku / Paavadai pottu / Mettu podama

Rhyming of the second syllable letter across lines ('tt' sound).

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Thuninja ulagam thurumbu / Thudikkum ennam irumbu

Comparing the world to a light straw for the courageous, and a restless mind to strong iron.

Simile (Upamai)

Poovaatam ponnaatam

Comparing the girl's precious and delicate nature to flowers and gold.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki, this high-energy dance number from the film Guru (1980) starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi became hugely popular for its catchphrase usage of real South Tamil Nadu towns like Paramakudi, Thoothukudi, and Kunnakudi.

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