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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maamanukkum Machanukkum

From Arangetra Velai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Arangetra Velai1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maamanukkum machaanukkumBetween maternal uncle and brother-in-law
Hei viththiyaasam enna irukkuHey, what difference is there?
Kaadhalukkum kacherikkumFor love and for a music performance
Hei vandhiruchu vela namakkuHey, our work/time has arrived
Female
Paakuradhenna maamaaWhat are you looking at, uncle?
Naan kekkuradhenna thaamaaWhat am I asking for, uncle?
Paakuradhenna maamaa…hoiWhat are you looking at, uncle... hoi!
Naan kekkuradhenna thaamaaWhat am I asking for, uncle?
Female
Haa …maamanukkum machaanukkumHaa... between maternal uncle and brother-in-law
Hei viththiyaasam enna irukkuHey, what difference is there?
Kaadhalukkum kacherikkumFor love and for a music performance
Hei vandhiruchu vela namakkuHey, our work/time has arrived
Male
Aattam enna paattam ennaWhat a dance, what a song!
Aal pudikka vetkkam vittuShedding modesty to catch a man
Aalaa parandhu nikkiraYou stand flying like a person ready
Adi aaththa edhukku sokkuraaHey girl, why are you entranced?
Female
Aathiraththai yethi vittuStoking up the anger
Aasaigalai ponga vittuLetting desires overflow
Paadapaduthi veikkuraYou are causing trouble and strain
Enna paathaa odhungi nikkuraWhen you see me, you step aside and stand
Male
Annaadam adikadi niram maarumEvery day, colors change frequently
Ammaadi unakkoru namaskkaaramOh girl, my respectful bow to you!
Female :Pinaala varugira ilamaadhuFemale: The young girl coming behind you
Sonnaalum unnai vittu vilagaadhuWill not leave you even if told
Male
Ottaadhae nee ennoda aadaDon't stick close to dance with me
Thottaada naan muttaalum illaiI am no fool to touch and play
Female :Onmela naan piththaagi ponnenFemale: I have gone crazy over you
Muthaadum poongothaaga aanenI became a flower bouquet to be kissed
Male
Otti otti vandhaIf you come clinging close
OttaviduvenaaWill I let you stick around?
Yendi unakku thaanWhy, girl, for you
Ippa en mel kirukku thaanIs there a craze over me now?
Female
Maamanukkum machaanukkumBetween maternal uncle and brother-in-law
Hei viththiyaasam enna irukkuHey, what difference is there?
Male :Kaadhalukkum kandravikkumMale: Between love and nonsense
Hei vevvera artham irukkuHey, there are different meanings!
Female
Paakuradhenna maamaaWhat are you looking at, uncle?
Naan kekkuradhenna thaamaaWhat am I asking for, uncle?
Male :Paakuradhenna baamaa…hoiMale: What are you looking at, Baama... hoi!
Nee kekkuradhenna poomaaWhat are you asking for, Pooma?
Male
Haa …maamanukkum machaanukkumHaa... between maternal uncle and brother-in-law
Hei viththiyaasam romba irukkuHey, there is a lot of difference!
Kaadhalukkum kandravikkumBetween love and nonsense
Hei vevvera artham irukku..hey haan….Hey, there are completely different meanings... hey haan!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful track features a back-and-forth romantic tease between a young woman trying to win the hero's affection and a reluctant hero trying to keep his distance. The female lead playfully minimizes the difference between relationship statuses and equates love to a celebration, while the male lead humorously counters her advances, claiming that love and absurdity are two vastly different things.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Maamanukkum machaanukkum / Kaadhalukkum kacherikkum

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, seen in Maamanukkum and Kaadhalukkum, as well as Ottaadhae and Thottaada.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Paakuradhenna maamaa / Naan kekkuradhenna thaamaa

Matching end sounds across lines, such as maamaa and thaamaa, or irukku and namakku.

Antithesis / Contrast

Male :Kaadhalukkum kandravikkum / Hei vevvera artham irukku

Juxtaposition of opposing concepts such as Kaadhal (Love) and Kandravi (Nonsense/Absurdity).

Did you know?

Trivia

Arangetra Velai (1990) is the Tamil remake of the iconic Malayalam comedy film Ramji Rao Speaking. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali.

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