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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maanamellam Pona Pinnae

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Tiruchi Loganathan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Aaravalli1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maanamellaam pona pinnaeAfter all dignity is lost,
Vaazhvathuthaan oru vaazhvaaIs living really called a life?
Maanamellaam pona pinnaeAfter all dignity is lost,
Vaazhvathuthaan oru vaazhvaaIs living really called a life?
Male
Selai kattum pombalaiyaalBecause of a saree-wearing woman,
Seerazhivae varalaamaa intha seerazhivae varalaamaaShould total ruin come? Should this total ruin come?
Male
Povoththu povoththuGo away, go away!
Oh maavaa…oo….maavaa….aniOh uncle... oh uncle...
Naa paarya seppina vinalaethaeWithout listening to what my wife said!
Male
Povoththu povoththuGo away, go away!
Oh maavaa…oo….maavaa….aniOh uncle... oh uncle...
Naa paarya seppina vinalaethaeWithout listening to what my wife said!
Male
Aaduromae thllaaduromaeWe are dancing, we are swaying!
Aambalainga pombalaikku adimaipattuMen becoming enslaved to women.
Male
Aaduromae thllaaduromaeWe are dancing, we are swaying!
Aambalainga pombalaikku adimaipattuMen becoming enslaved to women.
Male
Pettai kozhi ettiThe hen reaches out,
Koththum kaalam vanthathaeThe time to peck has arrived.
Seval thattu kettu thalaiThe rooster, losing its sway,
Kuniya kaalam vanthathaeThe time to bow its head has arrived.
Male
Pettai kozhi ettiThe hen reaches out,
Koththum kaalam vanthathaeThe time to peck has arrived.
Seval thattu kettu thalaiThe rooster, losing its sway,
Kuniya kaalam vanthathaeThe time to bow its head has arrived.
Male
Pengal attakaasamWomen's arrogance,
Minji pogum kalam vanthaeThe time when it exceeds limits has arrived.
Attakaasam minji pogum kaalam vanthaeThe time when arrogance exceeds limits has arrived.
Naama adangi odungi vaazha kaalam vanthathaeThe time for us to live submissively and quietly has arrived.
Naama adangi odungi vaazha kaalam vanthathaeThe time for us to live submissively and quietly has arrived.
Chorus
Oduromae ippo oduromaeWe are running, now we are running.
Oduromae ippo oduromaeWe are running, now we are running.
Maadu pola vandiyizhuththu vaaduromaePulling the cart like an ox, we are wilting away.
Ippo vaaduromaeNow we are wilting away.
Chorus
Oduromae ippo oduromae……We are running, now we are running...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maanamellaam Pona Pinnae from the 1957 Tamil film Aaravalli is a lighthearted, satirical song expressing the sorrow and utter loss of pride among men who have been subjugated by powerful women. The lyricist uses witty domestic allegories, such as hens pecking roosters and men pulling carts like oxen, to paint a humorous picture of reversed gender roles and male helplessness in the kingdom of Aaravalli.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Pettai kozhi etti koththum kaalam vanthathae

Compares dominant women to a hen pecking a rooster to signify the reversal of traditional authority.

Simile

Maadu pola vandiyizhuththu vaaduromae

Compares men's plight under female domination to oxen forced to pull heavy carts.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Aaduromae thllaaduromae / Oduromae ippo oduromae

The second letter 'du' rhymes across multiple verb forms (Aaduromae, Oduromae, Vaaduromae) creating a rhythmic comedic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aaravalli (1957) was based on a famous Tamil folk legend about seven sorceress sisters (Aaravalli and Sooravalli) who imprisoned men in their kingdom. Composed by G. Ramanathan, this song incorporates humorous folk rhythms along with Tamilized Telugu slang lines ('Naa paarya seppina vinalaethae') to highlight the comedic defeat of male characters.

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