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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maappillai

From Sabaash Mapillai · 1961

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Sabaash Mapillai1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maappillai maappillaiGroom, groom
Maappillai maappillai varaaruHere comes the groom, groom
Female
Thoppukkaranam noothi ettuOne hundred and eight sit-ups
Podavumae poraaruHe is going to do
Male
Aei… maappillai maappillaiHey... groom, groom
Maappillai maappillai varaaruHere comes the groom, groom
Female
Thoppukkaranam noothi ettuOne hundred and eight sit-ups
Podavumae poraaruHe is going to do
Male
Maalai podavae jaaliyaagavaeTo put the garland joyfully
Female
Aalai thaediyae aadi paadiyaeSearching for his beloved, dancing and singing
Male
Maalai podavae jaaliyaagavaeTo put the garland joyfully
Female
Aalai thaediyae aadi paadiyaeSearching for his beloved, dancing and singing
Male
O…ho…o…ho…Oh... ho... oh... ho...
Female
Mm…mm…mm…Mm... mm... mm...
Male
Maappillai maappillaiGroom, groom
Maappillai maappillai varaaruHere comes the groom, groom
Female
Thoppukkaranam noothi ettuOne hundred and eight sit-ups
Podavumae poraaruHe is going to do
Male
Ha…ha…aa..haa…Ha... ha... aa.. haa...
Male
Aandhaiyai polaLike an owl
Ivar muzhippadhai paaruLook at how he blinks
Aan pillai singam ivar maadhiri yaaruWho is a brave lion among men like him?
Female
Pengalai kandaalWhen he sees women
Pithaagi nirpaaruHe stands infatuated
Pinnaalae sendru ivar pal ilippaaruHe follows behind them and grins showing his teeth
Male
Aasai irukkudhuThere is desire
Athai magal meedhilaeFor his aunt's daughter
Aasai irukkudhu athai magal meedhilaeThere is desire for his aunt's daughter
Female
Aanaal kannaadi munnaalBut in front of the mirror
Thannai ivar paarkkalaeHe hasn't looked at himself
Aa…aanaal kannaadi munnaalAh... but in front of the mirror
Thannai ivar paarkkalaeHe hasn't looked at himself
Male
O…ho…o…ho…Oh... ho... oh... ho...
Female
Mm…mm…mm…Mm... mm... mm...
Male
Maappillai maappillaiGroom, groom
Maappillai maappillai varaaruHere comes the groom, groom
Female
Thoppukkaranam noothi ettuOne hundred and eight sit-ups
Podavumae poraaruHe is going to do
Male
Ha….aa..aa…haa….Ha... aa.. aa... haa...
Male
Kottaanai pola ivar kooviduvaaruLike a horned owl he will hoot
Kummaalam pottu ivar thaaviduvaaruHe will leap around making merry
Female
Saappaattai kandaalWhen he sees food
Ivar yaanaiyaavaaruHe turns into an elephant
Thaayaarin munnae ivar poonaiyaavaaruIn front of his mother, he becomes a meek cat
Male
Pattikkaattilae mittaa ulla mainaruA wealthy dandy in the village
Pattikkaattilae mittaa ulla mainar…ru…A wealthy dandy in the village...
Female
Paaru mael maadi ullaeLook inside his top floor (head)
Angae verum saibaruThere it is just a zero (empty)
Aa…paaru mael maadi ullaeAh... look inside his top floor
Angae verum saibaruThere it is just a zero (empty)
Male
O…ho…o…ho…Oh... ho... oh... ho...
Female
Mm…mm…mm…Mm... mm... mm...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Maappillai Maappillai' is a playful, comical song from the 1961 Tamil film Sabaash Mapillai, written by lyricist A. Maruthakasi. The song playfully mocks a self-absorbed prospective groom, teasing his foolish pretensions, excessive appetite, and complete lack of intellect. Through vivid imagery, the lyrics describe him blinking wide-eyed like an owl, acting meek as a cat before his mother, eating ravenously like an elephant, and carrying an empty mind despite dressing like a wealthy rural dandy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Aandhaiyai pola ivar muzhippadhai paaru

Compares the groom's blinking to an owl ('Aandhaiyai pola') and his screeching to a horned owl ('Kottaanai pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paaru mael maadi ullae angae verum saibaru

Metaphorically refers to the groom's head/mind as a top floor ('mael maadi') that contains nothing but zero/emptiness ('verum saibaru').

Rhyme & Assonance (Edhukai / Monai)

Saappaattai kandaal ivar yaanaiyaavaaru / Thaayaarin munnae ivar poonaiyaavaaru

Contrasting behaviors using rhyming metaphors: 'yaanaiyaavaaru' (becomes an elephant when seeing food) and 'poonaiyaavaaru' (becomes a timid cat in front of his mother).

Did you know?

Trivia

Sabaash Mapillai (1961) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Malini, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. This lighthearted comedic track highlights A. Maruthakasi's skill in writing humorous social satire for Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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