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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maathuru Ramakka

From Kulama Gunama · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, S. Janaki
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kulama Gunama1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maathooru raamakkaOh Ramakka of Mathoor village,
Mappillai yaarakkaWho is the groom, sister?
Aathukku pakkamaNear the riverbank,
Alainjathu yen akkaWhy were you wandering, sister?
Female
Maathooru raamakkaOh Ramakka of Mathoor village,
Mappillai yaarakkaWho is the groom, sister?
Aathukku pakkamaNear the riverbank,
Alainjathu yen akkaWhy were you wandering, sister?
Female
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooHoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooChorus: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Female
Aathooram yaarumillae chinnakkaThere was no one by the riverbank, younger sister,
Naan ariyaatha appavi pennakkaI am an innocent, naive girl, sister.
Aathooram yaarumillae chinnakkaThere was no one by the riverbank, younger sister,
Naan ariyaatha appavi pennakkaI am an innocent, naive girl, sister.
Yendi ponaaal enna parthaal ennaWhat if I went? What if I looked?
Pombalathaanae sollakkaAm I not a woman, tell me sister?
Female
Maathooru raamakkaOh Ramakka of Mathoor village,
Mappillai yaarakkaWho is the groom, sister?
Aathukku pakkamaNear the riverbank,
Alainjathu yen akkaWhy were you wandering, sister?
Female
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooHoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooChorus: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Female
Vellai vaetti paiyan vandhuDid a boy wearing a white veshti come
Kaiyai thottu paarthaanaAnd try to hold your hand?
Kallan pola angum ingum thottaanaDid he touch you here and there like a thief?
Female
Illai vendam vendam endraenDid I say 'No, please don't'?
Kaiyai paadhiyil vittaanaDid he let go of my hand halfway?
Idhaiyum vandhu unidathil sonnaanaaDid he come and tell you this as well?
Chorus :SonnaanaChorus: Did he tell?
Female
Kaariyam ambalam aagaathaWon't this matter become public knowledge?
Female :Ungakitta sonnadhu podhaadhaFemale: Isn't what I told you enough?
Female
Kaariyam ambalam aagaathaWon't this matter become public knowledge?
Female :Ungakitta sonnadhu podhaadhaFemale: Isn't what I told you enough?
Female
Ponaa poguthu kalyaanathaLet bygones be bygones, shouldn't you
Pottunnu mudikka koodaathaQuickly finish the wedding?
Female
Maathooru raamakkaOh Ramakka of Mathoor village,
Mappillai yaarakkaWho is the groom, sister?
Aathukku pakkamaNear the riverbank,
Alainjathu yen akkaWhy were you wandering, sister?
Female
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooHoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooChorus: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Female
Malligai poopol mella eduthuDid he lift you gently like a jasmine flower
Madiyil unnai vaiththaanaAnd place you on his lap?
Maanae endrum maambalam endrumDid he call you 'my deer' and 'sweet mango'?
SonnaanaDid he say that?
Female
Sonnadhu onnaa rendaa adiyaeDid he say just one or two things, girl?
Sorgam paarka ponnen naanI went to experience heaven,
Vetkam naanam ellamShyness and bashfulness,
Konjam marandhen naanI forgot them for a little while.
Female
Innoru thadavai sollakkaTell me one more time, sister!
Female :Ellam therinjava neeyakkaFemale: You are the one who knows everything, sister!
Female :Innoru thadavai sollakkaFemale: Tell me one more time, sister!
Female :Ellam therinjava neeyakkaFemale: You are the one who knows everything, sister!
Female :Thaaliyai pottu mudikkira varaikkumFemale: Until the sacred thread is tied,
Vaeliyai pottu veiyakkaPut up a protective fence around yourself!
Female
Akka akkaChorus :Aahaa ahaa haaSister, sister Chorus: Aahaa ahaa haa
Female :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooFemale: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooChorus: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Female :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooFemale: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo ooChorus: Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maathooru Raamakka is a playful folk-style conversational song from the 1971 film Kulama Gunama. The track features village women teasing each other about romantic secret encounters by the riverbank. One sister playfully inquires about the lover, while the other coyly recounts the romantic gestures and sweet terms of endearment expressed by her suitor. Toward the conclusion, the elder sister offers loving advice, cautioning her to maintain boundaries and protect her reputation until the marriage is formally solemnized with the sacred thread (thaali).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maathooru raamakka / Mappillai yaarakka / Alainjathu yen akka

The line endings rhyme playfully with 'akka' (sister) to establish a conversational rhythmic folk tone.

Upamai (Simile)

Malligai poopol mella eduthu

Using 'poopol' (like a flower) and 'pola' (like a) to compare gentle touch and secretive movements.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Maanae endrum maambalam endrum

Repetition of the 'm' sound across words creates a soft melodious flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the movie Kulama Gunama (1971), starring Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Padmini, and Vanisri, featuring music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics written by Kannadasan.

Keep listening

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