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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maavu Araikka Santhanam

From Piranthaen Valarnthaen · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Piranthaen Valarnthaen1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haei maavu araikka aattukkalluHey, a grinding stone to grind batter,
Manjal araikka ammikkalluA flat mortar stone to grind turmeric,
Vaangi vachchen voottukkullaI bought and kept them inside the house,
Kudumpa nadaththa vaadi pullaCome girl, to run a family with me!
Adi akkaa peththa makkaacholamHey, my elder sister's daughter, as sweet as sweetcorn,
Female
Maavu araikka aattukkalluA grinding stone to grind batter,
Manjal araikka ammikkalluA flat mortar stone to grind turmeric,
Vaangi vachcha pothaathungaJust buying them isn't enough, sir,
Maalai pottaa vaaraenungaPlace a wedding garland around my neck and I shall come, sir!
Ada enna suththum chinna machchanOh, my young cousin who circles around me!
Male
Needhaan oru type-uYou are my type,
Unna adichean naan sightuI checked you out,
Ippa ennaachchu love undaachchuNow what happened? Love was born!
Female :Aahaa naanthaan oru mainaaFemale: Aha, I am like a Myna bird,
Unga maman en nainaaYour uncle is my father!
Pudhu sonthamthaan namma panthamthaanOur bond is a brand new relationship,
Male
Apothu paaththu paththu yaenginaenBack then, I looked at you repeatedly and longed for you,
Ippothu kaiyil unna vaanginaen haeiNow I hold you close in my hands, hey!
Female :Kannaala kadhal paadam oodhinaenFemale: I taught a lesson of love through my eyes,
Ummela naanum vanthu modhinaenI came and bumped into you with affection,
Male
Adi maththaappu sundari kiththaappu ennadiHey, beauty sparkling like fireworks, why such pride?
Nenjodu saerththu unna thaanginaenI embraced and held you close to my heart!
Adi maththaappu sundari kiththaappu ennadiHey, beauty sparkling like fireworks, why such pride?
Nenjodu saerththu unna thaanginaen haei haeiI embraced and held you close to my heart, hey hey!
Female
Maavu araikka aattukkalluA grinding stone to grind batter,
Manjal araikka ammikkalluA flat mortar stone to grind turmeric,
Male :Vaangi vachchen voottukkullaMale: I bought and kept them inside the house,
Kudumpa nadaththa vaadi pullaCome girl, to run a family with me!
Female :Ada enna suththum chinna machchanFemale: Oh, my young cousin who circles around me!
Male
………………[Music Interlude]
Female :………………Female: [Vocalizing Interlude]
Female
Mama intha nenjamUncle/Cousin, this heart of mine,
Ada naaanthaan thanthaen thanjamAh, I surrendered it to you as refuge!
Dhinam onnodu sugam kondaadaTo celebrate bliss with you every day,
Male :Maalai ilam maalaiMale: Evening, a pleasant young evening,
Idhil vera enna velaiWhat other work is there during this time?
Unnai kandaalae manam thindaadaJust seeing you makes my heart falter in excitement,
Female
Meerava thedi vantha kannanaaAm I the Krishna who came searching for Meera?
Sriraman pola vantha mannamaaOr the king who arrived like Lord Sri Rama?
Male :Unnodu duet paattu padaanumMale: I want to sing a duet song with you,
Illaatti vera edhukku vaazhanumOtherwise, what else is there to live for?
Female
Intha singaara poongodi sallaapa paingiliThis beautiful flowering vine, this playful songbird,
Tholodu thoththi kondu aadanumMust cling to my shoulders and dance!
Intha singaara poongodi sallaapa paingiliThis beautiful flowering vine, this playful songbird,
Tholodu thoththi kondu aadanum…hoiMust cling to my shoulders and dance... hoi!
Male
Haei maavu araikka aattukkalluHey, a grinding stone to grind batter,
Manjal araikka ammikkalluA flat mortar stone to grind turmeric,
Vaangi vachchen voottukkullaI bought and kept them inside the house,
Kudumpa nadaththa vaadi pullaCome girl, to run a family with me!
Adi akkaa peththa makkaacholamHey, my elder sister's daughter, as sweet as sweetcorn,
Female
Maavu araikka aattukkalluA grinding stone to grind batter,
Manjal araikka ammikkalluA flat mortar stone to grind turmeric,
Vaangi vachcha pothaathungaJust buying them isn't enough, sir,
Maalai pottaa vaaraenungaPlace a wedding garland around my neck and I shall come, sir!
Ada enna suththum chinna machchanOh, my young cousin who circles around me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet expresses the flirtatious banter between two young lovers contemplating marriage. The male protagonist boasts about preparing household essentials like traditional grinding stones to invite his love to start a family together. The female lead playfully demands formal marriage with a garland before taking up domestic life, while acknowledging her deep affection and compatibility with him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Adi akkaa peththa makkaacholam

Comparing the female protagonist to 'Makkaacholam' (sweetcorn), 'Mainaa' (myna bird), and 'Maththaappu sundari' (sparkling firework beauty).

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Maavu araikka aattukkallu / Manjal araikka ammikkallu

The second letter harmony seen across Tamil lines such as 'aattukkallu' and 'ammikkallu'.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Maavu araikka aattukkallu

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Maavu' and 'Manjal' creating rhythmic flow.

Tanglish / Loan Words

Needhaan oru type-u / Unna adichean naan sightu / Ippa ennaachchu love undaachchu

Use of conversational English words embedded in Tamil lyrics ('type-u', 'sightu', 'love', 'duet').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by Vaali, the song captures the quintessential 1980s Tamil folk-pop style featuring energetic vocals by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Sailaja. It effectively weaves traditional domestic metaphors (grinding stones) with contemporary urban slang of the era.

Keep listening

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