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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machane Vatchikodi

From Naan Paadum Paadal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Gangai Amaran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Naan Paadum Paadal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Machaana vachukkadiKeep your lover close
Mundhaana mudichilathaanIn the knot of your saree pallu
Machaana vachukkadiKeep your lover close
Mundhaana mudichilathaanIn the knot of your saree pallu
Um melae aasai vachenI fell in love with you
Veredhukku meesai vachen hey heWhy else did I grow a mustache, hey hey!
Female
Machaana mudinjikittaaIf your lover gets tied up
Mundhaanai avundhuvidumThe saree pallu will slip open
Machaana mudinjikittaaIf your lover gets tied up
Mundhaanai avundhuvidumThe saree pallu will slip open
Ammaadi aagaadhuOh my, that will not do
En manasu kettuvidumMy mind will get corrupted
Male
MachaanaOh lover
Female :Ahaa haaFemale: Aha haa
Male :VachukkadiMale: Keep me close
Female :Ahaa haaFemale: Aha haa
Male :Mundhaana mudichilathaanMale: In the knot of your saree pallu
Male
Kaavaang karaiyilaOn the banks of the canal
Kaanang kuruvingaThe wild sparrows
Saththamittu muthamittathaeMade noise and kissed each other
Female: Jodi seravumFemale: To pair up
Saettai pannavumAnd play mischief
Ottavandhu otti nikkudhuThey come and stand close together
Male
Vaadi en pakkathilaCome near me
Vayasukku vandha pullaOh girl who has come of age
Female :Maatenaa sollapporeanFemale: Will I ever say no?
Medhuvaathaan naanum vaarenI am coming slowly too
Male
Sittaadai kondaadum sinnakuttiLittle girl celebrating in her silk dress
Female :Ee elaam thinnaadhaa vellakattiFemale: Won't flies feast on sweet jaggery?
Male
: Machaana vachukkadiKeep your lover close
Mundhaana mudichilathaanIn the knot of your saree pallu
Female :Ammaadi aagaadhuFemale: Oh my, that will not do
En manasu kettuvidumMy mind will get corrupted
Male
MachaanaOh lover
Female :Hmm hummFemale: Hmm humm
Male :VachukkadiMale: Keep me close
Female: Hmm hummFemale: Hmm humm
Male :Mundhaana mudichilathaanMale: In the knot of your saree pallu
Male
Yerai poottanum neerai paachanumWe must plow the field and irrigate water
Sondhamulla kaani irunthaaIf we own a piece of land
Female :Melamkottanum thaali kattanumFemale: Beat the drums and tie the sacred knot
Maamanukku aasai irunthaaIf the lover has true desire
Male
Kannaalum kattum varaiUntil marriage ties us together
Kottattum kaadhal mazhaiLet the rain of love shower down
Female: Puriyaathaa unnai pathiFemale: Don't I understand you?
Vavaambae ennai suthiCome around me like a breeze
Male
Angangae angam thaanEvery single limb
Minna minnaGlistens and shines
Female :Hahaan alaama kollaamaFemale: Haha, without tormenting me
Enna pannaWhat will you do?
Male
: Machaana vachukkadiKeep your lover close
Mundhaana mudichilathaanIn the knot of your saree pallu
Um melae aasai vachenI fell in love with you
Veredhukku meesai vachen hey heWhy else did I grow a mustache, hey hey!
Female
MachaanaOh lover
Male :Hey heyMale: Hey hey
Female :MudinjikittaaFemale: If tied up
Male :Haa haanMale: Haa haan
Female :Mundhaanai avundhuvidumFemale: The saree pallu will slip open
Male :HaiyooMale: Oh no!
Female :Ammaadi aagaadhuFemale: Oh my, that will not do
En manasu kettuvidumMy mind will get corrupted
Male
MachaanaOh lover
Female :Haa haanFemale: Haa haan
Male :VachukkadiMale: Keep me close
Female :Haa haanFemale: Haa haan
Male :Mundhaana mudichilathaanMale: In the knot of your saree pallu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Machaana Vachukkadi is a playful and romantic folk-style duet between two young lovers. The male protagonist whimsically asks his beloved to keep him close, symbolically tucked into the knot of her saree pallu. The female protagonist playfully teases back, warning that keeping him so close might cause her pallu to slip and tempt her heart, reminding him of traditional commitments like marriage before giving in to affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Machaana vachukkadi / Mundhaana mudichilathaan

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' in 'Machaana' and 'Mu' in 'Mundhaana' creates a rhythmic cadence typical of Tamil folk music.

Metaphor

Ee elaam thinnaadhaa vellakatti

'Vellakatti' (sweet jaggery) and 'Ee' (flies) are used as a metaphor for irresistible attraction between lovers.

Imagery

Kaavaang karaiyila / Kaanang kuruvinga / Saththamittu muthamittathae

Evokes natural, rural imagery of wild sparrows calling and kissing on the riverbanks to mirror human romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1984 Tamil film Naan Paadum Paadal, directed by R. Sundarrajan. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the track features dynamic vocal interplay rendered by Gangai Amaran and S. Janaki.

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