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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machcha Machchiniye

From Star · 2001

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Unni Menon, Ganga Sitharasu
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Star2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Chorus
{Thulli thulli ingu vilaiyaadumLeaping and jumping, playing right here
Thoondil meengalae valai thedumFish on a hook searching for a net
Ulagam unakku arugil irukkuThe world is right near you
Udan vaangalen} (2)Come embrace it immediately
Male
Ulagam paaipolLike a woven mat, the world
Nam munnaalae virigirathaeUnrolls right before us
Athilae poovaaiLike flowers scattered upon it
Pon vinmeengal vizhugirathaeGolden stars are falling down
Naavil thaenaaiLike sweet honey on the tongue
Nam kaalangal karaigirathaeOur time melts away
Male
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Male
Lkg vayasil naanEven back at kindergarten age
E-p-co padithenaeI studied the Indian Penal Code
Vakkeelae illaamal vaathaduvenI will argue cases without needing a lawyer
Kaalvaasi cesar naanI am one-quarter Caesar
Kaalvaasi jesus naanI am one-quarter Jesus
Pirar seitha paavangalThe sins committed by others
Naan thaanguvenI will gladly bear them myself
Male
Enakkoru kaadhali kittum varaiUntil I find a lover of my own
Manasila ullathu palli araiMy bedroom exists only inside my mind
Thaen nilavae naan ponaalumEven if I were to go on a honeymoon
Enakku kambipotta arai vendumI would prefer a room with iron bars
Male
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Male
{Thulli thulli ingu vilaiyaadumLeaping and jumping, playing right here
Thoondil meengalae valai thedumFish on a hook searching for a net
Ulagam enakku arugil irukkaThat the world is right near me
Thinam paarkkiren} (2)I observe every single day
Male
Ulagam paaipolLike a woven mat, the world
Nam munnaalae virigirathaeUnrolls right before us
Athilae poovaaiLike flowers scattered upon it
Pon vinmeengal vizhugirathaeGolden stars are falling down
Naavil thaenaaiLike sweet honey on the tongue
Nam kaalangal karaigirathaeOur time melts away
Male
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Male
Nanbargal peyar illaiMy friends do not have names
Numberthaan avarkkunduThey only have numbers
Naadodi mannanpolLike a wandering vagabond king
Naan vaazhuvenI will live my life
Male
Malai engu vilumendruWhere the rain will fall
Mugil koottam ariyaathuThe cluster of clouds does not know
Athupolae en vaazhkkaiJust like that, my life
Idam maaruvenWill keep changing places
Male
Penn sugam eppadi irukkum endruWondering how feminine pleasure feels
Manasukkul karpanai varuvathunduFancies cross through my mind
Anaal anantha maanaadu kaanaBut to host an assembly of bliss
Aalillai naan illaiThere is no girl, nor am I there
Male
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Machathilae uchtha kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Machiniyae machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh sister-in-law
Machathilae ucham kaattiniyaeYou showed me the peak of fortune
Male
{Thulli thulli ingu vilaiyaadumLeaping and jumping, playing right here
Thoondil meengalae valai thedumFish on a hook searching for a net
Ulagam enakku arugil irukkaThat the world is right near me
Thinam paarkkiren} (2)I observe every single day
Male
Ulagam paaipolLike a woven mat, the world
Nam munnaalae virigirathaeUnrolls right before us
Athilae poovaaiLike flowers scattered upon it
Pon vinmeengal vizhugirathaeGolden stars are falling down
Naavil thaenaaiLike sweet honey on the tongue
Nam kaalangal karaigirathaeOur time melts away
Male
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Machiniyae macha machiniyaeSister-in-law, oh my sweet girl
Chorus
{Thulli thulli ingu vilaiyaadumLeaping and jumping, playing right here
Thoondil meengalae valai thedumFish on a hook searching for a net
Ulagam unakku arugil irukkuThe world is right near you
Udan vaangalen} (2)Come embrace it immediately
Male
Machiniyae ……ae….Sister-in-law... oh...
Macha machiniyaeOh sister-in-law, my sweet girl
Machiniyae…. macha machiniyaeSister-in-law... oh sister-in-law
Chorus
{Thulli thulli ingu vilaiyaadumLeaping and jumping, playing right here
Thoondil meengalae valai thedumFish on a hook searching for a net
Ulagam unakku arugil irukkuThe world is right near you
Udan vaangalen} (2)Come embrace it immediately

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Macha Machiniyae from the movie Star (2001) is an upbeat, carefree track celebrating youth, independence, and a bohemian philosophy of life. The hero presents himself as an eccentric wanderer—a clever rebel who understands law yet lives like a free-spirited nomad, combining ruler-like swagger (Caesar) with self-sacrificing altruism (Jesus). Through lively wordplay, he acknowledges his single status and playful longings while embracing the unpredictable nature of his journey. The lyrics use vivid nature imagery to convey the passage of time and the beauty of living in the present. Comparing the world to a mat unrolling under falling stars and youth to honey dissolving on the tongue, lyricist Vairamuthu captures an infectious zest for life, urging the listener to grab opportunities and enjoy the moment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Ulagam paaipol

Compares the world unrolling before us to a mat ('Ulagam paaipol nam munnaalae virigirathae') and time dissolving to honey on the tongue ('Naavil thaenaai nam kaalangal karaigirathae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaalvaasi cesar naan, Kaalvaasi jesus naan

The protagonist directly identifies himself as partially Caesar and partially Jesus to express his complex persona of authority and sacrifice.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Emonai & Ethirai)

Machathilae ucham kaattiniyae

Playful use of rhyming and soft labial/nasal sounds with 'Macha', 'Machiniyae', 'Machathilae', and 'Ucham'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track was composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2001 film 'Star' starring Prashanth and Jyothika. Sung by Unni Menon and Ganga, the song features energetic acoustic and rhythmic arrangements characteristic of Rahman's turn-of-the-millennium pop-fusion style.

Keep listening

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