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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machchaanai Oram Kattu

From Nallathai Naadu Kekum · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Shailaja, Chorus
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Nallathai Naadu Kekum1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………….....
Female
……………………….....
Chorus
………………….....
Female
Machaana orangattuPush brother-in-law aside
Moraichaalae mudhugil thattuIf he glares, pat him on the back
Vandhaanae oora vittuHe left his hometown and came here
Puriyaama vevaram kettuAsking details without understanding
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Chorus
Vuttaalangadi vuttaalangadiyo…Vuttaalangadi, oh Vuttaalangadi...
Vuttaalangadi vuttaalangadiyo…Vuttaalangadi, oh Vuttaalangadi...
Vuttaalangadi vuttaalangadiyo…Vuttaalangadi, oh Vuttaalangadi...
Vuttaalangadi vuttaalangadiyo…Vuttaalangadi, oh Vuttaalangadi...
Female
Hoi machaana orangattuHey, push brother-in-law aside
Moraichaalae mudhugil thattuIf he glares, pat him on the back
Vandhaanae oora vittuHe left his hometown and came here
Puriyaama vevaram kettuAsking details without understanding
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Female
Maadu thaan kazhuvuraanHe washes the cattle
Paalu thaan karakkuraanHe milks the cows
Aanaalum aasaami azhu moonji thaanYet, the guy has a weeping face
Saela thaan thovaikkiraanHe washes the sarees
Ravikkai thaan kasakkuraanHe scrubs the blouses
Aathaadi sila naeram sidumoonji thaanOh my, sometimes he has a grumpy face
Muttaala naama paaraattanumWe should praise this fool
Hoi mukkaadu pottu seeraattanumHey, veil ourselves and pamper him
Komaali maaman kooda kondaattam podanumWe must celebrate with this clown uncle
Yaemaali oora vittu ippodhae odanumThe gullible fellow must run away from town right now
Chorus
Aada maada paathu yaenguvanadiGirl, he yearns watching goats and cattle
Female
Aang…Yeah...
Chorus
Maelum keezhum moochu vaanguvaanadiGirl, he pants heavily up and down
Female
Hoi machaana orangattuHey, push brother-in-law aside
Machaana orangattuPush brother-in-law aside
Moraichaalae mudhugil thattuIf he glares, pat him on the back
Vandhaanae oora vittuHe left his hometown and came here
Puriyaama vevaram kettuAsking details without understanding
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Chorus
…………………....
Female
Naanga thaan verattuvomWe will chase you away
Nerunginaa merattuvomIf you come close, we will threaten you
Nee vandhu modhaadhae ennodu thaanDon't come and clash with me
Embinaa madakkuvom egirinaa adakkuvomIf you pounce, we will bend you; if you leap, we will subdue you
Ennaagum nee paaru un paadu thaanJust see what happens, it's your own plight
Caar ottum jaadhi mael mattam thaanThe class that drives cars is upper class
Yaer ottum jaadhi keezhi mattam thaanThe class that plows fields is lower class
Ennaattam caaru otta onnaala aagumaaCan you drive a car like me?
Ennaalum kaakka ingu kuyilaaga koovumaaWill a crow ever sing like a cuckoo here?
Chorus
Thoppu thurava paarthu voottai kattanumOne must build a house after assessing their means
Female
Aamaa…Yes...
Chorus
Veembu keembu senjaa vaangi kollanumIf you act stubborn, you'll have to face the consequences
Female
Hoi machaana orangattuHey, push brother-in-law aside
Machaana orangattu machaana orangattuPush brother-in-law aside, push brother-in-law aside
Moraichaalae mudhugil thattuIf he glares, pat him on the back
Vandhaanae oora vittuHe left his hometown and came here
Puriyaama vevaram kettuAsking details without understanding
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Mookkaala moonu veesm padichavaOne who learned barely three-sixteenths through his nose
Vaaikkaalu thanniya thaan kudichavanOne who drank water directly from the canal
Chorus
………………….....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and teasing Tamil song features folk banter mocking an unsophisticated rural man who left his native village and struggles to fit into urban expectations. The speakers humorously detail his background, basic village habits, and domestic chores while making light of his arrogance and lack of formal education.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Mookkaala moonu veesm padichava

Repetition of the initial sound 'M' across adjacent words.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Naanga thaan verattuvom / Nerunginaa merattuvom

Matching second consonants ('ra' / 'ra') across consecutive lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Komaali maaman kooda kondaattam podanum / Yaemaali oora vittu ippodhae odanum

Rhyming words at line endings ('kondaattam podanum' / 'ippodhae odanum').

Metaphor / Rhetorical Question

Ennaalum kaakka ingu kuyilaaga koovumaa

Uses a metaphor comparing an unfitting attempt at status to a crow trying to sing like a cuckoo.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nallathai Naadu Kekum' (1991) was a political drama film directed by and starring Jeppiaar, incorporating archived uncompleted film footage of late Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The music was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by veteran poet Vaali.

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