Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machchan Kannu Theekuchi

From Kolusu · 1985

Lyricist
Kamakodiyan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Malaysia Vasudevan
Details
Kolusu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Machchan kannu theekkuchchiCousin's eye is a matchstick
Maman ponnu theeppettiUncle's daughter is a matchbox
Naan orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikkaFor me to rub against, laugh, enjoy, and embrace
Female
Machchan kannu theekkuchchiCousin's eye is a matchstick
Maman ponnu theeppettiUncle's daughter is a matchbox
Naan orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikkaFor me to rub against, laugh, enjoy, and embrace
Female
Machchan kannu theekkuchchiCousin's eye is a matchstick
Maman ponnu theeppettiUncle's daughter is a matchbox
Male
Naalu sevaththukkullae nalla sevaththa pullaInside four walls, a fair-skinned girl
Naalu sevaththukkullae nalla sevaththa pullaInside four walls, a fair-skinned girl
Koodhal adikkuthulla kulir kaaya venumillaThe chilly wind blows, don't we need to warm ourselves up?
Poththi padukkaththaanae kaaththu kedanthaenillaWasn't I waiting eagerly to wrap up together and lie down?
Female
Alaiyaatha mama nee vilaiyaada vaaraenDon't wander around, uncle, I am coming to play with you
Annaadam nee poththa ponnaada thaaraenI will give you a golden shawl every single day to cover yourself
Orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikkaTo rub against, laugh, enjoy, and embrace
Male
Machchan kannu theekkuchchiCousin's eye is a matchstick
Maman ponnu theeppettiUncle's daughter is a matchbox
Naan orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikkaFor me to rub against, laugh, enjoy, and embrace
Male
Machchan kannu theekkuchchiCousin's eye is a matchstick
Maman ponnu theeppettiUncle's daughter is a matchbox
Female
………………[Music Interlude]
Male :…………….Male : [Music Interlude]
Female
Kotti kudukkaththaanae poththi eduththu vanthaenI brought it carefully wrapped to pour it all out for you
Kotti kudukkaththaanae poththi eduththu vanthaenI brought it carefully wrapped to pour it all out for you
Mottu thirakkum munnae pootta odaikkalaamaaCan you break the lock before the flower bud opens?
Kezhakku velukkum munnae vazhakka mudinga mamaSettle the affair before the east turns white at dawn, uncle
Male
Oththasa paththaathu ennaasa theeraA little help isn't enough to satisfy my deep desire
Piththaaga koodaathu machchaana seraOne shouldn't go crazy trying to join with the cousin
Orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikkaTo rub against, laugh, enjoy, and embrace

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Machchan kannu theekkuchchi' is a playful, romantic folk duet from the 1985 Tamil film 'Kolusu', featuring lyricist Kamakodiyan's clever rural metaphors. The song revolves around the fiery chemistry between maternal cousins (Machchan and Maman ponnu), using the imagery of a matchstick and matchbox to represent the spark generated when they come together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Machchan kannu theekkuchchi / Maman ponnu theeppetti

Compares the man's eyes to a matchstick and the woman to a matchbox, metaphorically describing how their contact creates romantic sparks.

Internal Rhyme & End Rhyme (இயைபுத் தொடை)

Naan orasikka sirichchikka rasichikka anaichchikka

Rhythmic repetition of verb endings '-ikka' ('orasikka', 'sirichchikka', 'rasichikka', 'anaichchikka') which creates a lively bounce.

Homophonic Wordplay (சொல் விளையாட்டு)

Naalu sevaththukkullae nalla sevaththa pulla

Plays on the phonetic similarity between 'sevaththu' (wall) and 'sevaththa' (fair-skinned).

Did you know?

Trivia

In addition to singing this popular track alongside S. Janaki, legendary playback singer Malaysia Vasudevan also served as the music director for the film 'Kolusu' (1985).

Keep listening

More from Kolusu