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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machchana Mamavaa

From Raman Thediya Seethai -1972 · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Raman Thediya Seethai -19721972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………..
Female
Machchana mamavaa yaaro ivaroIs he my cousin, uncle, or someone unknown?
Ennai vachcha kannu vaangaamaWithout blinking his eyes even for a moment,
Paakkaraaru paakkaraaruHe keeps staring at me, staring at me.
Machchana mamavaa yaaro ivaroIs he my cousin, uncle, or someone unknown?
Ennai vachcha kannu vaangaamaWithout blinking his eyes even for a moment,
Paakkaraaru paakkaraaruHe keeps staring at me, staring at me.
Female
Achcham tharuvaaroWill he instill fear in me?
Adaiyaalam peruvaaroWill he receive my identity?
Meedhi ulla seithi sollaTo convey the rest of the message,
Thaethi vaikka solvaaroWill he ask me to fix a date?
Female
Machchana mamavaa yaaro ivaroIs he my cousin, uncle, or someone unknown?
Ennai vachcha kannu vaangaama paakkaraaruWithout blinking his eyes, he keeps staring at me.
Female
……………..
Female
Mamaraththu thoppukku thannanthaniyaaAll alone to the mango orchard,
Maappillai nee ennai vara sonniyaa yaaDid you, groom, ask me to come?
Mamaraththu thoppukku thannanthaniyaaAll alone to the mango orchard,
Maappillai nee ennai vara sonniyaaDid you, groom, ask me to come?
Saamikku thevai enna thaerottamWhat does God need? A temple chariot procession.
Bhoomikku thevai enna neerottamWhat does the Earth need? A stream of water.
Aasaikku thevai enna kannottamWhat does desire need? Amorous glances.
Yaarachhum undo sollu ennaattamIs there anyone who can match my style, tell me?
Aa…aa…aa….aa….aa….aa….Aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Machchana mamavaa yaaro ivaroIs he my cousin, uncle, or someone unknown?
Ennai vachcha kannu vaangaama paakkaraaruWithout blinking his eyes, he keeps staring at me.
Female
……………..
Female
Manthiram thanthiram kannukkullaethaanSpells and secrets lie within the eyes,
Mayakkamum kirakkamum pennukkullaethaanTrance and intoxication lie within a woman.
Manthiram thanthiram kannukkullaethaanSpells and secrets lie within the eyes,
Mayakkamum kirakkamum pennukkullaethaanTrance and intoxication lie within a woman.
Vayasukku vanthaalaiyaa vaa vaa vaaSince I have come of age, come, come, come!
Manasaiththaan kettaalaiyaa thaa thaa thaaSince you asked for my heart, give, give, give!
Vittuththaan sollaathaiyaa nill nill nillDo not leave without speaking clearly, stop, stop, stop!
Thottuthaan kattil paadam sol sol solTouch me and teach the lessons of love, tell, tell, tell!
Aa….aa…aa….aa…aa…aa….Aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Machchana mamavaa yaaro ivaroIs he my cousin, uncle, or someone unknown?
Ennai vachcha kannu vaangaama paakkaraaruWithout blinking his eyes, he keeps staring at me.
Vachcha kannu vaangaama paakkaraaruWithout blinking his eyes, he keeps staring at me.
Female
……………..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Machchana Mamavaa is a playful and alluring Tamil song from the 1972 film Raman Thediya Seethai. The song expresses the thoughts of a young woman teasing a man who is staring intently at her without blinking. She playfully ponders whether he is a relative or a stranger, wondering what his romantic intentions might be. Through clever analogies, she equates love to essential events in life and nature—just as a temple god requires a chariot procession and the earth requires water, human desire requires affectionate glances. As the song progresses, she playfully invites him to express his love and teach her the language of romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Saamikku thevai enna thaerottam / Bhoomikku thevai enna neerottam

The second letter in adjacent lines rhymes ('mi' in Saamikku/Bhoomikku and 'ro' in thaerottam/neerottam), creating internal rhythm.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme & Repetition)

Vayasukku vanthaalaiyaa vaa vaa vaa / Manasaiththaan kettaalaiyaa thaa thaa thaa

Lines end with rhyming triplicated words (vaa vaa vaa / thaa thaa thaa / nill nill nill / sol sol sol) to build energy and urgency.

Analogy / Metaphor

Saamikku thevai enna thaerottam / Bhoomikku thevai enna neerottam / Aasaikku thevai enna kannottam

The lyricist compares emotional/romantic needs to natural and cultural necessities (chariot procession for a temple, water flow for earth).

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa starrer Raman Thediya Seethai (1972), this upbeat song rendered by L. R. Eswari and composed by M. S. Viswanathan is one of the classic playful dance numbers of 1970s Tamil cinema, celebrated for its infectious rhythms and Vaali's rhythmic lyrical structure.

Keep listening

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