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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machchinna Machi

From Kattukkulle Thiruvizha · 1985

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kattukkulle Thiruvizha1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………....
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaenI set my eyes upon you
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesaAs the sweet floral fragrance drifts along with the breeze
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesaAs your skirt flutters softly like a kite in the wind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaenI set my eyes upon you
Chorus
………………....
Male
Kandaangi sela kattukkaariOh lady draped in a traditional Kandangi saree
Karuneela saanthu pottukkaariOh lady wearing a dark blue paste bindi
Kandaangi sela kattukkaariOh lady draped in a traditional Kandangi saree
Karuneela saanthu pottukkaariOh lady wearing a dark blue paste bindi
Male
Minnaama minnuthadi muththu vachcha mookkuththiyaamThe pearl-studded nose ring shines effortlessly
Pinnaalae pinnaalilae kallu vachcha raakkodiyaamAt the back of your hair glimmers a stone-studded ornament
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukkaWith eyes that leap and glisten like red banana fish
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukkaWhy do you remain unmarried without tying the knot?
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukkaWith eyes that leap and glisten like red banana fish
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukkaWhy do you remain unmarried without tying the knot?
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaenI set my eyes upon you
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesaAs the sweet floral fragrance drifts along with the breeze
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesaAs your skirt flutters softly like a kite in the wind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaenI set my eyes upon you
Male
Kollaama kolluriyaeYou torture me relentlessly without truly killing me
Niththam niththam raavinilaeNight after night continuously
Nikkaama nikka vachchae enna mattum theevinilaeLeaving me stranded endlessly as if on an isolated island
Achchaaram vachchaachu achchamillaThe commitment token has been given, so there is no fear
Thottaalum pattaalum kuththamillaEven if we touch or embrace, there is no fault
Achchaaram vachchaachu achchamillaThe commitment token has been given, so there is no fear
Thottaalum pattaalum kuththamillaEven if we touch or embrace, there is no fault
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaenI set my eyes upon you
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesaAs the sweet floral fragrance drifts along with the breeze
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesaAs your skirt flutters softly like a kite in the wind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaenI saw you, oh Mother, and I lost my mind
Male
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchiMy beloved cousin, my sweet cousin, come to me cousin
Vechenaa vechaenI set it, yes I set it
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen….I set my eyes upon you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic rural Tamil folk song expresses a young man's playful flirtation and deep romantic fascination with his maternal cousin ('Machchi'). He passionately describes her traditional beauty, from her Kandangi saree and dark bindi to her pearl nose ring and fish-like eyes. Expressing his restless nights and burning desire, he playfully urges her to marry him, reassuring her that their love is bound by traditional commitment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesa

Compares the fluttering motion of her dress skirt to a kite soaring in the wind.

Simile (Upamai)

Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka

Compares the movement and brightness of her eyes to fish (Sevvaazha meen).

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Kandaangi sela kattukkaari / Karuneela saanthu pottukkaari

The second letters of 'Kandaangi' and 'Karuneela' share similar consonantal rhyming patterns across lines.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Niththam niththam raavinilae / Nikkaama nikka vachchae

Repetition of the 'N' sound creating a rhythmic musical effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sung by the legendary Malaysia Vasudevan with music composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, this song is a quintessential example of 1980s Tamil cinema's vibrant folk dance numbers that relied heavily on rustic percussion and energetic vocal delivery.

Keep listening

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