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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machchinna Machi

From Kattukkulle Thiruvizha · 1985

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kattukkulle Thiruvizha
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
19 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………….
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesa
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen
……………….
Kandaangi sela kattukkaari
Karuneela saanthu pottukkaari
Kandaangi sela kattukkaari
Karuneela saanthu pottukkaari
Minnaama minnuthadi muththu vachcha mookkuththiyaam
Pinnaalae pinnaalilae kallu vachcha raakkodiyaam
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukka
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukka
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesa
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen
Kollaama kolluriyae
Niththam niththam raavinilae
Nikkaama nikka vachchae enna mattum theevinilae
Achchaaram vachchaachu achchamilla
Thottaalum pattaalum kuththamilla
Achchaaram vachchaachu achchamilla
Thottaalum pattaalum kuththamilla
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen
Kaaththodatthaan poo vaada veesa
Kaaththaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Paaththaen aaththaa veththaen
Machchinnaa machchi ennaasa machchi vaa machchi
Vechenaa vechaen
Ummelae kanna naan vachaen….
...
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you!
As the fragrance of flowers wafts with the wind,
As your skirt fluttered like a kite in the breeze,
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you!
...
Oh girl wearing a Kandangi saree,
Oh girl wearing a dark blue bindi,
Oh girl wearing a Kandangi saree,
Oh girl wearing a dark blue bindi,
Look how bright that pearl-studded nose-ring glimmers,
And behind you, that stone-embedded hair ornament shines!
With eyes as vibrant as red bananas and darting like fish,
You remain here unwed!
With eyes as vibrant as red bananas and darting like fish,
You remain here unwed!
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you!
As the fragrance of flowers wafts with the wind,
As your skirt fluttered like a kite in the breeze,
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you!
You torment me without killing me,
Night after night,
You left me stranded endlessly on a lonely island!
The commitment is made, there is no fear,
Even if I touch or embrace you, there is no fault!
The commitment is made, there is no fear,
Even if I touch or embrace you, there is no fault!
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you!
As the fragrance of flowers wafts with the wind,
As your skirt fluttered like a kite in the breeze,
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
I saw you, oh my, and I lost my mind!
My cousin, my dear cousin, come, my cousin!
Did I set it? Yes, I set it,
I set my eyes on you...
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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