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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machi Mannaru

From En Uyir Thozhan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Uyir Thozhan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aen… machi mannaaruHey... friend Mannaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaruThere is distress inside my heart
Tochu pannaaruHe poked and troubled me
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaruHe stood with style and walked away
Male
Machi mannaaruFriend Mannaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaruThere is distress inside my heart
Tochu pannaaruHe poked and troubled me
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaruHe stood with style and walked away
Daavu oru daavu naan kattum neramWhen I try to start a romance
Novu oru novu puriyaama yerumAn unknown pain mysteriously rises
Thaaren otha moyam poovuI will give a flower as a token
Sammu sammunnu vaasamA rich and delightful fragrance
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkumOh sir, it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Aa sammu sammunnu vaasamAh, a rich and delightful fragrance
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkumOh sir, it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male
Machi mannaaruFriend Mannaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaruThere is distress inside my heart
Tochu pannaaruHe poked and troubled me
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaruHe stood with style and walked away
Male
Yaa… shokkana kuppathulaYeah... in this fine slum area
Kuyilukku vooduThere is a home for the cuckoo
Kekkaadha baashaiyila koovi paaduSing loud in an unheard language
Female
Raasaavae onna vittuOh King, leaving you behind
Naan enna paadaWhat else can I sing?
Male :AiyaMale : Ah sir
Koosaama kaiya thottu saendhaadaHolding hands without hesitation to dance together
Male
Ae kaaveri aaraattamLike the dynamic river Kaveri
Nee mae nee maeYou are like that, yes you are
Odaadha koovam thaan naa maeI am like the slow Cooum river
Female
Pazhasellaam poyaachuAll the old past is gone
Raasaa raasaaOh King, my King
Manasellaam poovaachu laesaaThe mind has lightly turned into a flower
Male
Ae aasaiyila allikinuGathering up with deep desire
Anga inga killikinuPlayfully pinching here and there
Ulladhellaam sollikinu oExpressing everything inside the heart
Onna vachu thallikinuTaking you along with me
Oorellaam round uduvom vaa maeCome girl, let us roam around the entire town
Female
Ada sammu sammunu vaasamOh, a rich and delightful fragrance
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkumNow it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male :AiyaMale : Ah sir
Female :Sammu sammunu vaasamFemale : A rich and delightful fragrance
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkumNow it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male
Innaa sada paathukkuniyaa…What, did you see my grand look?
Ippa ennaandra…Now what do you say to that...
Hehehhehaei…Hehehhehaei...
Male
Reejentaa coattu soottuWearing a decent suit and coat
PottukkeenukkeerenI am dressed up nicely
Nee kettaa elaathaiyum vaangiyaarenIf you ask, I will buy and bring everything
Female
Super star padathukku thaanOnly for a Superstar movie
Koottikittu pongaTake me along with you
Adhukkaaga ticket rendu vaangiyaangaBuy two tickets for that
Male
Aiyae keyakkaala peechaangaraHey, right hand and left hand
Yaemmae yaemmaeWhy girl, why?
Kai kothu engooda vaammaeHold hands and come with me, girl
Female
Nee pogum edam ellaamEvery place you go
Naan thaan vaarenI will surely follow you
Thaangaadhu pirinjaalae veraeMy roots cannot bear separation from you
Male
Apdeengura…So you say...
Saami kaiyil sathiyamaaSwearing on God's hands
Sollipputten nichayamaaI have promised with certainty
Citiyila nee thaan ingaIn this city, you alone here
Dharmanukku sondhamummaeAre akin to the righteous Lord Dharma
Sera sammadhatha thaammaeGive your consent to join together
Female
Ada sammu sammunu vaasamOh, a rich and delightful fragrance
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkumNow it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male :AiyaMale : Ah sir
Female :Sammu sammunu vaasamFemale : A rich and delightful fragrance
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkumNow it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male
Machi mannaaruFriend Mannaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaruThere is distress inside my heart
Tochu pannaaruHe poked and troubled me
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaruHe stood with style and walked away
Daavu oru daavu naan kattum neramWhen I try to start a romance
Female :Novu oru novu puriyaama yerumFemale : An unknown pain mysteriously rises
Male :Thaaren otha moyam poovuMale : I will give a flower as a token
Female
Ada sammu sammunnu vaasamOh, a rich and delightful fragrance
Ippa sallu sallunnu thookkumNow it wafts strongly and overwhelms
Male :Aa sammu sammunnu vaasamMale : Ah, a rich and delightful fragrance
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkumOh sir, it wafts strongly and overwhelms

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Madras bashai (Chennai slang) duet expresses playful banter and romantic longing between two lovers living in a local neighborhood. The protagonist speaks of the emotional turmoil and yearning caused by love, comparing the thrill of romance to pleasant fragrances and energetic city life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Aen… machi mannaaru / Em mansukkulla baejaaru

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines in Madras slang Tamil (e.g., 'machi mannaaru' / 'em mansukkulla baejaaru').

Simile (Upama)

Ae kaaveri aaraattam... Odaadha koovam thaan naa mae

Comparing the lovers to the fast Kaveri river and slow Cooum river to highlight contrasting personalities.

Onomatopoeia

Sammu sammunnu vaasam / Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkum

Use of sensory sound words like 'sammu sammunnu' and 'sallu sallunnu' to evoke the rich smell and powerful wafting of fragrance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed in the iconic Madras local dialect (Chennai Gana style), penned by Gangai Amaran for the film 'En Uyir Thozhan' (1990) directed by Bharathiraja, featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

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