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En Uyir Thozhan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Machi Mannaru

From En Uyir Thozhan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Uyir Thozhan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
11 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aen… machi mannaaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaru
Tochu pannaaru
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaru
Machi mannaaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaru
Tochu pannaaru
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaru
Daavu oru daavu naan kattum neram
Novu oru novu puriyaama yerum
Thaaren otha moyam poovu
Sammu sammunnu vaasam
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkum
Aa sammu sammunnu vaasam
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkum
Machi mannaaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaru
Tochu pannaaru
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaru
Yaa… shokkana kuppathula
Kuyilukku voodu
Kekkaadha baashaiyila koovi paadu
Raasaavae onna vittu
Naan enna paada
Male :Aiya
Koosaama kaiya thottu saendhaada
Ae kaaveri aaraattam
Nee mae nee mae
Odaadha koovam thaan naa mae
Pazhasellaam poyaachu
Raasaa raasaa
Manasellaam poovaachu laesaa
Ae aasaiyila allikinu
Anga inga killikinu
Ulladhellaam sollikinu o
Onna vachu thallikinu
Oorellaam round uduvom vaa mae
Ada sammu sammunu vaasam
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkum
Male :Aiya
Female :Sammu sammunu vaasam
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkum
Innaa sada paathukkuniyaa…
Ippa ennaandra…
Hehehhehaei…
Reejentaa coattu soottu
Pottukkeenukkeeren
Nee kettaa elaathaiyum vaangiyaaren
Super star padathukku thaan
Koottikittu ponga
Adhukkaaga ticket rendu vaangiyaanga
Aiyae keyakkaala peechaangara
Yaemmae yaemmae
Kai kothu engooda vaammae
Nee pogum edam ellaam
Naan thaan vaaren
Thaangaadhu pirinjaalae verae
Apdeengura…
Saami kaiyil sathiyamaa
Sollipputten nichayamaa
Citiyila nee thaan inga
Dharmanukku sondhamummae
Sera sammadhatha thaammae
Ada sammu sammunu vaasam
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkum
Male :Aiya
Female :Sammu sammunu vaasam
Ippa sallu sallunu thookkum
Machi mannaaru
Em mansukkulla baejaaru
Tochu pannaaru
Takkaraa ninnu ponaaru
Daavu oru daavu naan kattum neram
Female :Novu oru novu puriyaama yerum
Male :Thaaren otha moyam poovu
Ada sammu sammunnu vaasam
Ippa sallu sallunnu thookkum
Male :Aa sammu sammunnu vaasam
Aiya sallu sallunnu thookkum
Hey... buddy Mannaru,
my heart is in a total mess!
He gave me a touch,
and stood there looking so sharp!
Buddy Mannaru,
my heart is in a total mess!
He gave me a touch,
and stood there looking so sharp!
When I try to woo you and make a move,
a mysterious ache rises in my heart!
I'll give you a strand of fresh flowers,
a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
oh man, it gives quite a kick!
Ah, a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
oh man, it gives quite a kick!
Buddy Mannaru,
my heart is in a total mess!
He gave me a touch,
and stood there looking so sharp!
Yeah... in Chokkan Kuppam village,
a cuckoo has made its home!
Sing your heart out in an unknown language!
My king, if not about you,
what else would I sing?
Male: Oh yeah!
Holding hands without any shyness, let's dance together!
Hey, like the flowing Kaveri river,
you are, girl, you are!
And I'm just the still Cooum river, girl!
All the old days are gone,
my king, my king!
My whole heart has blossomed so light!
Hey, holding you tight in passion,
pinching each other playfully here and there,
sharing all the secrets of our hearts, oh!
Taking you along with me,
let's go for a ride around town, come on, girl!
Ah, a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
now it gives quite a kick!
Male: Oh yeah!
Female: A sweet fragrance wafts all around,
now it gives quite a kick!
What, buddy, did you see that?
Now what do you say?
Hehehehey...
Looking smart in a coat and suit,
I'm all dressed up!
Whatever you ask, I'll buy and bring it for you!
To a Superstar movie,
please take me along!
Go get two tickets for that!
Hey, along the shore of the beach,
hey girl, hey girl,
hold my hand and walk with me, girl!
Wherever you go,
I will follow right along!
I can never bear being separated from you!
Is that so...?
Swearing on God's own hands,
I'm telling you for sure!
In this city, you are the only one
who belongs to Dharman, girl!
Give your consent to be with me, girl!
Ah, a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
now it gives quite a kick!
Male: Oh yeah!
Female: A sweet fragrance wafts all around,
now it gives quite a kick!
Buddy Mannaru,
my heart is in a total mess!
He gave me a touch,
and stood there looking so sharp!
When I try to woo you and make a move,
Female: A mysterious ache rises in my heart!
Male: I'll give you a strand of fresh flowers!
Ah, a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
now it gives quite a kick!
Male: Ah, a sweet fragrance wafts all around,
oh man, it gives quite a kick!
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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