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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machi Vantha

From Siritha Mugam · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Siritha Mugam
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
27 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Podu aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo
Aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo
Female and Chorus :Aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo
Aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo
Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhu
Podungadi marundhu adi aadungadi parandhu
Maattikittaan vizhundhu adi aatungadi izhuthu
Chorus :Podungadi marundhu adi aadungadi parandhu
Maattikittaan vizhundhu adi aatungadi izhuthu
Female :Or adi adichu pidi pidichu podungadi thodarnthu
Chorus :Or adi adichu pidi pidichu podungadi thodarnthu
Female :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhu
Chorus :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhu
Vandheengala maama vandheengala
Vaalai vittu aazham paarkka vandheengala
Aadhiyilae ungalai thaan kadavul padaichaan
Vaalai arukkaamal vittadhalae engalai vechaan
Chorus :Vaalai arukkaamal vittadhalae engalai vechaan
Female :Machi machi machi machi machi machi
Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhu
Chorus :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhu
Vechaa paaru virundhu vechaa paaru virundhu
Haei alaek
Machi machi machi machi
Machi machi machigala
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingala
Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaa
En sachu en vichu en manju
Nee konju adaei rukkumani
Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaa
Keezhae katta sonna nee
Melae kattalaama hai alaek
Machi machi machi machi
Machi machi machigala
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingala
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingala
Idhu thambarathukottai
Iva thandaiyarupaettai
Korukkupaettai kosapaettai
Royapaettai saidhapettai
Pudhupettai tenampettai
Andha pettai indha pettai endha pettai
Iva endha pettai ada indhu sandahi pettai
Naan edutha sattai adhu nadaththattumae vaettai
Potteninna maattai
Aa durrr dur
Potteninna maattai
Adhu pogum krishnaanpettai
Haei alaek
Machi machi machi machi
Machi machi machigala
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingala
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingala
Drop the beat! Aari raari aari raari aarariraaro!
Aari raari aari raari aarariraaro!
Female and Chorus: Aari raari aari raari aarariraaro!
Aari raari aari raari aarariraaro!
Look at the feast laid out for the guy who came over!
Cast your spell, girls, dance and fly high!
He is trapped and fallen, pull him and shake him up, girls!
Chorus: Cast your spell, girls, dance and fly high!
He is trapped and fallen, pull him and shake him up, girls!
Female: Strike a beat, hold on tight, and keep going, girls!
Chorus: Strike a beat, hold on tight, and keep going, girls!
Female: Look at the feast laid out for the guy who came over!
Chorus: Look at the feast laid out for the guy who came over!
Did you come, mister? Did you come?
Did you come dipping your tail to test the waters?
In the beginning, God created only you men,
Because He left your tails untrimmed, He created us women!
Chorus: Because He left your tails untrimmed, He created us women!
Female: Darling, darling, darling, darling, darling, darling!
Look at the feast laid out for the guy who came over!
Chorus: Look at the feast laid out for the guy who came over!
Look at the feast laid out, look at the feast laid out!
Hey, watch out!
Girls, girls, girls, girls!
Oh, my dear girls,
Did you fall for this handsome man?
Can you tie down a man like wrapping a saree?
My Sachu, my Vichu, my Manju,
Come flirt with me, hey Rukmani!
Can you tie down a man like wrapping a saree?
When told to tie it down below,
Can you tie it up high? Hey, watch out!
Girls, girls, girls, girls!
Oh, my dear girls,
Did you fall for this handsome man?
Did you fall for this handsome man?
This is Dambarathukottai,
She is from Tondiarpet,
Korukkupet, Kosapet,
Royapettah, Saidapet,
Pudupet, Teynampet,
That neighborhood, this neighborhood, which neighborhood?
Which neighborhood is she from? Ah, Hindu Sandhai Pettai!
Let this shirt I put on go on the hunt!
If I strike this bull,
Ah, durr durr!
If I strike this bull,
It will go straight to Krishnampet (crematorium)!
Hey, watch out!
Girls, girls, girls, girls!
Oh, my dear girls,
Did you fall for this handsome man?
Did you fall for this handsome man?
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a playful and high-energy folk-style duet featuring playful banter between a group of women and a confident man. The women tease the man about his ego, sarcastically suggesting God created women specifically to trim men's proverbial 'tails' (arrogance) and test their true depths. They celebrate getting the better of him through rhythm and witty wordplay. In response, the male protagonist responds with swagger, dropping references to various famous neighborhoods ('pettai') across Madras (Chennai), such as Tondiarpet, Saidapet, Royapettah, and Krishnampet. He asserts his dominance and local charm, asserting that no matter where the women come from, his authority and flair remain unmatched.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Agedukai / Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)

“Korukkupaettai kosapaettai”

Kannadasan utilizes rhythmic local Tamil rhyming schemes such as 'Korukkupaettai kosapaettai / Royapaettai saidhapettai' to build rapid cadence and urban authenticity.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaa”

Comparing binding or capturing a person to wrapping a saree ('Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaa').

Local Slang & Wordplay (Madras Baashai)

“Idhu thambarathukottai / Iva thandaiyarupaettai”

The lyrics heavily employ classic Madras vernacular and street names ('pettai') alongside informal slang like 'machi' and 'virundhu' for comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song stands out as an early example of Madras Baashai and urban folk influence in late 1960s Tamil cinema scoring. The music duo Sankar-Ganesh leveraged L.R. Eswari's signature energetic vocal style alongside T.M. Soundararajan's versatile voice to turn local neighborhood names of Chennai into an iconic rhythmic patter.

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