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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
Details
Siritha Mugam1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Podu aari raari aari raari aarariraarooPlay the rhythm, Aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo!
Aari raari aari raari aarariraarooAari raari aari raari aarariraaroo!
Female and Chorus :Aari raari aari raari aarariraarooFemale and Chorus: Aari raari aari raari aarariraaroo!
Aari raari aari raari aarariraarooAari raari aari raari aarariraaroo!
Female
Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhuLook at the feast served to the uncle who arrived on the porch!
Podungadi marundhu adi aadungadi parandhuApply the remedy, girls, and dance around flying high!
Maattikittaan vizhundhu adi aatungadi izhuthuHe got trapped and fell, pull him and shake him up, girls!
Chorus :Podungadi marundhu adi aadungadi parandhuChorus: Apply the remedy, girls, and dance around flying high!
Maattikittaan vizhundhu adi aatungadi izhuthuHe got trapped and fell, pull him and shake him up, girls!
Female :Or adi adichu pidi pidichu podungadi thodarnthuFemale: Strike a blow, hold tight, and keep going continuously, girls!
Chorus :Or adi adichu pidi pidichu podungadi thodarnthuChorus: Strike a blow, hold tight, and keep going continuously, girls!
Female :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhuFemale: Look at the feast served to the uncle who arrived on the porch!
Chorus :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhuChorus: Look at the feast served to the uncle who arrived on the porch!
Female
Vandheengala maama vandheengalaDid you arrive, uncle, did you arrive?
Vaalai vittu aazham paarkka vandheengalaDid you come to drop your tail and test the depth of the waters?
Aadhiyilae ungalai thaan kadavul padaichaanIn the beginning, God created men first;
Vaalai arukkaamal vittadhalae engalai vechaanBecause He forgot to cut off your tails, He created us women to handle you!
Chorus :Vaalai arukkaamal vittadhalae engalai vechaanChorus: Because He forgot to cut off your tails, He created us women to handle you!
Female :Machi machi machi machi machi machiFemale: Machi machi machi machi machi machi!
Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhuLook at the feast served to the uncle who arrived on the porch!
Chorus :Machi vandha machaanukku vechaa paaru virundhuChorus: Look at the feast served to the uncle who arrived on the porch!
Vechaa paaru virundhu vechaa paaru virundhuLook at the feast served! Look at the feast served!
Male
Haei alaekHey alaek!
Machi machi machi machiMachi machi machi machi!
Machi machi machigalaHey girls on the porch!
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingalaDid you all place your desires on this uncle?
Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaaCan a person be bound up just like wrapping a saree?
En sachu en vichu en manjuMy Sachu, my Vichu, my Manju!
Nee konju adaei rukkumaniYou cuddle up! Hey Rukkumani!
Saelai kattupolae oru aalai kattalaamaaCan a person be bound up just like wrapping a saree?
Keezhae katta sonna neeWhen asked to tie it down below,
Melae kattalaama hai alaekCan you tie it up high? Hey alaek!
Male
Machi machi machi machiMachi machi machi machi!
Machi machi machigalaHey girls on the porch!
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingalaDid you all place your desires on this uncle?
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingalaDid you all place your desires on this uncle?
Male
Idhu thambarathukottaiThis is Tambaram fort,
Iva thandaiyarupaettaiShe represents Tondiarpet,
Korukkupaettai kosapaettaiKorukkupet and Kosapet,
Royapaettai saidhapettaiRoyapettah and Saidapet,
Pudhupettai tenampettaiPudupet and Teynampet,
Andha pettai indha pettai endha pettaiThat area, this area, whichever area,
Iva endha pettai ada indhu sandahi pettaiWhich neighborhood is she from? Hey, she is from the Sunday market area!
Naan edutha sattai adhu nadaththattumae vaettaiThe shirt/rule I put on, let it carry out its hunt!
Potteninna maattaiIf I strike a bull,
Aa durrr durAh durrr dur!
Potteninna maattaiIf I strike a bull,
Adhu pogum krishnaanpettaiIt goes straight to Krishnampet!
Male
Haei alaekHey alaek!
Machi machi machi machiMachi machi machi machi!
Machi machi machigalaHey girls on the porch!
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingalaDid you all place your desires on this uncle?
Indha maaman mael aasai vechingalaDid you all place your desires on this uncle?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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