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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Machinna Machi

From Kaattukkulle Thiruvizha · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kaattukkulle Thiruvizha
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
30 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Kaathodathaan poo vaada vesa
Kaathaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Kandangi sela kattukkaari
Karuneela saandhu pottukaari
Kandangi sela kattukkaari
Karuneela saandhu pottukaari
Minnaama minnudhadi
Muthu vecha mookuthiyaam
Pinnalae pinnalilae
Kallu vecha raakkodiyaam
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukka
Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka
Kannaalam kattaama ninnurukka
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Kaathodathaan poo vaada vesa
Kaathaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Pethaalum pethaa athakkaari
Unnaattam yedhu vithukkaari
Pethaalum pethaa athakkaari
Unnaattam yedhu vithukkaari
Kollaama kolluriyae
Nitham nitham raavinilae
Nikkaama nikka vechae
Enma mattum theevinilae
Achaaram vechaachu achamillae
Thottaalum pattaalum kuthamillae
Achaaram vechaachu achamillae
Thottaalum pattaalum kuthamillae
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Kaathodathaan poo vaada vesa
Kaathaadiyaa paavaada veesa
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Paathaen aathaa vaethaen
Machinaa machi
Ennaasa machi vaa machi (Haa haa haa)
Vechaenaa vechen
Un mela kanna naan vechen (Haa haa haa)
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
As the scent of flowers drifts with the breeze,
As your skirt flutters in the wind like a kite,
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
Girl draped in a traditional Kandangi saree,
Girl wearing a dark blue dot on your forehead,
Girl draped in a traditional Kandangi saree,
Girl wearing a dark blue dot on your forehead,
How brilliantly it sparkles,
your pearl-studded nose ring!
Tucked into your braided hair,
is a gemstone hair ornament!
With eyes dancing like lively fish,
you are still standing here unmarried!
With eyes dancing like lively fish,
you are still standing here unmarried!
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
As the scent of flowers drifts with the breeze,
As your skirt flutters in the wind like a kite,
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
What a wonder your mother gave birth to,
where else is there an enchanting girl like you?
What a wonder your mother gave birth to,
where else is there an enchanting girl like you?
You are killing me softly,
every single night!
You left me stranded endlessly,
with my thoughts alone on a distant island!
The betrothal pledge is sealed, there is no fear now!
Even if we touch and embrace, there is no wrong in it!
The betrothal pledge is sealed, there is no fear now!
Even if we touch and embrace, there is no wrong in it!
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
As the scent of flowers drifts with the breeze,
As your skirt flutters in the wind like a kite,
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
I looked at you, goodness, and broke into a sweat!
Oh my sweet cousin, my darling!
My beloved sweetheart, come to me! (ha ha ha)
I have set them, yes I have!
I have set my eyes on you! (ha ha ha)
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Machinaa Machi from Kaattukkulle Thiruvizha (1985) is an energetic Tamil folk song where the male protagonist playfully expresses his infatuation and love for his maternal uncle's daughter (his cousin/machin). He admires her traditional attire—specifically her Chettinad Kandangi saree, dark blue bindi, pearl nose ring, and gem-encrusted headpiece—praising her alluring beauty and animated eyes. In the latter stanzas, he playfully teases her for giving him sleepless nights. He reassures her that since their formal betrothal token ('Achaaram') has already been exchanged in accordance with village traditions, there is no need for hesitation or fear in expressing their romantic affection openly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kaathaadiyaa paavaada veesa

Compares the movement of her skirt to a kite flying in the wind.

Simile (Upamai)

Sevvaazha meenaattam kannirukka

Compares her bright, darting eyes to fish ('meenaattam').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kandangi sela kattukkaari / Karuneela saandhu pottukaari

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K') across consecutive lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Enma mattum theevinilae

Metaphorically describes his restless mental state as being stranded alone on an island.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Sankar Ganesh with lyrics by Vaali, this song features the high-energy vocals of Malaysia Vasudevan, who was a popular choice for rustic, village-themed folk tracks in 1980s Tamil cinema.

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