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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madicharu

From Kanmani · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kanmani1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Madisaaru podava kattiWearing a Madisaaru saree
Mylapore maami vandhaaMylapore maami arrived
Varaverpom seettiyadichuWe will welcome her by whistling
Namma vaayaalae paattu paadichuAnd singing songs with our mouth
Female
Kittu maamaa unakkuKittu uncle, for you
Pattu maami kedachaaA silk maami is found
Kothamalli rasatha punnagaiyil vadichaaShe strained coriander rasam in her smile
Male
Ivalukku andaa gundaaFor her, large pots and cauldrons
Chatti paana thevaladaaPots and pans are not needed!
Male
Edhukku on thagappanWhy did your father
College-u anuppi vechaanSend you to college?
Idhukkaa panangaasaWas it for this that he spent money
Thanneeraa selavazhichaanLike water?
Female
Padichu uruppattuStudy well, prosper
Per vaangu thaai kulamaeAnd gain fame, oh womanhood!
Vasadhi irundhaalumEven if you have wealth
Venaandi thala kanamaeArrogance is not needed!
Male
Pant satta aambala polLike a man wearing pants and shirt
Joraaga pottuStylishly dressed
Vaandu thanam vaalu thanamMischief and playful antics
Senjaayae naethuYou did yesterday!
Male
Idhu polae pottum vechuLike a traditional woman, wear a bindi
Poovum vechu vaa inguPut flowers in your hair and come here
Female
Hoi kittu maamaa unakkuOh Kittu uncle, for you
Pattu maami kedachaaA silk maami is found
Kothamalli rasatha punnagaiyil vadichaaShe strained coriander rasam in her smile
Male
Ivalukku andaa gundaaFor her, large pots and cauldrons
Chatti paana thevaladaaPots and pans are not needed!
Female
Adakkam odukkathudanWith modesty and self-restraint
Thamizh naattu ponniruppaaA Tamil girl will live
Ava thaan samudhaayamShe is the one who earns praise
Paaraattum per eduppaaAnd fame from society!
Male
Adiyae una polaeHey girl, if anyone acts like you
Irundhaakaa yaar madhippaaWho will give them respect?
Ariyaa paruvam thaanIt is just an innocent age
Aadaadhae thagara dappaaDo not rattle like an empty tin box!
Female
Nalladha naan sonnaa keluListen to the good things I say
Singaara poovaeOh beautiful flower!
Male
En kitta nee vambizhuthaaIf you pick a fight with me
Punnaagi povaeYou will end up getting hurt!
Male
Thavaraana routtukkellaamPack up and leave all wrong paths
Mootta kattu ponmaanaeOh golden deer!
Female
Haa kittu maamaa unakkuAh Kittu uncle, for you
Pattu maami kedachaaA silk maami is found
Kothamalli rasatha punnagaiyil vadichaaShe strained coriander rasam in her smile
Male
Ivalukku andaa gundaaFor her, large pots and cauldrons
Chatti paana thevaladaaPots and pans are not needed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song from the film Kanmani (1994) features lighthearted teasing between youth, contrasting traditional cultural expectations with modern behavior. The lyrics playfully mock a young woman's modern attire and mischievous antics, contrasting her with ideal traditional norms like wearing sarees, bindi, and flowers. Written by Vaali, the song uses witty colloquial banter to offer humorous advice on staying humble, valuing education, avoiding arrogance, and upholding self-respect while maintaining a catchy, rhythmic comic tone.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Kittu maamaa unakku / Pattu maami kedachaa

Matching initial sounds across lines, such as 'Kittu maamaa' and 'Pattu maami'.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Padichu uruppattu / Vasadhi irundhaalum

Rhyming second consonants, seen in 'Padichu' and 'Vasadhi' or 'Adakkam' and 'Irundhaakaa'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aadaadhae thagara dappaa

Comparing empty chattering or reckless behavior to a rattling tin box ('Thagara dappaa').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Kothamalli rasatha punnagaiyil vadichaa

Exaggerating a smile as something capable of filtering coriander rasam.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali cleverly blends traditional cultural references (like 'Madisaaru' saree and 'Mylapore maami') with modern urban youth slang, highlighting the multi-generational humor typical of 1990s Tamil film song comedy tracks.

Keep listening

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