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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mama Manasila

From Geetha Oru Shenbagapoo · 1980

Lyricist
Thanjai Kalyanasundaram
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Geetha Oru Shenbagapoo1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mama Manasila olinjirukkuthu ragasiyamA secret is hidden in uncle's heart,
Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyamIt is very, very important to understand it.
Enga mama Manasila olinjirukkuthu ragasiyamA secret is hidden in our uncle's heart,
Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyamIt is very, very important to understand it.
Female
Akkam pakkam thirumbi thirumbi paakkuthuHe keeps looking around nervously in all directions,
Ada aanthai muzhiyil yaedho yaedho keekkuthuAh, with wide owl-like eyes he seems to ask something.
Akkam pakkam thirumbi thirumbi paakkuthuHe keeps looking around nervously in all directions,
Ada aanthai muzhiyil yaedho yaedho keekkuthuAh, with wide owl-like eyes he seems to ask something.
Female
Ingae paaru akkaa kaiyai sekkuthuLook here, he holds sister's hand tightly,
Naan arugil vanthaal asadu mugam verkkuthuWhen I come near, his awkward face breaks into a sweat.
Ingae paaru akkaa kaiyai sekkuthuLook here, he holds sister's hand tightly,
Naan arugil vanthaal asadu mugam verkkuthuWhen I come near, his awkward face breaks into a sweat.
Female
Mama Manasila olinjirukkuthu ragasiyamA secret is hidden in uncle's heart,
Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyamIt is very, very important to understand it.
Female
Angae po ingae po adha vaangu idha vaangu"Go there, go here, buy that, buy this" —
Female
Arththamillaamal vela edhukku kodukkanumWhy give me meaningless errands to run?
Ennai adikkadi yaen veliyae veliyae anuppanumWhy send me outside again and again?
En muththu en kannu"My pearl, my precious eye,
En rani en raaththi appidinnuMy queen, my lady" — speaking like this,
Female
Pattaalaththu mama edhukku kenjanumWhy should the army uncle beg so much?
Enakku payanthukittu akkaavai yaen konjanumWhy sweet-talk sister while fearing me?
Pattaalaththu mama edhukku kenjanumWhy should the army uncle beg so much?
Enakku payanthukittu akkaavai yaen konjanumWhy sweet-talk sister while fearing me?
Female
Enga mama Manasila olinjirukkuthu ragasiyamA secret is hidden in our uncle's heart,
Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyamIt is very, very important to understand it.
Female
Aalillaathapothu sirippu saththam ketkkuthuWhen nobody is around, the sound of laughter is heard,
Amma appaa velaiyaattellaam jjoraa nadakkuthuThe games of playing husband and wife go on grandly.
Aalillaathapothu sirippu saththam ketkkuthuWhen nobody is around, the sound of laughter is heard,
Amma appaa velaiyaattellaam jjoraa nadakkuthuThe games of playing husband and wife go on grandly.
Female
Thaenae maanae endrey dhinam vasanam pesuthuEvery day he recites dialogues calling her "honey" and "deer",
Naan thirumbi vanthaa thirudan polae payanthu nadunguthuIf I suddenly return, he trembles with fear like a thief!
Thaenae maanae endrey dhinam vasanam pesuthuEvery day he recites dialogues calling her "honey" and "deer",
Naan thirumbi vanthaa thirudan polae payanthu nadunguthuIf I suddenly return, he trembles with fear like a thief!
Female
Thaenae maanae endrey dhinam vasanam pesuthuEvery day he recites dialogues calling her "honey" and "deer",
Naan thirumbi vanthaa thirudan polae payanthu nadunguthuIf I suddenly return, he trembles with fear like a thief!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song is delivered from the perspective of a cheeky younger sister observing the secret romance between her maternal uncle (a military man) and her elder sister. She humorously points out all the tell-tale signs of their romance: how he sends her out on pointless errands just to get privacy, how he flatters the elder sister with romantic pet names, and how nervous he becomes whenever she catches them together. The lyric captures the innocent yet sharp observations of a child sibling teasing adults in love, set to a lighthearted and catchy melody by M. S. Viswanathan.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Naan thirumbi vanthaa thirudan polae payanthu nadunguthu

Compares the uncle's sudden panic and trembling to that of a thief getting caught red-handed.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyam

Emphatic repetition of words like 'rompa rompa' and 'veliyae veliyae' to add rhythmic playfulness and emphasize the frequency of his actions.

Metaphor / Imagery (Uruvagam)

Ada aanthai muzhiyil yaedho yaedho keekkuthu

'Aanthai muzhiyil' (owl-eyed gaze) paints a vivid picture of the uncle wide-eyed and looking around nervously.

Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Mama Manasila olinjirukkuthu ragasiyam / Adha purinjikkirrathu rompa rompa avasiyam

End-rhyme pairing between 'ragasiyam' and 'avasiyam' creates a catchy poetic cadence in the chorus.

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Trivia

Sung by S. P. Sailaja, this track highlights her talent for playful, expressive renditions representing mischievous younger characters. The phrase 'Pattaalaththu mama' refers to the common cultural trope in Tamil cinema of an uncle serving in the military who returns home on leave to court his sweetheart.

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