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Lyrics & meaning

Mambattiya Tholuley

From Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi · 1978

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa….aah….Aa... aah...
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Madai thorakka pora machanMy dear cousin who is going to open the sluice gate,
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanaeOpen up the sluice gate, my dear cousin,
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum…So that the peacock can come and take a bath...
Female
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Madai thorakka pora machanMy dear cousin who is going to open the sluice gate,
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanaeOpen up the sluice gate, my dear cousin,
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattumSo that the peacock can come and take a bath.
Female
Erai koodai kaipidichchiHolding the irrigation basket in your hand,
Eraippu eraikka pora machchaan….aa….My dear cousin who is going to bail out water... aa...
En machchaan machchaan machchaanOh my cousin, cousin, cousin!
Erai koodai kaipidichchiHolding the irrigation basket in your hand,
Eraippu eraikka pora machchaan…My dear cousin who is going to bail out water...
Eraippu nallaa eraichchu vidunga machchaanaeBail out the water well, my dear cousin,
Varappa thaandi eerang kaakkattumSo that the moisture spreads across the ridge.
Female
Mannaa maranthenadaaI forgot the soil,
Mayilaadum paaraiyilaeOn the rock where peacocks dance,
Mannaa maranthenadaaI forgot the soil,
Mayilaadum paaraiyilaeOn the rock where peacocks dance,
Unnae maranthaenadaaI forgot myself,
En sandaalaaOh my ruthless lover,
Unakkeyaththu kedanthaendaaaI remained completely devoted to you!
Female
Veththilaiyai kaiyilae vechiHolding the betel leaf in your hand,
Verum paakka naakkula vechchiPlacing bare areca nut on your tongue,
Veththilaiyai kaiyilae vechiHolding the betel leaf in your hand,
Verum paakka naakkula vechchiPlacing bare areca nut on your tongue,
Sunnaambu saadai sollaiyae machchaanaeYou gave a subtle hint without lime, my cousin,
Suththura sangathi purinju pochchudaa…And I understood the secret affair going on...
Female
Arisi edukkanumnuTo take out some rice,
Arisi edukkanumnuTo take out some rice,
Adi modaavula kaeyevuttaenI thrust my hand deep inside the pot,
Vedukkunnu pottuchchummaa kodukku thaeluAnd suddenly, a stinging scorpion bit me!
Velakkanaikkira neraththulaeAt the time of turning off the lamp,
Female
Kalappaiyai thookki kittuLifting the plow on your shoulders,
Kaadu uzhappora machchaan….aa…My cousin who goes to plow the field... aa...
En machchaan machchaan machchaanOh my cousin, cousin, cousin!
Kalappaiyai thookkikkittuLifting the plow on your shoulders,
Kaadu uzhappora machchaanMy cousin who goes to plow the field,
Kaattai nallaa uzhuthudunga machchaanaePlow the land well, my cousin,
Potta vedhai pooraa molakkattumSo that all the sown seeds sprout well.
Female
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Mamputtiya tholula vachchiCarrying the hoe on your shoulder,
Madai thorakka pora machanMy dear cousin who is going to open the sluice gate,
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanaeOpen up the sluice gate, my dear cousin,
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattumSo that the peacock can come and take a bath.
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattumSo that the peacock can come and take a bath.
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum…..So that the peacock can come and take a bath...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style song expresses the playful romance and teasing between a village maiden and her cousin (machan) set against a rich agricultural backdrop. Through vivid metaphors of farming—such as opening sluice gates, carrying hoes, bailing water, and plowing fields—the woman weaves double entendres that symbolize romantic longing, intimacy, and fertility. The imagery of the peacock bathing and seeds sprouting subtly parallels marital love and growth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Madai thorakka pora machan

Agricultural acts like opening the water sluice ('Madai thorakka') and seeds sprouting ('vedhai molakkattum') act as metaphors for romantic union and fertility.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Madai thorakka pora machan / Madaiya thoranthu viduunga

The second letters 'd' in 'Madai' and 'Madaaiya' create a pleasant rhythmic rhyme characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Anaphora / Repetition

Mamputtiya tholula vachchi

Repetition of lines like 'Mamputtiya tholula vachchi' builds the rhythmic beat typical of traditional folk work songs (Ettappattu).

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Trivia

Composed by Shankar-Ganesh and rendered with playful folk vocal embellishments by S. Janaki, this track showcases A. Maruthakasi's skill in blending rustic Tamil rural slangs and agricultural terminology with romantic subtext, a trademark of classic 1970s Tamil cinema folk compositions.

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