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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mambattiya Tholuley

From Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi · 1978

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
16 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa….aah….
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Madai thorakka pora machan
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanae
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum…
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Madai thorakka pora machan
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanae
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum
Erai koodai kaipidichchi
Eraippu eraikka pora machchaan….aa….
En machchaan machchaan machchaan
Erai koodai kaipidichchi
Eraippu eraikka pora machchaan…
Eraippu nallaa eraichchu vidunga machchaanae
Varappa thaandi eerang kaakkattum
Mannaa maranthenadaa
Mayilaadum paaraiyilae
Mannaa maranthenadaa
Mayilaadum paaraiyilae
Unnae maranthaenadaa
En sandaalaa
Unakkeyaththu kedanthaendaaa
Veththilaiyai kaiyilae vechi
Verum paakka naakkula vechchi
Veththilaiyai kaiyilae vechi
Verum paakka naakkula vechchi
Sunnaambu saadai sollaiyae machchaanae
Suththura sangathi purinju pochchudaa…
Arisi edukkanumnu
Arisi edukkanumnu
Adi modaavula kaeyevuttaen
Vedukkunnu pottuchchummaa kodukku thaelu
Velakkanaikkira neraththulae
Kalappaiyai thookki kittu
Kaadu uzhappora machchaan….aa…
En machchaan machchaan machchaan
Kalappaiyai thookkikkittu
Kaadu uzhappora machchaan
Kaattai nallaa uzhuthudunga machchaanae
Potta vedhai pooraa molakkattum
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Mamputtiya tholula vachchi
Madai thorakka pora machan
Madaiya thoranthu viduunga machaanae
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum
Mayilu vanthu neeraadattum…..
Ah... aah...
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
My sweetheart who goes to open the sluice gate,
Open up the sluice gate, my sweetheart,
Let this peacock come and bathe...
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
My sweetheart who goes to open the sluice gate,
Open up the sluice gate, my sweetheart,
Let this peacock come and bathe...
Holding the irrigation basket in hand,
My sweetheart who goes to bail out the water... ah...
Oh my sweetheart, my darling, my man,
Holding the irrigation basket in hand,
My sweetheart who goes to bail out the water,
Bail the water generously, my sweetheart,
Let the moisture spread well beyond the ridges!
Oh my king, I lost myself,
On the rock where peacocks dance,
Oh my king, I lost myself,
On the rock where peacocks dance!
Lost in you,
Oh you sweet rogue,
I lay there, yielded only to you...
Holding betel leaf in your hand,
Placing plain areca nut on your tongue,
Holding betel leaf in your hand,
Placing plain areca nut on your tongue,
When you gave a sly hint for lime paste, my sweetheart,
I understood the thought brewing in your mind!
To take out some rice,
To take out some rice,
I reached deep inside the big clay pot,
A stinging scorpion bit me sharply,
Right at the hour the lamp was put out!
Lifting the plough onto your shoulders,
My sweetheart who goes to till the field... ah...
Oh my sweetheart, my darling, my man,
Lifting the plough onto your shoulders,
My sweetheart who goes to till the field,
Plough the land thoroughly, my sweetheart,
Let every single seed sown sprout!
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
With the spade resting on your shoulder,
My sweetheart who goes to open the sluice gate,
Open up the sluice gate, my sweetheart,
Let this peacock come and bathe...
Let this peacock come and bathe...
Let this peacock come and bathe...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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).

Did you know?

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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