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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mamiyaalukku Oru Saedhi

From Panithirai · 1961

Lyricist
Kothamangalam Subbu
Singers
Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. V. Rathinam
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Panithirai
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
25 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Elaya pottaan sotha vachaan
Eduthu thinbadha keduthittaan
Silaya pola radhiya koduthaan
Sirichi pesa thaduthittaan
Thalaiyil vaitha malligai poo
Thaanum vaadi pogudhu
Vaasappadiya paathu paathu
Vayasum odi pogudhu
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Marumagal thannai
Perumaigal udanae
Marumagal thannai perumaigaludanae
Vaazha vaippadhu pudhu needhi
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Adi marumagalellaam erumaigalaa
Andha maamiyaarukku adimaigalaa
Adi marumagalellaam erumaigalaa
Andha maamiyaarukku adimaigalaa
Adha vayasaanavanga purinjukkanum
Namma vaaliba manasa therinjukkanum
Adha vayasaanavanga purinjukkanum
Namma vaaliba manasa therinjukkanum
Pazhasaa pona paathiramellaam
Paranaiyin melae odhingikkanum
Pazhasaa pona paathiramellaam
Paranaiyin melae odhingikkanum
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Kittathil ninnaa sirichaal endru
Kelvi ketkka koodaadhu
Aamaamaa
Kittathil ninnaa sirichaal endru
Kelvi ketkka koodaadhu
Thatti maraivil kaadhai koduthu
Ottu ketka koodaadhu
Aamaamaa
Thatti maraivil kaadhai koduthu
Ottu ketka koodaadhu
Oodhu vathiya poruthum podhu
Ussunnu perumoochaagaadhu
Oodhu vathiya poruthum podhu
Ussunnu perumoochaagaadhu
Panjana methaiya virikkum podhu
Bakkunu iruma koodaadhu
Panjana methaiya virikkum podhu
Bakkunu iruma koodaadhu
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Saaviyai marumagal kayil koduthu
Jaba maalai thannai eduthukkanum
Raam raam raama raama raama raamaa
Saaviyai marumagal kayil koduthu
Jaba maalai thannai eduthukkanum
Saami paakkanum kovil poganum
Namma sandhoshathukku
Time kodukkanum kodukkanum
Maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
Mammamma maamiyaalukku oru saedhi
Idhai madhichu nadandhaa mariyaadhi
He laid out the leaf and served the meal,
but spoiled our chance to eat.
He gave a bride like a sculpted Rati (goddess of beauty),
but stopped us from smiling and talking together.
The jasmine flowers in her hair
are simply wilting away.
Constantly waiting at the doorway,
our youth is slipping away.
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
Treating the daughter-in-law
with honor and pride,
letting the daughter-in-law live with dignity—
that is the new rule of justice.
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
Making daughters-in-law work like beasts of burden,
keeping them as slaves to the mother-in-law—
making daughters-in-law work like beasts of burden,
keeping them as slaves to the mother-in-law—
the elders must understand this,
they must understand our youthful hearts.
The elders must understand this,
they must understand our youthful hearts.
All the old pots and pans
should retire up to the loft.
All the old pots and pans
should retire up to the loft.
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
If she stands close and smiles,
you shouldn't question her.
Yes, indeed!
If she stands close and smiles,
you shouldn't question her.
Pressing your ear against the screen wall,
you shouldn't eavesdrop.
Yes, indeed!
Pressing your ear against the screen wall,
you shouldn't eavesdrop.
When we light the incense sticks,
you shouldn't let out heavy sighs.
When we light the incense sticks,
you shouldn't let out heavy sighs.
When making the soft mattress bed,
you shouldn't suddenly cough.
When making the soft mattress bed,
you shouldn't suddenly cough.
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
Hand the house keys over to the daughter-in-law
and take up prayer beads for yourself.
Ram Ram Rama Rama Ram Rama!
Hand the house keys over to the daughter-in-law
and take up prayer beads for yourself.
Go visit temples and pray to God,
and for our happiness,
you must give us time, yes, give us time!
Here is a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
M-m-m... a message for the mother-in-law:
heed this and keep your respect!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful yet progressive song from the 1961 movie Panithirai delivers a humorous message to mothers-in-law regarding domestic autonomy and privacy for young newlyweds. It lightheartedly expresses the frustrations of daughters-in-law whose personal lives and youth are stifled by overbearing elders in traditional households. The lyricist advocates for a generational shift where elders step back from managing household keys and intruding on intimate moments, allowing young couples the privacy and freedom to build their lives together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Pazhasaa pona paathiramellaam Paranaiyin melae odhingikkanum

Comparing aging elders retiring from household control to old, unused kitchen vessels being stored away on the loft attic (paran).

Onomatopoeia (Oli Kurippu)

Ussunnu perumoochaagaadhu

Use of expressional sound words 'ussunnu' (heavy sighing) and 'bakkunu' (sudden coughing) to mimic annoying domestic interruptions.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Elaya pottaan sotha vachaan / Eduthu thinbadha keduthittaan

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds ('Elaya' / 'Eduthu') establishing rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were authored by the iconic Tamil writer, director, and lyricist Kothamangalam Subbu, best known for his landmark novel 'Thillana Mohanambal'. The song features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1961 film Panithirai.

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