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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manamulla

From Chinna Jameen · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Jameen1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hey hey heyyHey hey heyy
Maanamulla manushangaIn this land where honorable human beings live,
Irukkum mannilaethere are also some worthless beings that exist,
Sila eenapatta jenmangalumit is true.
IrukkudhannanNow, shall we ask why that is?
Ippo adha ennaanu ketkalaamaShall we see who they are... haa...
Avuga yaarunnu paarkalaama…haa…Ah, no matter how many
Male
Ada ethana ethanabronze and brass items
Vengala pithalacome along,
Vanthaalum idhukkuthis clay pot always stays in high demand!
Mousu ennaalum irukkuThis is our ancestors' prized craft!
Idhu thaan muppaattan sarakkuThis is crafted from the earth,
Male
Idhu mannula pannadhua shining, golden clay pot!
Minnudhu minnudhu ponaana paanaIn front of this,
Idhukku munnaala thaanaenothing can stand, my dear!
Ethuvum nikkadhu maanaeThe meat and curry
Male
{Idhil samachu vekkuracooked inside this
Kariyum kulambhumwill turn out splendidly!
Jooraa irukkumaeAh, the entire village will be filled with its aroma!
Adadaaa oorae manakkumaeIf you taste it, it will be as sweet as honey!
Suvaichaa thaenaa inikkumae} (2)The meat and curry
Male
Evarum edukkum badicooked inside this
Irukkum enga paana velawill turn out splendidly!
Ethutha kadaiyila thaanAh, the entire village will be filled with its aroma!
Iruppadhellam yaana velaIf you taste it, it will be as sweet as honey!
Male
Size-ula thaangaaffordable enough for anyone to buy,
Adhu konjam perusuthat is the price of our clay pot!
Sarakkunnu paarthaOnly in the shop opposite us,
Idhu romba pudhusueverything costs as much as an elephant!
Male
Adhu kitta lesaaIn terms of size,
Irukkudhu sogusuuthat one is a bit big.
Adha nambi ponaaIf you look at the quality,
Kalanjidum manasuthis clay pot is brand new!
Male
Unakkum nalladhuOver there, slightly
Enakkum nalladhuthere is comfort and luxury,
Odhungi vandhu vidubut if you trust it and go,
Unna kanakku pannidumyour heart and mind will be ruined!
Kavukka ennidumIt is good for you,
Venaa vittupuduand it is good for me too,
Ava akka sangadhi amma sangadhiso step aside and come away!
Ellam appadi thaanIt will trick you,
Male
Ada ethana ethanaand plan to bring you down,
Vengala pithalaso let it be and leave it!
Vanthaalum idhukkuHer elder sister's matter, her mother's matter,
Mousu ennaalum irukkueverything is just like that!
Idhu thaan muppaattan sarakkuAh, no matter how many
Male
Idhil samachu vekkurabronze and brass items
Kariyum kulambhumcome along,
Jooraa irukkumaethis clay pot always stays in high demand!
Adadaaa oorae manakkumaeThis is our ancestors' prized craft!
Suvaichaa thaenaa inikkumaeThe meat and curry
Male
Chola kollaiyilaecooked inside this
Sorugi vaikkum paanaiyadiwill turn out splendidly!
Aazha keranga vaikkumAh, the entire village will be filled with its aroma!
Sarakku kaatchum paanaiyadiIf you taste it, it will be as sweet as honey!
Male
Kulathula neeraIn the cornfield,
Edukkura paanait is the pot tucked away, my girl!
Olaiyila soora vadikkira paanaTo make one deeply intoxicated,
Pazham puli vaangiit is the pot used to distil brew, my girl!
Adakkura paanaThe pot used to fetch water
Paal thayir oothi kadaiyira paanafrom the pond,
Male
Paana vaangidumthe pot used to drain cooked rice over the hearth,
Vela vanthidumthe pot used to buy aged tamarind
Maala pottida thaanand store it,
Nalla arasan pol oruthe pot used to pour milk and curd to churn them!
Purushan vanthoruThe right time to buy this pot
Thaali kattiduvaanwill surely come,
Thai maasam vanthathumjust to wear the wedding garland,
Pongal pongida paana vechirukkena husband like a good king
Male
Ada ethana ethanawill arrive
Vengala pithalaand tie the sacred thread!
Vanthaalum idhukkuWhen the harvest month of Thai arrives,
Mousu ennaalum irukkuI have set the pot ready to boil the festive Pongal!
Idhu thaan muppaattan sarakkuAh, no matter how many
Male
Idhu mannula pannadhubronze and brass items
Minnudhu minnudhu ponaana paanacome along,
Idhukku munnaala thaanaethis clay pot always stays in high demand!
Ethuvum nikkadhu maanaeThis is our ancestors' prized craft!
Male
Idhil samachu vekkuraThis is crafted from the earth,
Kariyum kulambhuma shining, golden clay pot!
Jooraa irukkumaeIn front of this,
Adadaaa oorae manakkumaenothing can stand, my dear!
Suvaichaa thaenaa inikkumaeThe meat and curry

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song uses the metaphor of the traditional clay pot ('paanai') versus modern, expensive metal vessels (bronze and brass) to celebrate timeless cultural heritage, rural authenticity, and moral integrity over superficial luxury and greed. The protagonist contrasts the affordable, versatile, and enduring value of earthen pots—used for cooking delicious meals, storing food, brewing, fetching water, and celebrating festivals like Thai Pongal—against modern alternatives that look impressive but carry exorbitant prices and hidden pitfalls. Through lively folk lyricism, the song cautions against being fooled by outward grandeur and urges listeners to stick to rooted, genuine values. Symbolically, the clay pot also represents traditional womanhood, domestic harmony, and the humble purity of rural life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Idhu thaan muppaattan sarakku / Idhu mannula pannadhu

The clay pot ('paanai') serves as an extended metaphor for traditional wisdom, humble living, and authentic cultural roots compared to modern superficiality ('vengala pithala').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Adadaaa oorae manakkumae / Suvaichaa thaenaa inikkumae

Exaggerating the aroma and taste of food cooked in clay pots, claiming the whole village will smell its fragrance and it tastes like honey.

Anaphora (Ezhuthu/Sol Athigaram)

Kulathula neera edukkura paana / Olaiyila soora vadikkira paana

Repetition of 'paana' at the end of successive lines to create a rhythmic cadence emphasizing the pot's multi-functional role in daily rural life.

Idiomatic Contrast (Sol Nayam)

Iruppadhellam yaana vela

Contrasting affordable pricing with 'yaana vela' (elephant-sized price/exorbitant price) to highlight commercial exploitation versus affordable tradition.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chinna Jameen' (1993) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Karthik and Sukanya. Lyricist Vaali masterfully incorporates traditional Tamil rustic folk idioms and domestic metaphors, celebrating the quintessential utility of earthen pots in Tamil heritage.

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