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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manapaarai Maadu Katti

From Makkalai Petra Magarasi · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Makkalai Petra Magarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ponnu velaiyira boomiyadaa…This is a land where gold grows, my friend...
Vivasaayatha poruppaa gavanichiIf we take up farming responsibly
Seidhomadaa…And do it well, my friend...
Unmaiyaa uzhaikkira namakku…For us who toil with true honesty...
Ellaa namaigalum naadi vandhuAll prosperity and good things will seek us out
Koodudhadaa…aaa…aa..aaa..haa..aa…aa..aa…And come together... ah... ah... ah...
Male
Manappaara maadu kattiHarness the sturdy bulls from Manapparai
Maayavaram yaeru poottiYoke the finest plow from Mayavaram
Vayakkaatta uzhudhu poduTill the soil of the farm field
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Pasunthazhaiya potu paadu padu chella kannuAdd green leaf manure and work hard, my darling!
Male
Manappaara maadu katti…Harness the sturdy bulls from Manapparai...
Maayavaram yaeru pootti…Yoke the finest plow from Mayavaram...
Male
Manappaara maadu kattiHarness the sturdy bulls from Manapparai
Maayavaram yaeru poottiYoke the finest plow from Mayavaram
Vayakkaatta uzhudhu poduTill the soil of the farm field
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Pasunthazhaiya potu paadu padu chella kannuAdd green leaf manure and work hard, my darling!
Male
Aathooru kichadi sambaaThe quality Kichadi Samba paddy from Attur
Aathooru kichadi sambaaThe quality Kichadi Samba paddy from Attur
Paathu vaangi vedha vedhachiBuy carefully and sow as seeds
Aathooru kichadi sambaaThe quality Kichadi Samba paddy from Attur
Paathu vaangi vedha vedhachiBuy carefully and sow as seeds
Naatha parichi nattu poduPluck the saplings and transplant them
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Thanniya yaetham pudichiWork the water lift device
Yerachi podu chella kannuAnd irrigate the field, my darling!
Naatha parichi nattu poduPluck the saplings and transplant them
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Thanniya yaetham pudichiWork the water lift device
Yerachi podu chella kannuAnd irrigate the field, my darling!
Male
Karudha nallaa vilaiya vachiNurture the crop to yield rich grain
Marudha jillaa aala vachi…Hire agricultural workers from Madurai district...
Karudha nallaa vilaiya vachiNurture the crop to yield rich grain
Marudha jillaa aala vachiHire agricultural workers from Madurai district
Aruttu podu kalathu maetulaHarvest and bring it to the threshing floor
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Nallaa adichi thootthiThresh the grain well, winnow it clean
Alandhu podu chella kannuAnd measure the harvest, my darling!
Male
Yendraa palla kaattreengaWhy are you grinning at me?
Ada velaiya paarungaHey, focus on your work!
Male
Karudha nallaa vilaiya vachiNurture the crop to yield rich grain
Marudha jillaa aala vachiHire agricultural workers from Madurai district
Aruthu podu kalathu mettulaHarvest and bring it to the threshing floor
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Nallaa adichi thootthiThresh the grain well, winnow it clean
Alandhu podu chella kannuAnd measure the harvest, my darling!
Male
Podhiya yaethi vandiyilaeLoad the grain bags onto the cart
Pollaachi sandhaiyilae… aaa…aaa..aa…To the weekly market in Pollachi... ah...
Male
Podhiya yaethi vandiyilaeLoad the grain bags onto the cart
Pollaachi sandhaiyilaeTo the weekly market in Pollachi
Virudhunagar vyaabaarikkuTo the trusted merchant from Virudhunagar
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Neeyum vitthu pottu panatha ennuSell the yield and count the earnings
Chella kannuMy darling!
Virudhunagar vyaabaarikkuTo the trusted merchant from Virudhunagar
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Neeyum vithu pottu panatha ennuSell the yield and count the earnings
Chella kannuMy darling!
Male
Saetha panatha sikkanamaaThe money earned from hard work, frugally
Selavu panna pakkuvamaaAnd with prudence in spending
Ammaa kaiyilae koduthu poduHand it over into mother's hands
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Unga ammaa kaiyilae koduthu poduHand it over into your mother's hands
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Avanga aara nooru aakkuvaangaShe will multiply six into six hundred
Chella kannuMy darling!
Male
Saetha panatha sikkanamaaThe money earned from hard work, frugally
Selavu panna pakkuvamaaAnd with prudence in spending
Ammaa kaiyilae koduthu poduHand it over into mother's hands
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Unga ammaa kaiyilae koduthu poduHand it over into your mother's hands
Chinna kannuMy little dear one
Avanga aara nooru aakkuvaangaShe will multiply six into six hundred
Chella kannuMy darling!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic Tamil folk-style song is a step-by-step guide and celebration of traditional agriculture in Tamil Nadu. Sung from the perspective of an experienced farmer encouraging young agricultural workers, the song details every phase of cultivation—from selecting specialized regional bulls (Manapparai) and plows (Mayavaram), choosing rich paddy varieties (Attur Kichadi Samba), irrigating using traditional water lifts, harvesting with farm hands from Madurai, selling at Pollachi market to Virudhunagar merchants, and finally entrusting the hard-earned money to the mother of the household for wise financial management. The overall theme emphasizes the dignity of labor, honest hard work, regional specialization in Tamil agricultural practices, and the matriarchal wisdom in household financial management where a mother can multiply small savings into great wealth ('aara nooru aakkuvaanga').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Ponnu velaiyira boomiyadaa…

Comparing fertile agricultural soil directly to gold ('Ponnu velaiyira boomiyadaa'), highlighting the inherent value of arable land.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Manappaara maadu katti / Maayavaram yaeru pootti

Matching second consonants across lines ('Manappaara' and 'Maayavaram', where both have 'na/ya' patterns, or 'Aathooru' and 'Paathu').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Chinna kannu ... Chella kannu

Repetition of end refrain 'Chinna kannu' and 'Chella kannu' across multiple stanzas, creating an affectionate rhythmic rhythm.

Hyperbole / Idiomatic Expression

Avanga aara nooru aakkuvaanga

The phrase 'aara nooru aakkuvaanga' (turning six into six hundred) is a traditional Tamil hyperbole praising household financial efficiency and motherly resourcefulness.

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Trivia

S. V. Sahasranamam starrer 'Makkalai Petra Magarasi' (1957) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Written by A. Maruthakasi, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous cultural anthems celebrating agricultural geography, listing specific Tamil towns renowned for specific agricultural goods: Manapparai for cattle, Mayiladuthurai (Mayavaram) for plows, Attur for Samba rice, Pollachi for markets, and Virudhunagar for merchants.

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