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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mandhirichu Vitta

From Namma Ooru Poovatha · 1990

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Deva
Details
Namma Ooru Poovatha1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manthirichu vitta kozhi ellarkkumFor everyone like a bewitched chicken
Mandayila gaali gaaliTheir minds are completely empty, empty
Hey endhirichu vanangikadaa empaattaHey, get up and bow down to my song
Ippavachum therinjikkadaaAt least understand and learn it now!
Male
Ettu shruthi kattayilaAt the high pitch of the eighth octave
Metteduthu paaduvenI will compose a tune and sing
Ungappanukkum vitha solliI will teach tricks even to your father
Oththakaalil aaduvenAnd dance standing on a single leg
Thakidathom thakidathom thakidathomThakidathom thakidathom thakidathom
Thakida thaka thimiThakida thaka thimi
Male
Ettu shruthi kattayilaAt the high pitch of the eighth octave
Metteduthu paaduvenI will compose a tune and sing
Ungappanukkum vitha solliI will teach tricks even to your father
Oththakaalil aaduvenAnd dance standing on a single leg
Thaalatha maelatha thattiStriking the beat and the drums
Ooraithaan koottuvenI will gather the entire village together
Male
Manthirichu vitta kozhi ellarkkumFor everyone like a bewitched chicken
Mandayila gaali gaaliTheir minds are completely empty, empty
Hey endhirichu vanangikadaa empaattaHey, get up and bow down to my song
Ippavachum therinjikkadaaAt least understand and learn it now!
Komatti thalaiyaaHey round-headed fool
Male
Gettikaara saeval ithuThis rooster is extremely clever
Muttaikkulla irunthuRight from inside the egg
Kokkarakko paatu paadumIt sings the cock-a-doodle-doo song
Kaiyaale thakkathimi thalam podumIt taps rhythm with its hands to the beats
Male
Gettikaara saeval ithuThis rooster is extremely clever
Muttaikkulla irunthuRight from inside the egg
Kokkarakko paatu paadumIt sings the cock-a-doodle-doo song
Kaiyaale thakkathimi thalam podumIt taps rhythm with its hands to the beats
Male
Chinappa kitappaChinnappa and Kittappa
En chithappaa thaanungaAre my uncles, you see
Aazham theriyaama neengaWithout knowing the actual depth
Kaalai vittathaenungaWhy did you step into the water?
Male
Patchamalai utchi varaiAll the way up to the top of Pachaimalai peak
Paatedutha veerangaWe are the brave singers who raised tunes
Andappulugu ennaanuWhat kind of huge cosmic lie is this?
Annan kitta kelungaGo ask my elder brother about it
Male
Enkitta pottithaan podaTo step up and compete against me
Yaaringae koorungaTell me, who is brave enough here?
Male
Manthirichu vitta kozhi ellarkkumFor everyone like a bewitched chicken
Mandayila gaali gaaliTheir minds are completely empty, empty
Hey endhirichu vanangikadaa empaattaHey, get up and bow down to my song
Ippavachum therinjikkadaaAt least understand and learn it now!
Male
Gangayila vizhunthuEven if it falls into the holy Ganges
Mungi kulichaalumAnd takes a deep submerged bath
Kaakka velukkaathu daaA crow will never turn white, my man
Sooriyan maerkkae uthikaathu daaThe sun will never rise in the west, my man
Male
Gangayila vizhunthuEven if it falls into the holy Ganges
Mungi kulichaalumAnd takes a deep submerged bath
Kaakka velukkaathu daaA crow will never turn white, my man
Sooriyan maerkkae uthikaathu daaThe sun will never rise in the west, my man
Male
Gundu chatikulla neeDon't try to ride a horse
Guthirai ottatheyInside a small round cooking pot
Kottankuchi thanniyilaIn a small coconut shell's water
Kadala kaataatheDon't try to show me an ocean
Male
Aanaiyaathaan paanaikulleThey will trap even a huge elephant
Adakki vaipaarungaInside a tiny clay pot
Everything yegambaramThis 'Everything Yegambaram'
Killaadi thaanungaIs a master player, you see
Male
Veenbukku enkitta vanthaIf anyone comes to pick a fight with me
Pollaatha aalungaI am a dangerous man!
Male
Manthirichu vitta kozhi ellarkkumFor everyone like a bewitched chicken
Mandayila gaali gaaliTheir minds are completely empty, empty
Hey endhirichu vanangikadaa empaattaHey, get up and bow down to my song
Ippavachum therinjikkadaaAt least understand and learn it now!
Male
Ettu shruthi kattayilaAt the high pitch of the eighth octave
Metteduthu paaduvenI will compose a tune and sing
Ungappanukkum vitha solliI will teach tricks even to your father
Oththakaalil aaduvenAnd dance standing on a single leg
Thaalatha maelatha thattiStriking the beat and the drums
Ooraithaan kootuvenI will gather the entire village together
Male
Manthirichu vitta kozhi ellarkkumFor everyone like a bewitched chicken
Mandayila gaali gaaliTheir minds are completely empty, empty
Hey endhirichu vanangikadaa empaattaHey, get up and bow down to my song
Ippavachum therinjikkadaaAt least understand and learn it now!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic rural Tamil folk song features the protagonist playfully boasting about his musical dominance, supreme intelligence, and street-smart authority over his rivals. He mocks his opponents as mindless, comparing them to bewitched chickens with empty heads, while asserting his ability to sing at impossibly high pitches and outdance anyone.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sollukattu (Rhythmic Onomatopoeia)

Thakidathom thakidathom thakidathom / Thakida thaka thimi

Use of traditional rhythmic syllables to mimic percussion beats in folk music.

Proverb / Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)

Gangayila vizhunthu mungi kulichaalum kaakka velukkaathu daa

Uses rural proverbs about a crow never turning white even in the Ganges to illustrate that foolish or malicious people cannot change their basic nature.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

Aanaiyaathaan paanaikulle adakki vaipaarunga

Exaggerated imagery such as trapping an elephant inside a pot or riding a horse inside a cooking pot to highlight absurdity.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Ettu shruthi kattayila / Metteduthu paaduven

Rhyming of the second letter across lines (ttu/ttu) enhancing the folk rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva and rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan, this song stands out as a quintessential early 1990s village folk track ('Gaana' / 'Dappan Koothu' elements) known for its vibrant percussion, theatrical delivery, and traditional folk metaphors.

Keep listening

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