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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manja Kulicha Kili

From Maruthi · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, Vivek Sarathy
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Maruthi1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………
Female
Manja kulichcha kili machchamulla pachchaikkiliThe turmeric-bathed parrot, a green parrot with a mole,
Valli mayil vanthaa pachchapulli mayil vanthaaValli the peacock has arrived, the green-spotted peacock has arrived,
Senthooru velanukku sivakaami paalanukkuFor the Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur, the son of Sivakami,
Mallippo maala katti pottaalaamShe reportedly wove and offered a jasmine garland.
Chorus
Haei manja kulichcha kili machchamulla pachchaikkiliHey, the turmeric-bathed parrot, a green parrot with a mole,
Valli mayil vanthaa pachchapulli mayil vanthaaValli the peacock has arrived, the green-spotted peacock has arrived,
Senthooru velanukku sivakaami paalanukkuFor the Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur, the son of Sivakami,
Mallippo maala katti pottaalaamShe reportedly wove and offered a jasmine garland.
Chorus
………………
Female
Meththa onna poottukkaddi maman kooda paattu padiLock the bed chamber tight and sing songs with your groom,
Haa meththa onna poottukkaddi maman kooda paattu padiAha, lock the bed chamber tight and sing songs with your groom,
Maarbil avana thaangikkadi madiyil pulla vaangikkadiEmbrace him upon your chest and receive a child in your lap,
Vetkkam ennai vaattuthu pongaShyness is tormenting me, please go away,
Keli paattu paadurathengaWhy are you singing these teasing songs?
Male
Hae hae oh ohae aahaa aa…aa….(Playful vocalizing and chants)
Podavaigala thochchiduvenI will wash all the sarees,
Paaththirangala thechchiduvenI will scrub all the kitchen dishes,
Ponjaathikku vela seiven naanthaanI am the one who will happily work for my wife,
Ava pinnaalaeyae suththugira aalthaanI am the man who endlessly follows right behind her.
Female
Manja kulichcha kili machchamulla pachchaikkiliThe turmeric-bathed parrot, a green parrot with a mole,
Valli mayil vanthaa pachchapulli mayil vanthaaValli the peacock has arrived, the green-spotted peacock has arrived,
Senthooru velanukku sivakaami paalanukkuFor the Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur, the son of Sivakami,
Mallippo maala katti pottaalaamShe reportedly wove and offered a jasmine garland.
Chorus
Hoiyyaa hoiyyaa hoi hoi(Rhythmic folk chants)
Hoi hoi hoi…..(Folk exclamations)
Female
Sodi sera machchaan vanthaa odi odhungi nikkaathadiWhen your groom comes to join you, do not run and hide away,
Sodi sera machchaan vanthaa odi odhungi nikkaathadiWhen your groom comes to join you, do not run and hide away,
Chinna veedu thedikkittu pogumpadiyaa vaikkaathadiDo not drive him to wander away looking for another home,
Nalla maman naan konda mamanI am a good groom, a devoted husband,
Solla ponaa innoru ramanIn truth, I am like another virtuous Rama,
Male
Hae hae oh ohae aahaa aa…aa….(Playful vocalizing and chants)
Raamaayanam keemaayanaRamayana or whatever secondary lore,
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything about it,
Raman seethaikkuththaan ciththappaannuDo you not know the playful claim that Rama is like an uncle to Sita?
Theriyaatha unakkuDon't you even know that much?
Chorus
Manja kulichcha kili machchamulla pachchaikkiliThe turmeric-bathed parrot, a green parrot with a mole,
Valli mayil vanthaa pachchapulli mayil vanthaaValli the peacock has arrived, the green-spotted peacock has arrived,
Senthooru velanukku sivakaami paalanukkuFor the Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur, the son of Sivakami,
Mallippo maala katti pottaalaamShe reportedly wove and offered a jasmine garland.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Manja Kulichcha Kili from the 1986 Tamil film Maruthi is a lively folk duet centered around post-wedding teasing and romantic banter between a young couple and their companions. The chorus frames the romantic bond through divine imagery, drawing analogies to Goddess Valli and Lord Murugan (Senthooru Velan). The lyrics express joyful celebration, playful bashfulness from the bride, and lighthearted boasts from the groom. In the couplets, the groom humorously pledges absolute devotion by promising to wash sarees and scrub dishes for his wife, declaring himself a modern Rama. The bride responds with playful banter, teasing his understanding of epics like the Ramayana. Lyricist Vaali blends traditional rural courtship humor with catchy folk rhythms composed by Shankar Ganesh.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Manja kulichcha kili machchamulla pachchaikkili

Comparing the bride to a 'Manja kulichcha kili' (turmeric-bathed parrot) and 'Pachchapulli mayil' (green-spotted peacock) to emphasize her grace, beauty, and traditional charm.

Mythological Allusion

Senthooru velanukku sivakaami paalanukku

Invoking Lord Murugan ('Senthooru velan') and Valli to elevate earthly romance to divine status.

End Rhyme & Parallelism (Iyaibu)

Podavaigala thochchiduven / Paaththirangala thechchiduven

Matching verb endings ('thochchiduven' and 'thechchiduven') creating rhythmic cadence suitable for folk song meter.

Hyperbole & Humor

Solla ponaa innoru raman

The groom exaggerates his devotion by claiming he will do all household chores and compare himself to Lord Rama, followed by comedic mythological banter.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maruthi (1986) featured music by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh, who were renowned for their infectious folk beats and rural tracks in Tamil cinema throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Lyricist Vaali frequently used local folk idioms and witty colloquialisms in such tracks to heighten the comedic banter between lead characters.

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