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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manjalukku Sonthakari

From Kaalam · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kaalam1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaruLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion.
Female :Haan naanthaanaaFemale: Haan, is it me?
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaruLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion.
Male
Naagareega mogam naattuppura thegamA craving for modernity, but a body from the countryside,
Namakkithu thaangaathammaaOh dear, we cannot bear this!
Naagareega mogam naattuppura thegamA craving for modernity, but a body from the countryside,
Namakkithu thaangaathammaaOh dear, we cannot bear this!
Male
Sirippu mella nadippu thiruppu nallaa thiruppuSmile softly, act, turn around, turn around nicely!
Adadaa enna porumaiOh my, what patience!
Madaiyaa anga erumaiHey fool, look at that buffalo over there!
Rendum onnuthaan intha rendum manduthaanBoth are the same, both of these are dull-headed!
Rendum onnuthaan intha rendum manduthaanBoth are the same, both of these are dull-headed!
Chella kannuthaan iva nalla ponnuthaanShe is a darling, she is a good girl,
Chella kannuthaan iva nalla ponnuthaanShe is a darling, she is a good girl.
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaru heiLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion, hey!
Male
Sangaraa paranamu….sangaraa paranamu…Sankarabharanam... Sankarabharanam...
Raagamaa shruthi serumaa thaalaamaa vedhalamaaIs it a musical raga? Will the pitch match? Is it rhythm or a demon?
Raagamaa shruthi serumaa thaalaamaa vedhalamaaIs it a musical raga? Will the pitch match? Is it rhythm or a demon?
Male
………………….....
Male
Pondatti munnaalae sangeethamaaMusic performance in front of the wife?
Aanpillai en melae santhegamaaSuspicion cast on me, a real man?
Haan pondatti munnaalae sangeethamaaHaan, music performance in front of the wife?
Aanpillai en melae santhegamaaSuspicion cast on me, a real man?
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaruLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion.
Male
Naagareega mogam naattuppura thegamA craving for modernity, but a body from the countryside,
Namakkithu thaangaathammaaOh dear, we cannot bear this!
Male
Kaaramaa aagaaramaa kaayamaa vengaayamaaIs it spicy? Is it food? Is it asafoetida or onion?
Hae kaaramaa aagaaramaa kaayamaa vengaayamaaHey, is it spicy? Is it food? Is it asafoetida or onion?
Male
Avasaram thantha anupavamAn experience born out of haste,
Adhirasam intha kanirasam haeAdhirasam sweet delicacy is this sweet juice, hey!
Male
Thangachchi thala melae ice vaikkiraanHe is flattering his younger sister,
Thaaraththa pugazhaama evan irukkiraanWhich man exists without praising his own wife?
Thangachchi thala melae ice vaikkiraanHe is flattering his younger sister,
Thaaraththa pugazhaama evan irukkiraanWhich man exists without praising his own wife?
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaruLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion.
Male
Naagareega mogam naattuppura thegamA craving for modernity, but a body from the countryside,
Namakkithu thaangaathammaa….hoo….hooraa…Oh dear, we cannot bear this... hoo... hooraa...
Male
Thaaramaa avathaaramaa thaabamaa parithaabamaaIs she a wife or an incarnation? Is it longing or pity?
Thaaramaa avathaaramaa thaabamaa parithaabamaaIs she a wife or an incarnation? Is it longing or pity?
Male
Moraikkuthu mugam sivakkuthuShe glares and her face turns red,
Maraikkuthu aasai irukkuthuShe conceals it, yet desire remains,
Male
Ammaavin kann paarvai dheiveegameA mother's loving glance is divine,
Anbaalae aanantha pannpaadumaeThrough love, a song of bliss shall sing...
Haan ammaavin kann paarvai dheiveegameHaan, a mother's loving glance is divine,
Anbaalae aanantha pannpaadumae….Through love, a song of bliss shall sing...
Male
Manjalukku sonthakkaariThe rightful owner of turmeric,
Machaanukku veettukkaariThe housewife of her cousin,
Maattikkittu muzhikkiraa paaruLook at her getting caught and blinking in confusion.
Male
Naagareega mogam naattuppura thegamA craving for modernity, but a body from the countryside,
Namakkithu thaangaathammaa….hoo….hoorrr…Oh dear, we cannot bear this... hoo... hoorrr...
Male
………………...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and comedic track from 'Kaalam' (1981) revolves around lighthearted family dynamic and marital banter. The singer humorously teases the wife's reactions, contrasting her traditional rural roots with her attempts at modern demeanor. Vaali's lyrics weave puns about classical music, cooking ingredients, and domestic situations into a fast-paced rhythm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Manjalukku sonthakkaari / Machaanukku veettukkaari

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the line ('Manjalukku', 'Machaanukku', 'Maattikkittu').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kaaramaa aagaaramaa kaayamaa vengaayamaa

Matching second consonants across words, such as 'Kaaramaa' / 'Aagaaramaa' and 'Kaayamaa' / 'Vengaayamaa'.

Idiomatic Expression

Thangachchi thala melae ice vaikkiraan

Use of the modern colloquial idiom 'Ice vaikkiraan' (putting ice on the head), meaning to butter someone up or flatter them.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the composer duo Shankar-Ganesh, this song showcases Malaysia Vasudevan's versatile comedic vocal delivery, which was popular in early 1980s Tamil cinema soundtracks.

Keep listening

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