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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mappillai Mappillai

From Mangala Nayagi · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Mangala Nayagi1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mappillai mappillaiBridegroom, bridegroom!
Mannaangatti thoppulaIn the clay-dirt grove,
Mappillai mappillaiBridegroom, bridegroom!
Mannaangatti thoppulaIn the clay-dirt grove,
Female
Akka ponnu nenappulaeThinking of your elder sister's daughter,
Aiyyo paavam sappidalaeOh poor thing, he hasn't eaten!
Akka ponnu nenappulaeThinking of your elder sister's daughter,
Aiyyo paavam sappidalaeOh poor thing, he hasn't eaten!
Female
Ettu kattalai ingunduThere are eight conditions here,
Istappattaal pennunduuIf you like them, you can have the bride.
Ettu kattalai ingunduThere are eight conditions here,
Istappattaal pennunduuIf you like them, you can have the bride.
Sammathamaa….sol…..sammathamaaDo you agree? Tell me... do you agree?
Male
Aduppadi velai seithida maattaal ponnuThe girl will not do kitchen work.
Aiyya idhuthaan engal kattalai onnuSir, this is our condition number one!
Male
Naan aduppoothuvenI will blow the kitchen fire,
Naaan aduppoothuven sambhar rasam seiguvenI will blow the kitchen fire, make sambar and rasam,
Nalla parimaaruven naan beeman thambiAnd serve well, for I am Bhima's younger brother!
Female
Innoru pennai paarththaal thandanaiyunduIf you look at another woman, there will be punishment.
Aiyyaa idhuthaan engal kattalai iranduSir, this is our condition number two!
Male
Enthan samsaarame rambai avathaaramaeMy wife is an incarnation of Rambha,
Manam maaraathammaa naan raman thambiMy mind won't change, for I am Rama's younger brother!
Female
: Mappillai mappilliBridegroom, bridegroom!
Mannaangatti thoppulaIn the clay-dirt grove,
Female
Akka ponnu nenappulaeThinking of your elder sister's daughter,
Aiyyo paavam sappidalaeOh poor thing, he hasn't eaten!
Female
Ettu kattalai ingunduThere are eight conditions here,
Istappattaal pennunduuIf you like them, you can have the bride.
Sammathamaa….sol…..sammathamaaDo you agree? Tell me... do you agree?
Female
Manaiviyin selai thovuchchu podanum aanuThe man must wash and hang the wife's saree.
Aiyyaa idhuthaan engal kattalai moonuSir, this is our condition number three!
Male
Aahaa melaadaikal joli paavadaigalAha, upper garments, skirts, and cholis,
Naanae thovaipenammaaI myself will wash them, dear lady!
Aahaa melaadaikal joli paavadaigalAha, upper garments, skirts, and cholis,
Naanae thovaipenammaaI myself will wash them, dear lady!
Adhuthaanae inbamThat itself is bliss!
Female
Pillai piranthaal thottil aattura aaluWhen a child is born, the person to rock the cradle,
Needhaan aiyyaa idhuthaan kattalai naaluIs you, sir; this is condition number four!
Male
Naan thaalaattuvenI will sing a lullaby,
Naan thaalaattuven thottu seeraattuvenI will sing a lullaby and shower affection,
Putti paaloottuven naan aayaa aavaenI will feed bottle milk, I will become a nanny!
Female
Mappillai mappilliBridegroom, bridegroom!
Mannaangatti thoppulaIn the clay-dirt grove,
Female
Akka ponnu nenappulaeThinking of your elder sister's daughter,
Aiyyo paavam sappidalaeOh poor thing, he hasn't eaten!
Female
Ettu kattalai ingunduThere are eight conditions here,
Istappattaal pennunduuIf you like them, you can have the bride.
Sammathamaa….sol…..sammathamaaDo you agree? Tell me... do you agree?
Female
Kuttram sonnaal kothikkum akkaa nenjuIf you point out faults, the elder sister's heart will boil,
Oththu poganum idhuthaan kattalai anjuYou must get along; this is condition number five!
Male
Naan edhirvaadhamae vetti pidivaathamoCounter-arguments or useless obstinacy,
Summaa adhikaaramo siyya maattaenammaaOr senseless authority—I won't do any of that, dear lady!
Female
Aiyyaa idhuthaan aaru yaezhu ettuSir, these are numbers six, seven, and eight,
Kattalai paakki kettu thaaliyai kattuListen to the remaining conditions and tie the wedding knot!
Adhu ettaagattum ettu nooraagattumLet it be eight, or let eight become eight hundred,
Solla thevaiyillaiThere is no need to list them,
Naan manaiviyin thaasanI am my wife's humble servant!
Female
Mappillai mappilliBridegroom, bridegroom!
Male :Oo hoMale: Oo ho
Female :Mannaangatti thoppulaFemale: In the clay-dirt grove,
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa
Female
Akka ponnu nenappulaeFemale: Thinking of your elder sister's daughter,
Male :Oh hoMale: Oh ho
Female :Aiyyo paavam sappidalaeFemale: Oh poor thing, he hasn't eaten!
Female
Ettu kattalai ingunduThere are eight conditions here,
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa
Female :Istappattaal pennunduuFemale: If you like them, you can have the bride.
Male :Oo hoMale: Oo ho
Female :Sammathamaa….sol…..sammathamaaFemale: Do you agree? Tell me... do you agree?
Male :HmmmMale: Hmmm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mappillai Mappillai from the 1980 film Mangala Nayagi is a playful musical dialogue between the bride's side and the eager groom. The bride's family lays down eight strict conditions (kattalaigal) before agreeing to give the bride in marriage. These terms humorously reverse conventional gender roles, demanding that the husband perform all kitchen duties, wash his wife's clothes, nurse and rock future children, stay unconditionally faithful, and avoid arguing with his sister-in-law.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Kilavi)

Mappillai mappillai

The word 'Mappillai' is repeated consecutively to establish rhythmic cadence and call attention playfully to the groom.

Mythological Allusion (Purana Uruvagam)

Nalla parimaaruven naan beeman thambi

The lyricist Vaali invokes Bhima (famed for his culinary skills during exile) and Rama (famed for supreme devotion to his wife Sita) to highlight the groom's comical willingness to obey.

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Monai and Etukai)

Aiyyaa idhuthaan engal kattalai irandu

The second letter harmony and end-rhyme structure ('onnu', 'irandu', 'moonu', 'naalu') build an engaging counting pattern throughout the demands.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mangala Nayagi (1980) was directed by the acclaimed duo Krishnan-Panju and featured music composed by V. Kumar. Sung by legends P. Susheela and T. M. Soundararajan, this Vaali-penned song subverts traditional domestic roles with sharp comedic flair.

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