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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mappillai Paar

From Digambara Samiyar · 1950

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Leela, K. V. Janaki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Digambara Samiyar1950

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maapillai paarLook at the groom
Maapillai paar asal solai kollaiLook at the groom, a real scarecrow from the field
Bommai maarriyai vanthu vaachaareHe has ended up arriving like a wooden doll
Vanthu vaachaare vanthu vaachaareHe came and got stuck, he came and got stuck
Koothadum komaliyaai inthaLike a dancing clown, this...
Maapillai paar asal solai kollaiLook at the groom, a real scarecrow from the field
Bommai maarriyai vanthu vaachaareHe has ended up arriving like a wooden doll
Koothadum komaliyaai inthaLike a dancing clown, this...
Maapillai paarLook at the groom
Female
Haa..ahhahhஅ..ahah..HaaHaa..ahhahh..ahah..Haa
Devaram paadu endru sonnaalIf you ask him to sing Tevaram hymns
Thaavaram povaarHe will run off toward plants
Devaram paadu endru sonnaalIf you ask him to sing Tevaram hymns
Thaavaram povaarHe will run off toward plants
Thennaiyai paar endru sonnaalIf you tell him to look at the coconut tree
Dhonnaiyai paarpaarHe will stare at a leaf cup
Thennaiyai paar endru sonnaalIf you tell him to look at the coconut tree
Dhonnaiyai paarpaarHe will stare at a leaf cup
Female
Thinnaikku thinnnai thoonguvaarHe sleeps on veranda after veranda
Thinnaikku thinnnai thoonguvaarHe sleeps on veranda after veranda
Nandraaga thoonguvaarHe sleeps very soundly
Female
Ohoh…ohoh.Ohoh…ohoh.
Kaakkaip poal ora knnithaaneLike a crow, she glances out of one eye
Paar ungal penneLook at your bride!
Kaakkaip poal ora knnithaaneLike a crow, she glances out of one eye
Paar ungal penneLook at your bride!
Karunaaga pazham polaeDark like a jamun fruit
Niram ungal penneIs your bride's complexion
Karunaaga pazham polaeDark like a jamun fruit
Niram ungal penneIs your bride's complexion
Female
Veene sandai poduvaalShe picks useless fights
Veene sandai poduvaalShe picks useless fights
Andraadam poduvaaalShe picks fights every single day
Vaayaadi ivalai kondu vanthaargaleThey brought this talkative girl along
Patikaataiye Patikaataiye…..A total rustic bumpkin, a total bumpkin...
KonduvanthaargaleThey brought her along
Patikaataiye Patikaataiye…..A total rustic bumpkin, a total bumpkin...
Female
Goiyapazham enga ponnnuOur girl is as sweet as a guava fruit
Konangi maapillai vaachudhe..ea…But she got stuck with a clownish groom...
Goiyapazham enga ponnnuOur girl is as sweet as a guava fruit
Konangi maapillai vaachudhe..ea…But she got stuck with a clownish groom...
Female
Singakutti maapillaikkuFor a groom who is a brave lion cub
Intha azhumoonju ponnu vaachudhe..eaHe got stuck with this crybaby bride...
Singakutti maapillaikkuFor a groom who is a brave lion cub
Intha azhumoonju ponnu vaachudhe..eaHe got stuck with this crybaby bride...
Female
Ellorum pogum vandi goodsuvandiThe vehicle everyone travels in is a goods train
Ellorum pogum vandi goodsuvandiThe vehicle everyone travels in is a goods train
Azhagu cycle vandiA beautiful bicycle
Arumai motar vandiA wonderful motor car
Azhagu cycle vandiA beautiful bicycle
Arumai motar vandiA wonderful motor car
Inthe pillai podum vandiBut the cart this boy rides
Pazhaya kuppai vandiye……Is an old garbage cart...
Inthe pillai podum vandiBut the cart this boy rides
Pazhaya kuppai vandiye……Is an old garbage cart...
Female
Ellorukkum sooduvathu azhagu roja pooveWhat everyone wears is a beautiful rose flower
Ellorukkum sooduvathu azhagu roja pooveWhat everyone wears is a beautiful rose flower
Iniya vasam tharum maruvudam malligaiyeSweetly fragrant marjoram and jasmine
Iniya vasam tharum maruvudam malligaiyeSweetly fragrant marjoram and jasmine
Inthe pennu sooduvathuWhat this girl wears
Vellerukkam poovaithaanIs only the wild crown flower
Inthe pennu sooduvathuWhat this girl wears
Vellerukkam poovaithaanIs only the wild crown flower
Female
Raajathi pola ponnukethaaneFor a girl who is like a princess
Goojaavai thookidum maapilai vaachudheShe got a groom who carries water jugs
Raajathi pola ponnukethaaneFor a girl who is like a princess
Goojaavai thookidum maapilai vaachudheShe got a groom who carries water jugs
Female
Raaajvai pole pillaikku thaaneFor a boy who is like a king
Moonjooru polave pen vanthu vaithatheA bride looking like a shrew rat has arrived
Raaajvai pole pillaikku thaaneFor a boy who is like a king
Moonjooru polave pen vanthu vaithatheA bride looking like a shrew rat has arrived
Female
Goiyapazham enga ponnnuOur girl is as sweet as a guava fruit
Konangi maapillai vaachudhe..ye…But she got stuck with a clownish groom...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a classic humorous marriage banter track ('Sammandhi Sandai') from the 1950 movie Digambara Samiyar. Two sides engage in a playful duel of wits, mocking each other's representative—the bride and the groom. The bride's side derides the groom as a foolish, lazy, clumsy fellow who misinterprets commands, sleeps on random verandas, and drives a 'garbage cart'. Meanwhile, the groom's side retaliates by describing the bride as a dark, squint-eyed, daily-quarreling villager who wears wild weeds instead of sweet flowers. The comedic escalation relies on witty metaphors, folk-style rhyming, and rapid back-and-forth insults, showcasing lighthearted Tamil wedding humor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Bommai maarriyai vanthu vaachaare

Compares the groom to a wooden doll/scarecrow ('Bommai maarriyai') and the bride's eye-gaze to a crow ('Kaakkaip poal').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Goiyapazham enga ponnnu

Metaphorically equates the girl to a guava fruit ('Goiyapazham enga ponnnu') and the boy to a lion cub ('Singakutti maapillaikku').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Devaram paadu endru sonnaal / Thaavaram povaar

Rhyming second consonants across adjacent words/lines such as 'Devaram' and 'Thaavaram', 'Thennai' and 'Dhonnai'.

Contrast / Antithesis

Iniya vasam tharum maruvudam malligaiye / Inthe pennu sooduvathu Vellerukkam poovaithaan

Juxtaposes fragrant flowers (rose, jasmine) with undesirable wild weeds ('Vellerukkam poovaithaan') to satirize the bride's tastes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Maapillai paar' from Digambara Samiyar (1950) is an early example of dynamic comedic duets in Tamil cinema. Sung by P. Leela and K. V. Janaki, the song highlights the cultural tradition of playful mock-battles between the bride's and groom's relatives during south Indian wedding festivities.

Keep listening

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