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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maram Kothiye

From Anbe Aaruyire · 2005

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Pop Shalini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Anbe Aaruyire2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Wanna wanna wanna wanna waanaWanna, wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Wanna wanaa wanna be a wood peckarWanna, wanna, wanna be a woodpecker
Wood peckar…Woodpecker...
Wanna be a wanna be wanna be aWanna be a, wanna be, wanna be a
Wanna be a wood peckarWanna be a woodpecker
Wood peckar…Woodpecker...
Male
Ooooo…..ooooooo…..Ooooo... ooooooo...
Female
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Viratugiraai ennaiYou chase me away
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Miratugiraai nee ennaiYou threaten me
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu melaeUpon lip over lip
Oyaamal nadakanumIt should walk ceaselessly
Nadanthu pirakanum oosaiAnd from that movement, a sound should be born
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu kuzhalThe flute of lip to lip
Ottithaan kidakanumShould stay glued together
Irunthu kadakanum aasaiMy desire is to remain and cross over
Male
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Viratugiraai ennaiYou chase me away
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Miratugiraai nee ennaiYou threaten me
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu melaeUpon lip over lip
Oyaamal nadakanumIt should walk ceaselessly
Nadanthu pirakanum oosaiAnd from that movement, a sound should be born
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu kuzhalThe flute of lip to lip
Ottithaan kidakanumShould stay glued together
Irunthu kadakanum aasaiMy desire is to remain and cross over
Female
Oh oh idhazhgal naangum kalanthuOh, all four lips intertwining
Ingu iyatridum kavithai muththamThe poem created here is a kiss
Ithuvae azhagai kaatumThis is what displays true beauty
Indha ichena ezhum saththamThis kissing sound that arises as 'itch'
Male
Udhadum udhadum edharkuWhy are lips touching lips?
Ingu uravugal kaadhalar yudhamHere relationships are a battle of lovers
Kanalai kanalai thaanaeLike fire upon fire
Nenjil kothikum ila raththamThe young blood boils inside the heart
Female
Un udhatilae en kaayamMy wound is on your lips
Male :Por kalathilae athuthaan nyaayamMale: In a battlefield, that is only fair
Female
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Viratugiraai ennaiYou chase me away
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Miratugiraai nee ennaiYou threaten me
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu melaeUpon lip over lip
Oyaamal nadakanumIt should walk ceaselessly
Nadanthu pirakanum oosaiAnd from that movement, a sound should be born
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu kuzhalThe flute of lip to lip
Ottithaan kidakanumShould stay glued together
Irunthu kadakanum aasaiMy desire is to remain and cross over
Male
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Viratugiraai ennaiYou chase me away
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Miratugiraai nee ennaiYou threaten me
Chorus
Wanna wanna wanna wanna waanaWanna, wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna
Wanna wanaa wanna be a wood peckarWanna, wanna, wanna be a woodpecker
Wood peckar…Woodpecker...
Wanna be a wanna be wanna be aWanna be a, wanna be, wanna be a
Wanna be a wood peckarWanna be a woodpecker
Wood peckar…wood peckarWoodpecker... woodpecker
Male
Ooooo…..ooooooo…..Ooooo... ooooooo...
Male
Udhadum udhadum MelaLip upon lip
Kavinthu earthquakeLeaning over, an earthquake
Udhadum udhadum melaLip upon lip
Make it a make it a squakeMake it a, make it a squeak
Udhadum udhadum melaLip upon lip
Fill in a fill in at youFill in, fill in at you
Udhadum udhadum melaLip upon lip
This one is for youThis one is for you
Female
Uyirgal ulagin uyilaiThe life force of the world's creatures
Than udhadugal moolam marayumDisappears through their lips
Manithan kaakum punithamThe sanctity that humanity protects
Sila tharavugal kooridumaCan a few data points explain it?
Male
Paasam pesum oligaiThe sound that speaks affection
Aabasam enbathu thavaruCalling it vulgarity is wrong
Idharkoru thanikai edharkuWhy censor this?
Intha anbin varalaaruThis history of love
Female
Uh..udhadugal thaangathuUh.. the lips cannot bear it
Male :Naan koduthal vali thaan ezhuthumMale: If I give it, pain will arise
Male
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Maram koththiyaeOh woodpecker
Viratugiraai ennaiYou chase me away
Female :Udhadu koththiFemale: Pecking on the lips
Udhadu koththiPecking on the lips
Miratugiraai nee ennaiYou threaten me
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu melaeUpon lip over lip
Oyaamal nadakanumIt should walk ceaselessly
Nadanthu pirakanum oosaiAnd from that movement, a sound should be born
Chorus
Udhadu udhadu kuzhalThe flute of lip to lip
Ottithaan kidakanumShould stay glued together
Irunthu kadakanum aasaiMy desire is to remain and cross over
Male
{Ohoooo……..Female :Ohooo…} (2){Ohoooo... Female: Ohooo...} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Maram Koththiyae' from the 2005 movie 'Anbe Aaruyire' is a playful, romantic duet composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Vaali. The song metaphorically compares passionate kissing to a woodpecker pecking on wood, blending energetic pop and contemporary western arrangements with sensual Tamil lyricism. The lyrics explore the intense physical attraction between lovers, framing kissing as poetry, a playful battle, and an essential human emotion. The lyricist argues against censuring or viewing intimacy as taboo, highlighting it as a natural and sacred expression of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Maram koththiyae ... Udhadu koththi

Comparing the lover's playful kissing on the lips to a woodpecker ('Maram Koththi') pecking on wood.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Udhadu udhadu melae

Repetition of words like 'Udhadu' (lips) and 'Maram koththiyae' across multiple lines to emphasize rhythm and sensory imagery.

Rhyme / Ethirai (Second letter rhyming)

Ingu iyatridum kavithai muththam / Ithuvae azhagai kaatum

Tamil poetic rhyming feature where the second letter matches across consecutive lines ('Iyatridum' / 'Azhagai').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Maram Koththiyae' features music composed by A. R. Rahman for the movie 'Anbe Aaruyire' (2005), directed by S. J. Suryah, who also played the male lead. Sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Vasundhara Das, the track became popular for its unconventional lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali and its fusion of Tamil metaphors with English scat singing.

Keep listening

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