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Lyrics & meaning

Marudha Jilla Mayilakala

From Thendral Thodatha Malar · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Thendral Thodatha Malar1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Mookkanaangkayiru eduththu kattungadiTake the nose-rope and tie it up, girls!
Vaala vittu thumba pidi valarnthirukkum komba pidiLeave the tail, catch the snout, catch its fully grown horns!
Kozhuppa adakki kaattungadiSubdue its arrogance and show it off, girls!
Adi vaangadi vaangadi vaangadi vaangadiCome on, step up, step up, step up, step up, girls!
Chorus
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Vaala vittu thumba pidi valarnthirukkum komba pidiLeave the tail, catch the snout, catch its fully grown horns!
Kozhuppa adakki kaattungadiSubdue its arrogance and show it off, girls!
Chorus
……………
Female
Yaennu ketkka aalillaennuThinking there is no one around to question you,
Ennaathae saetta pannaathaeDon't pull off such mischievous antics!
Yaennu ketkka aalillaennuThinking there is no one around to question you,
Ennaathaae saetta pannaathaeDon't pull off such mischievous antics!
Yaennu ketkka aalillaennuThinking there is no one around to question you,
Veralukkeththa veekkam irukka venum rasaThe swelling should match the size of the finger, my king!
Adhukku melae pona narukka venum lesaIf it grows beyond that, it needs a slight snip!
Female
Potti pottu paakkaathae palichchidaathu paachchaaDon't try to compete; your tricks won't work here!
Vetti pechchu enna aachchuWhat became of all your idle talk?
Ippa valachchu pudichchu paaththaachchuNow we have captured and rounded you up!
Female
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Vaala vittu thumba pidi valarnthirukkum komba pidiLeave the tail, catch the snout, catch its fully grown horns!
Kozhuppa adakki kaattungadiSubdue its arrogance and show it off, girls!
Chorus
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Mookkanaang kayiru eduththu kattungadi kattungadiTake the nose-rope and tie it up, tie it up, girls!
Chorus
………………..
Female
Ooru vambu velaikku vaangumBuying up the town's trouble for himself,
Mannaaru maatti ninnaaruMannaru got trapped in a tight spot!
Ooru vambu velaikku vaangumBuying up the town's trouble for himself,
Mannaaru maatti ninnaaruMannaru got trapped in a tight spot!
Female
Kozhiyodu saernthu koththukindrapothuWhen pecking together with the hens,
Kokkarikkum seval vakkarippathaethuHow can a crowing rooster flaunt its superiority?
Melum keezhum thullaathae veluththu pogum saayamDon't jump up and down, your fake color will wash off!
Melum keezhum thullaathae veluththu pogum saayamDon't jump up and down, your fake color will wash off!
Intha velai seiyyum velai poga poga yaeraalam….The tasks performed by this hand will keep growing over time...
Chorus
Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadiThe peacock-spotted bull of Madurai district is locking horns with us, girl!
Mookkanaang kayiru eduththu kattungadi kattungadiTake the nose-rope and tie it up, tie it up, girls!
Vaala vittu thumba pidi valarnthirukkum komba pidiLeave the tail, catch the snout, catch its fully grown horns!
Kozhuppa adakki kaattungadiSubdue its arrogance and show it off, girls!
Adi vaangadi vaangadi vaangadi vaangadiCome on, step up, step up, step up, step up, girls!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk-style song uses bull-taming (Jallikattu) metaphors to mock a boastful and overconfident man. The protagonist ladies playfully warn him against misbehaving or showing undue arrogance, reminding him that any swollen ego must be cut down to size.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadi

Comparing an arrogant man to a fiery Madurai bull ('mayilakkaala') that needs to be controlled with a nose-rope ('mookkanaangkayiru').

Proverbial Metaphor / Idiom

Veralukkeththa veekkam irukka venum rasa

Uses the popular Tamil proverb 'Veralukkeththa veekkam' (swelling proportionate to the finger) to indicate that arrogance should stay within limits.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Marutha jillaa mayilakkaala namma kittae muttuthadi

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound in 'Marutha' and 'mayilakkaala'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the music duo Shankar-Ganesh and features lyricist Pulamaipithan's signature use of earthy, colloquial Tamil proverbs fused into film rhythm.

Keep listening

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