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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Marudha Malai Adivaram

From Arul · 2004

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Tippu, L. R. Easwari, Theni Kunjarammal
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Arul2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maruthamalai adivaaramAt the foothills of Maruthamalai,
Arulkumaran avathaaramLord Arulkumaran takes his incarnation.
Oppanakaara veedhiyilaeOn Oppanakara Street,
Soppana sundhari poraalaeThe dream beauty walks along.
Ponni manasu kettupochuPonni's heart got ruined,
Kannukulla kaadhal aachu…Love blossomed inside her eyes...
Male
Peelaamedu sapparamaeO temple chariot of Peelamedu!
Pottu vecha mathalamaeO drum adorned with a bindi!
Kaadhaluna romba romba bore-uIf it is love, it is very, very boring.
Male
AvinaasiAvinashi,
Chorus :ShabbaChorus: Shabba!
Male :AmmaniyaeMale: O lady!
Chorus :ShabbaChorus: Shabba!
Male :Endre pecha meera venaamMale: Do not disobey my words.
Male
Kanna paathuLooking at the eyes,
Chorus :ShabbaChorus: Shabba!
Male :Colour-a paathuMale: Looking at the complexion,
Chorus :ShabbaChorus: Shabba!
Male :Kaadhalunu namba venaamMale: Do not believe it to be love.
Male
Goy ah goy ahGoy ah goy ah
Gumbure gumba goyyaaloGumbure gumba goyyaalo
Male
Venaam ponniDon't do it, Ponni!
Indha kaadhal rombaThis love is a big
Tholla ponniTrouble, Ponni!
Arul sonnaWhat Arul said,
Andha vaaku pazhikkumThat word will come true,
Kelu ponniListen, Ponni!
Chorus
Venaam ponniDon't do it, Ponni!
Indha kaadhal rombaThis love is a big
Tholla ponniTrouble, Ponni!
Arul sonnaWhat Arul said,
Andha vaaku pazhikkumThat word will come true,
Kelu ponniListen, Ponni!
Male
Ukkadathu pappadamaeO papad of Ukkadam!
Suththivitta pambaramaeO spinning top!
Arulukitta arul vaaku keluListen to the divine word from Arul.
Male
Peelaamedu sapparamaeO temple chariot of Peelamedu!
Pottu vecha mathalamaeO drum adorned with a bindi!
Kaadhaluna romba romba bore-uIf it is love, it is very, very boring.
Chorus
{Soni soniyae…{Soni soniyae…
Langa honiyae…}Langa honiyae…}
Male
Light-a nee sirichaalaeJust because you smile a little,
Light house-a paarthenuHe says he saw a lighthouse,
Summaavae suththuvaanae reel-uAnd spins tall tales for nothing.
Male
Lesa nee paathaalumEven if you glance lightly,
Rosa poo pookuthunuHe says a rose flower blooms,
Kaathula thaanae veppaanae poovuAnd places a flower in your ear (fools you).
Male
Kannenu muththae nu konjiduvaanHe will pamper calling you 'my eyes', 'my pearl',
Kalyaana pechunaa odiduvaanBut if marriage talk comes up, he will run away.
Kannenu muththae nu konjiduvaanHe will pamper calling you 'my eyes', 'my pearl',
Kalyaana pechunaa odiduvaanBut if marriage talk comes up, he will run away.
Male
Aye yamma yammaHey yamma yamma,
Chorus :Edhukku yemmaChorus: Why, my dear?
Male :Chumma chummaMale: Just simply,
Chorus :IzhukkuthammaChorus: It pulls us, dear!
Male :Urikka urikka onnulemmaMale: As you peel and peel, there is nothing inside, dear;
Kaadhal oru vengaayamaaLove is like an onion!
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi
Male
Ukkadathu pappadamaeO papad of Ukkadam!
Suththivitta pambaramaeO spinning top!
Arulukitta arul vaaku keluListen to the divine word from Arul.
Male
Peelaamedu sapparamaeO temple chariot of Peelamedu!
Pottu vecha mathalamaeO drum adorned with a bindi!
Kaadhaluna romba romba bore-uIf it is love, it is very, very boring.
Chorus
Sey goyyaaloSey goyyaalo
Gali gali galiGali gali gali
Sey goyyaaloSey goyyaalo
Gali gali galiGali gali gali
Chorus
Jingulu jingulu baanaaJingulu jingulu baanaa
Adi amsalaka jonaaAdi amsalaka jonaa
Indha mandai kaanjathaalaBecause her mind went crazy,
Iva ketkuraalae maalaiShe is asking for a wedding garland.
Chorus
Oru maalai oru maalaiA garland, a garland,
Oru maalai oru…maalaiA garland, a... garland.
Male
Anjunaa aaru varumAfter five comes six,
Panjunaa noolu varumFrom cotton comes thread,
Nenjuna aasai varum ammaniIn the heart comes desire, my lady.
Male
Aarunaa siruvaaniIf six, it is Siruvani river,
Aachina pollaachiIf 'aachi', it is Pollachi,
Love-na poyyaachu kelu neeIf love, it has become a lie, listen to me.
Male
Theriyaatha payyana love pannaathaDon't love a guy you don't know well,
Porampokku nelathathaan nee nambaathaDon't place trust in wasteland.
Theriyaatha payyana love pannaathaDon't love a guy you don't know well,
Porampokku nelathathaan nee nambaathaDon't place trust in wasteland.
Male
Yamma yammaYamma yamma,
Chorus :Ponni yammaChorus: Ponni yamma,
Male :KaadhalunaMale: If it is love,
Chorus :VenniyammaChorus: It's hot water, lady!
Male :Appan aathaa paathu veikumMale: Marry the groom that your parents choose for you.
Maapillaya kattikamaaO papad of Ukkadam!
Male
Ukkadathu pappadamaeO spinning top!
Suththivitta pambaramaeListen to the divine word from Arul... listen!
Arulukitta arul vaaku kelu…keluuO temple chariot of Peelamedu!
Male
Peelaamedu sapparamaeO drum adorned with a bindi!
Pottu vecha mathalamaeIf it is love, it is very, very boring... boring!
Kaadhaluna romba romba bore-u…bore-uuAvinashi... aah..
Male
Avinaasi…aah..O lady... aah
Ammaniyae…aahMy words,
Endra pechaDo not disobey... tell me!
Meera venaam ….solluLooking at the eyes.. aah
Male
Kanna paathu..aahLooking at the complexion... aaah
Colour-a paathu…aaahDo not believe it to be love.. yes my king!
Kaadhalunu namba venaam ..aama raasaGoy ah goy ah
Male
Goy ah goy ahGumbure gumba goyyaalo
Gumbure gumba goyyaalo{Don't do it, Ponni!
Male
{Venaam ponniThis love is a big
Indha kaadhal rombaTrouble, Ponni!
Tholla ponniWhat Arul said,
Arul sonnaThat word will come true,
Andha vaaku pazhikkumListen, Ponni!} (2)
Kelu ponni} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song features the protagonist Arul giving playful yet firm advice to a local woman named Ponni against falling foolishly in love. Set against the backdrop of prominent places in Coimbatore (like Maruthamalai, Peelamedu, Ukkadam, Oppanakara Street, Avinashi, and Pollachi), the song humorously dismantles romantic clichés. Arul warns that young men often flatter women with false promises, only to run away when marriage is mentioned. He compares love to an onion—peeling layer after layer yields nothing—and advises her to respect her parents' choice of a suitable groom rather than placing faith in untrustworthy lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kaadhal oru vengaayamaa

Compares love to an onion ('Kaadhal oru vengaayamaa') which leaves nothing behind when peeled layer by layer, symbolizing emptiness and deception.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Etukai)

Ukkadathu pappadamae / Suththivitta pambaramae

Use of matching initial consonants in local place names and rhythmically matched words like 'Ukkadathu' and 'Suththivitta', or 'Peelaamedu' and 'Pottu vecha'.

Idiomatic Metaphor (Pazhamozhi / Local Folk Expression)

Porampokku nelathathaan nee nambaatha

Compares trusting an unknown guy to trusting barren wasteland ('Porampokku nelathathaan nee nambaatha').

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics heavily feature authentic local landmarks and culture of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu—including Ukkadam, Peelamedu, Maruthamalai, Avinashi, Oppanakara Street, Pollachi, and the Siruvani River. The track was composed by Harris Jayaraj, sung by Tipu and Vadivelu (along with chorus), with lyrics written by Na. Muthukumar for the 2004 action film 'Arul' starring Vikram.

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