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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Massa Marina

From Dinosaurs (Die No Sirs) · 2022

Lyricist
M R Madhavan
Singers
Thenisai Thendral Deva, Chorus
Music director
Bobo Sasii
Details
Dinosaurs (Die No Sirs)2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ada uttaalakkadi ungaayaHey, you crazy/spirited folks!
Ni vizhunthu ezhunthu vaayaFall down and get back up, friend!
Chekku izhuththaa ennaSo what if we had to pull the oil press?
Gaanaa made in nu chennaGaana is a genre made in Chennai!
Male
Massa marinaalaIn a grand way at Marina,
Kaattunom weightaaWe showed our true strength!
Massa marinaalaIn a grand way at Marina,
Kaattunom weightaaWe showed our true strength!
Aanaa coronaala irukkanumaaBut just because of Corona, should we remain...
Nice ah quietah...nicely and quietly?
Male
Vaazhkka mudinjaaWhen life comes to an end,
Machi aaradithaandaFriend, it is just six feet under!
Nee innum konjam thonda mudinja keezhadithaandaIf you dig a little deeper, you find Keezhadi, friend!
Male
Ooru ulla vellam vanthaalumEven if floodwaters fill up the town,
Chorus :Athula neenthuvomChorus: We will swim right through it!
Male :Peyi mazha kaaththadichaalumMale: Even if wild storm winds and rain blow,
Chorus :Naanga thaanguvomChorus: We will withstand it all!
Male :Nadu nightil nottu marinaalumMale: Even if currency notes change in the middle of the night,
Male :Uzhaippa nambuvomMale: We will place our faith in honest hard work!
Male :Naanga aale konjam karupputhaanMale: Our complexion might be a bit dark,
Aana erangi adichaa cupputhaanBut if we step onto the field, the trophy is ours!
Male
{Endha maari{Which way?
Chorus :Andha maari} (3)Chorus: That way!} (3)
Andha maariThat way!
Male
Thamizhannu sonnaalae adhirumJust saying the word 'Tamilian' makes everything tremble!
Vanthaa gumbalula thundaathaan theriyumIf we enter a crowd, we stand out distinctly!
Naanga ada ki mu laye killaadiHey, we have been champions since BC era!
Sollu ellaathukkum indhamozhiTell everyone, this language is...
Munnodi munnodiA pioneer, a pioneer!
Male
Massa marinaalaIn a grand way at Marina,
Kaattunom weightaWe showed our true strength!
Aanaa coronaala irukkanumaaBut just because of Corona, should we remain...
Nice ah quietah...nicely and quietly?
Chorus
Thupparkku thuppaya'Thupparkku thuppaya...'
Thuppaakki thupparkku...'thuppaakki thupparkku'...
Male
Valluvaru ooruthaanThis is the land of Thiruvalluvar!
Thimiraa kural vuduRaise your voice proudly with confidence!
Bodhidharman peranGreat-grandsons of Bodhidharma!
Chorus :Nalla sollu dhilla solluChorus: Speak well, speak with courage!
Male
Veenukku vambizhuththaaIf anyone picks a fight with us unnecessarily,
Evanukkum emakandamIt will turn into a encounter with the God of Death for them!
Meenukku thamizhanthaanFor the fish, it was Tamil people,
Vuttukuththaan kumarikkandamWho left behind the lost continent of Kumari Kandam!
Male
Mama machaanuSay 'Mama' (uncle) and 'Machaan' (brother-in-law),
Maappilla sollu thappillaSay 'Maappilla' (son-in-law), there is no mistake in it!
Iyo uncle aunty vaarthayilaOh my, in words like 'uncle' and 'aunty',
Uppu sappillaThere is no real warmth or affection!
Chorus :Geththa vudaathaChorus: Don't drop your pride!
Male :Nanbaa yemaanthudaathaMale: Friend, don't get tricked!
Verum iruvaththaaru ezhuththukkuJust for twenty-six letters (of the English alphabet),
Poi ezhunthu nikkaathaDon't go bowing down submissively!
Male
Mike setah pooduvaanHe will set up a microphone,
Mind setah maathuvaanHe will try to manipulate your mindset,
Kaappu kaacha kaiyaalaWith hands calloused from hard work,
Onnu valichi vaiyi goiyaalaPull a chair and sit firmly, man!
Vella kaavi pachathanyaaWhite, saffron, and green—
Seththu kodiya pudichomaiyaaWe joined together and held the tri-color flag, man!
Male and Chorus :Allah goyindha hallelujahMale and Chorus: Allah, Govinda, Hallelujah!
Male :Ellaam inga onnu thaanyaaMale: Everything here is one and the same!
Male
Thamizhannu sonnaale athirumJust saying the word 'Tamilian' makes everything tremble!
Vanthaa gumbalula thundaathaan theriyumIf we come into a crowd, we stand out distinctly!
Naanga ada ki mu laye killaadiHey, we have been champions since BC era!
Sollu ellaathukkum indhamozhiTell everyone, this language is...
Chorus :Munnodi munnodiChorus: A pioneer, a pioneer!
Chorus
Thamizhannu sonnaale athirumJust saying the word 'Tamilian' makes everything tremble!
Vanthaa gumbalula thundaathaan theriyumIf we come into a crowd, we stand out distinctly!
Naanga ada ki mu laye killaadiHey, we have been champions since BC era!
Sollu ellaathukkum indhamozhiTell everyone, this language is...
Munnodi munnodiA pioneer, a pioneer!
Male
Massa marinaalaIn a grand way at Marina,
Kaattunom weightaaWe showed our true strength!
Aanaa coronaala irukkanumaaBut just because of Corona, should we remain...
Nice ah quietah...nicely and quietly?
Male
Vaazhkka mudinjaa machi aaradithaandaWhen life ends, friend, it is six feet underground,
Nee innum konjam thonda mudinja KeezhadithaandaIf you dig a little deeper, you find Keezhadi, friend!
Male
Ooru ulla vellam vanthaalumEven if floodwaters fill up the town,
Chorus :Athula neenthuvomChorus: We will swim right through it!
Male :Peyi mazha kaaththadichaalumMale: Even if wild storm winds and rain blow,
Chorus :Naanga thaanguvomChorus: We will withstand it all!
Male :Nadu nightil nottu marinaalumMale: Even if currency notes change in the middle of the night,
Male :Uzhaippa nambuvomMale: We will place our faith in honest hard work!
Male :Naanga aale konjam karupputhaanMale: Our complexion might be a bit dark,
Aana erangi adichaa cupputhaanBut if we step onto the field, the trophy is ours!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Dinosaurs' from the 2022 movie of the same name is an energetic Gaana-infused anthem sung by Deva that celebrates Tamil pride, cultural heritage, and resilience. The lyrics weave together historic references—such as the ancient city of Keezhadi, Thiruvalluvar, Bodhidharma, and Kumari Kandam—with contemporary issues like demonetization ('nottu marinaalum'), Chennai floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. It urges listeners to take pride in Tamil language and traditional familial relationships ('Mama', 'Machaan') rather than adopting Western conventions ('uncle', 'aunty'). Additionally, the song champions communal harmony ('Allah, Govinda, Hallelujah') and praises the unyielding spirit of working-class people. Despite facing hardships, storms, and dark skin color stereotypes, the speakers assert their dominance and resilience, emphasizing that hard work and unity will always prevail.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monne / Second-letter Rhyme)

Thupparkku thuppaya / Thuppaakki thupparkku

In Tamil poetry, Edhugai involves matching the second letter of consecutive lines. Here, 'Massa' and 'Aanaa' (or 'Thupparkku' / 'Thuppaakki') share structural consonant harmony.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Thupparkku thuppaya / Thuppaakki thupparkku

Repetition of the initial sound 'Th' across words in the line, inspired by Thirukkural.

Historical and Literary Allusion

Nee innum konjam thonda mudinja keezhadithaanda

References Keezhadi (an ancient Sangam-era excavation site in Tamil Nadu) juxtaposed against the modern concept of burial depth.

Metaphor and Cultural Contrast

Iyo uncle aunty vaarthayila / Uppu sappilla

Contrasts native affectionate terms (Mama, Machaan) with Western terms (uncle, aunty) described as lacking flavor ('uppu sappilla').

Synecdoche / Symbolism

Verum iruvaththaaru ezhuththukku

'Iruvaththaaru ezhuththukku' (twenty-six letters) represents the English language and Western influence.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by Bobo Sasii and features veteran singer 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva, widely regarded as the king of Chennai's 'Gaana' genre. The lyricist M R Madhavan cleverly incorporates references to the Jallikattu protests at Marina Beach (2017), the 2016 demonetization ('nadu nightil nottu marinaalum'), the Chennai floods, and the archaeological discoveries at Keezhadi.

Keep listening

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