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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mattikittaradi

From Urimaikural · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
L. R. Eswari, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Urimaikural1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
ThangamthaandiShe is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Chorus :ThangamthaandiChorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Female
Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
Female & Chorus :ThangamthaandiFemale & Chorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Female
Kambeduthu sandai podumHe fights with a stick in hand,
VaathiyaaruThe teacher...
Kambeduthu sandai podumHe fights with a stick in hand,
VaathiyaaruThe teacher...
Veerathai engakita kaatinaaruHe showed off his heroism to us!
Female
Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
Female & Chorus :ThangamthaandiFemale & Chorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Female
Raajanadai potaanHe walked with a royal stride,
Namma arjuna maharaajaOur king Arjuna!
Chorus :………………………………….Chorus: (Vocalizing)
Female :Raajanadai potaanFemale: He walked with a royal stride,
Namma arjuna maharaajaOur king Arjuna!
Female
Aanamagan aanaal ennaSo what if he is a man?
Alliyin kai kujaaHe ended up as a water pot in Alli's hands!
Aiyaa kitta keladi ammaAsk the gentleman, my dear friend,
Bhaaradham padichaaraaDid he ever study the Mahabharata?
Padichaa ippadi pombalakitaIf he did, would he pick a quarrel
Vambu valapaaraaWith women like this?
Female
Kanniyarin kaiyilIn the hands of young maidens,
Vanthu sikki kondaaruHe came and got trapped,
Karai yera vazhi illaamalWith no way to reach the shore,
SindhikindraaruHe is now lost in deep thought!
Female
Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
Female & Chorus :ThangamthaandiFemale & Chorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Female
Maaman ivar vaanathai paarthuLooking up at the sky,
Joraa nadandhaaruOur uncle walked so proudly!
Chorus :……………………………….Chorus: (Vocalizing)
Female :Maaman ivar vaanathai paarthuFemale: Looking up at the sky,
Joraa nadandhaaruOur uncle walked so proudly!
Female
Maan viricha valayil vanthuHe walked straight into the net
Neraai vizhundhaaruSpread out by the deer!
Aiyo paavam azhaporaaruOh poor thing, he is about to cry,
Kindal venaandiDon't tease him, friends!
Ariyaa pillai asadaa irunthaIf he is an innocent, foolish child,
Vittu pidipomdiLet us give him some slack!
Female
Budhiyil yedho konjamThere seems to be some flaw
Kutram irukudhadiIn his intellect!
Thitangal ellaam sernthuAll his plans together
Motham irukudhadiHave backfired entirely!
Female
Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
Female & Chorus: ThangamthaandiFemale & Chorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Female
Melaaku potavalukuDoes a woman wearing a veil
Veeram kidaiyaadhaaLack courage?
Chorus :………………………………Chorus: (Vocalizing)
Female :Melaaku potavalukuFemale: Does a woman wearing a veil
Veeram kidaiyaadhaaLack courage?
Female
Vaalaata vandhavarukuDoesn't the one who came to wag his tail
Vibaram puriyaadhaaUnderstand the reality?
Onnaa serndhu kannaamoochiTogether we played a game of hide and seek,
Aatam potomdiMy dear friends!
Female
Anudhaabathil thotravarukuOut of pity for the defeated one,
Kootam potomdiWe gathered as a crowd!
Pattavarai podhum endruDeciding what he suffered is enough,
Vitaa povaaruIf we let him go, he will run away!
Penn endraal acham konduFearing women,
Sitaa parapaaruHe will fly away like a cheetah/swift bird!
Female
: Maatikitaaradi mayilakaalaOh friend, Mayilakaala got caught!
Kattipotadhadi kandaangi selaThe Kandangi saree tied him up tight!
Female & Chorus: ThangamthaandiFemale & Chorus: She is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
ThangamthaandiShe is pure gold!
Pombala singam thaandiShe is a female lion!
Male
ThangamthaandiHe is pure gold!
Aambala singam thaandiHe is a male lion!
ThangamthaandiHe is pure gold!
Aambala singam thaandiHe is a male lion!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song 'Maatikitaaradi' from the 1974 film Urimaikural captures a lighthearted tease aimed at a proud male figure who thought he could easily outwit women. The lead female singer and her chorus playfully celebrate how this arrogant man ('Vaathiyaaru' / 'Arjuna') got trapped and humbled by the cleverness and charm of women, represented metaphorically by the traditional 'Kandangi sela' (Kandangi saree).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagatai)

Pombala singam thaandi

Describing the woman as 'Pombala singam' (female lion) to highlight her power and dominant spirit over the man.

Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Aanamagan aanaal enna Alliyin kai kujaa

Comparing the hero to Arjuna becoming a subordinate servant to Queen Alli, referencing the famous Tamil mythical tale of Alli Raani.

Rhyme / Monnai & Ethirai

Maatikitaaradi mayilakaala Kattipotadhadi kandaangi sela

Use of matching internal rhyme and rhythm patterns such as 'Maatikitaaradi' and 'Kattipotadhadi'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Urimaikural (1974) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Latha, and Anjali Devi. The song features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics written by the renowned poet Vaali, performed by S. Janaki and P. Susheela along with chorus singers.

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