Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Jay Jay album cover
Lyrics & meaning

May Masam

From Jay Jay · 2003

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Suchitra
Music director
Bharathwaj
Movie name
Jay Jay
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
27 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………………
Hey
May maasam 98’il major aanenae
Major aana naalaai naanum pegaar aanenae
Kaaya pazhama endru en kannam thadavum sila per
Erumbu oorudhu endru en idaiyai killum sila per
En aadaigalai thottu paarpathu pol silar angam thodugindrar
Ada saalaigalil ulla rasigar ellaam oru sangam vaikindrar
May maasam 98’il major aanenae
………………………….
Thirteen enbathu unlucky number merku ulagathil
Thirteen enbadhu lucky number enthan visayathil
Thirteen vanthathu yetho nernthathu mangai paruvathil
Fourteen vanthathum matram vanthathu enthan uruvathil
Adutha veetu paiyan ada ambu thoduthaan summa
Kolam poda ponaal adi koodathu endral amma
{ Ada vayasuku yen vantheno
Padu thollai ammamaa } (2)
May maasam 98’il major aanenae
……………………
May may may may maasam
Fifteen vanthathu malargal poothena enthan thegathil
Malargal ellaam kaniyaai marum maalai nerathil
Sixteen vanthathum kalla paarvaigal enthan baagathil
Pengal kooda aasai kondanar pallikoodathil
Yethanai ullathu pennil yen yethayo thedurenga
Yengo poguthu paarvai ennai vetkam pinnuthu ponga
Pen maarbukul oru manasundu mariyathai panunga
Pen maarbukul oru manasundu ada athaiyum paarunga
May maasam 98’il major aanenae
Major aana naalaai naanum pegaar aanenae
Kaaya pazhama endru en kannam thadavum sila per
Erumbu oorudhu endru en idaiyai killum sila per
En aadaigalai thottu paarpathu pol silar angam thodugindrar
Ada saalaigalil ulla rasigar ellaam oru sangam vaikindrar
……………………………………………
...
Hey
In May of '98, I came of age.
Ever since I came of age, I've been in constant trouble.
Some caress my cheeks asking if it's raw fruit or ripe.
Some pinch my waist pretending an ant is crawling on me.
Pretending to feel my clothes, some touch my body.
Oh, all the admirers on the streets seem to form an association!
In May of '98, I came of age.
...
Thirteen is an unlucky number in the Western world.
Thirteen turned out to be a lucky number in my case.
When thirteen arrived, something happened as I stepped into girlhood.
When fourteen arrived, a change came over my figure.
The boy next door shot arrows of glances at me just like that.
When I went to draw a rangoli, Mother warned, "Don't go!"
Oh, why did I ever reach womanhood?
It is such a huge nuisance, oh Mother!
In May of '98, I came of age.
...
May, May, May, May month...
When fifteen arrived, flowers bloomed across my body.
All those flowers turn into fruit in the evening hours.
When sixteen arrived, sly glances came turning my way.
Even the girls at school began to desire me.
There is so much in a woman, why are you searching for something else?
Your gaze strays away, shyness wraps around me, go away!
A woman has a heart inside her chest, show some respect.
A woman has a heart inside her chest, oh look at that as well!
In May of '98, I came of age.
Ever since I came of age, I've been in constant trouble.
Some caress my cheeks asking if it's raw fruit or ripe.
Some pinch my waist pretending an ant is crawling on me.
Pretending to feel my clothes, some touch my body.
Oh, all the admirers on the streets seem to form an association!
...
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'May Maasam 98'il' from the movie Jay Jay (2003) is a energetic dance track that narrates a young woman's transition through her teenage years up to adulthood in May 1998. Chronologically tracking her ages from 13 to 18, the lyrics depict her physical growth, the social restrictions imposed on her, and the sudden influx of unwanted male attention and casual harassment she experiences in public.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Kaaya pazhama endru en kannam thadavum sila per / Erumbu oorudhu endru en idaiyai killum sila per”

Lines end with the matching phrase 'sila per', creating a rhythmic end-rhyme structure.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Fifteen vanthathu malargal poothena enthan thegathil”

Pubertal physical transformation and blossoming maturity are metaphorically described as flowers blooming on her body.

Anaphora / Repetition for Emphasis

“Pen maarbukul oru manasundu mariyathai panunga / Pen maarbukul oru manasundu ada athaiyum paarunga”

The initial phrase 'Pen maarbukul oru manasundu' is repeated sequentially to strongly emphasize the moral message of respecting women.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Bharadwaj with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this track features vocals by Anuradha Sriram. The song visually featured actress Pooja Lokesh alongside lead actor R. Madhavan and became a huge chartbuster in 2003 for its catchy rhythm and bold lyricism.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Alamara Pondhu1984
Pudhumai PennFemale EmpowermentDefiant
Indiana Rani2024
Vaa PagandayaFemale EmpowermentIdentity
Aambalaikku Aambalaithan1990
Pengal Veettin KangalFemale EmpowermentDefiant
Pengal Veettin Kangal1990
Pengal Veettin KangalFemale EmpowermentDefiant
Saga Uyire2023
Bommai NayagiFemale EmpowermentIdentity
Sariya Thavara2001
12BFemale EmpowermentDefiant

From the same album

More songs from Jay Jay

View album
Jee Boombaa2003
Jay JayPassionate
Pengal Nenjai2003
Jay JayPassionate
Unnai Ninaikave2003
Jay JayMelancholic
Kadhal Mazhaiye2003
Jay JayMelancholic
Unnai Naan Unnai Naan2003
Jay JayPassionate

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.