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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

May Masam

From Jay Jay · 2003

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Suchitra
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Jay Jay2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
…………………………………Hey
Male
HeyI became an adult in May 1998
Female
May maasam 98’il major aanenaeEver since I became an adult, I have been troubled
Major aana naalaai naanum pegaar aanenaeSome people stroke my cheeks asking if it is raw or ripe
Kaaya pazhama endru en kannam thadavum sila perSome people pinch my waist pretending an ant is crawling
Erumbu oorudhu endru en idaiyai killum sila perSome touch my body pretending to just feel my clothes
En aadaigalai thottu paarpathu pol silar angam thodugindrarAh, all the fans on the streets are forming a union for me
Ada saalaigalil ulla rasigar ellaam oru sangam vaikindrarI became an adult in May 1998
Female
May maasam 98’il major aanenaeThirteen is considered an unlucky number in the Western world
Male
………………………….Thirteen turned out to be a lucky number in my case
Female
Thirteen enbathu unlucky number merku ulagathilWhen I turned thirteen, something happened as I reached maidenhood
Thirteen enbadhu lucky number enthan visayathilWhen fourteen arrived, a change came over my physical form
Thirteen vanthathu yetho nernthathu mangai paruvathilThe boy next door shot love arrows at me for no reason
Fourteen vanthathum matram vanthathu enthan uruvathilWhen I went to draw rangoli, mother warned me not to go outside
Female
Adutha veetu paiyan ada ambu thoduthaan summaOh, why did I come of age?
Kolam poda ponaal adi koodathu endral ammaIt is such a huge trouble, oh dear!
{ Ada vayasuku yen vanthenoOh, why did I come of age?
Padu thollai ammamaa } (2)It is such a huge trouble, oh dear!
Female
May maasam 98’il major aanenaeI became an adult in May 1998
Female
……………………May May May May month
Female
May may may may maasamWhen fifteen arrived, flowers bloomed across my body
Female
Fifteen vanthathu malargal poothena enthan thegathilAll those flowers turn into fruits in the evening time
Malargal ellaam kaniyaai marum maalai nerathilWhen sixteen came, sly glances came my way
Sixteen vanthathum kalla paarvaigal enthan baagathilEven girls began desiring me at school
Pengal kooda aasai kondanar pallikoodathilThere is so much depth in a woman, why are you searching for something else?
Female
Yethanai ullathu pennil yen yethayo thedurengaYour gaze wanders somewhere, shyness entwines me, go away
Yengo poguthu paarvai ennai vetkam pinnuthu pongaThere is a heart inside a woman's chest, treat it with respect
Pen maarbukul oru manasundu mariyathai panungaThere is a heart inside a woman's chest, ah, look at that as well
Pen maarbukul oru manasundu ada athaiyum paarungaI became an adult in May 1998
Female
May maasam 98’il major aanenaeEver since I became an adult, I have been troubled
Major aana naalaai naanum pegaar aanenaeSome people stroke my cheeks asking if it is raw or ripe
Kaaya pazhama endru en kannam thadavum sila perSome people pinch my waist pretending an ant is crawling
Erumbu oorudhu endru en idaiyai killum sila perSome touch my body pretending to just feel my clothes
En aadaigalai thottu paarpathu pol silar angam thodugindrarAh, all the fans on the streets are forming a union for me
Ada saalaigalil ulla rasigar ellaam oru sangam vaikindrar
Female
……………………………………………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

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