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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Medhavi Pole Edhedho Pesi

From Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari · 1954

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singers
A. M. Rajah, Jikki
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Details
Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaedhukkinthanai modithaan umakkuWhy do you hold such arrogance towards me, sir?
Enthan melaiyyaa aiyyaaTowards me, oh sir...
Yaedhukkinthanai modithaan umakkuWhy do you hold such arrogance towards me, sir?
Enthan melaiyyaa aiyyaa….aiyyaa…Towards me, oh sir... oh sir...
Female
Methaavi polae yaedhetho pesiTalking randomly like an intellectual,
Yaemaanthu pogalaamaaIs it right to get fooled?
Methaavi polae yaedhetho pesiTalking randomly like an intellectual,
Yaemaanthu pogalaamaaIs it right to get fooled?
Aiyyaavae meiyaagaOh sir, in truth,
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Female
Methaavi polae yaedhetho pesiTalking randomly like an intellectual,
Yaemaanthu pogalaamaaIs it right to get fooled?
Aiyyaavae meiyaagaOh sir, in truth,
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Male
Kadhal kalaththilae tholvi adaivathaeIn the battlefield of love, suffering defeat
Aanukku vettrithaanaeIs actually a victory for a man,
Adhu aanukku vettrithaanaeThat is indeed a victory for a man!
Kadhal kalaththilae tholvi adaivathaeIn the battlefield of love, suffering defeat
Aanukku vettrithaanaeIs actually a victory for a man,
Adhu aanukku vettrithaanaeThat is indeed a victory for a man!
Male
Idhu naan solvathalla vaan pugazh valluvanThis is not just my word, check the words of heavenly Valluvar,
Kuralai padiththu paaru thirukkuralai padiththu paaruRead the Kural, read the holy Thirukkural and see!
Female
AiyyaOh sir!
Pechchinil pengal mayangiya kaalamThe era when women were mesmerized by mere words
Pochchuthu mister paarunga oo…ooo….Is gone, Mister, look at that!
Pechchinil pengal mayangiya kaalamThe era when women were mesmerized by mere words
Pochchuthu mister paarungaIs gone, Mister, look at that!
Yaekka ninaiththaal Ini mudiyaathuIf you try to fool me, it won't work anymore,
Nineteen sixty porunga idhuWait for nineteen sixty, this is...
Nineteen sixty porungaWait for nineteen sixty!
Male :AangMale: Huh?
Female :Hmmm….Female: Hmmm...
Female
Methaavi polae yaedhetho pesiTalking randomly like an intellectual,
Yaemaanthu pogalaamaaIs it right to get fooled?
Aiyyaavae meiyaagaOh sir, in truth,
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Pennidam tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo….ooo….Should a man suffer defeat at the hands of a woman?
Male
Suttithanamaaga pesaathaeDon't speak so mischievously,
Thaali kattuvittaal vattiyum mudhalumaaiOnce I tie the sacred knot, with principal and interest,
Vaangaamal viduvaenoWill I let you go without collecting?
Female :Oo…oo…ooho…thittam niraiveraathuFemale: Oh... your plan will not succeed,
Pattapagal kanavaaguthaeIt becomes a daydream,
Mister idhu pazhaiya kaalamallaMister, this is not the old era!
Male
Kaalam maariya pothum manaiviEven if times change, a wife
Kanavanukkadimai thaanaeIs a slave to her husband, isn't she?
Kaalam maariya pothum manaiviEven if times change, a wife
Kanavanukkadimai thaanaeIs a slave to her husband, isn't she?
Kattiyavan sol thatti nadanthaalIf she disobeys the husband who bound her,
Udainthu vizhum palthaanaeHer teeth will shatter and fall!
Female
Aang…aiyyo naan enna seivaenAang... Oh my, what will I do?
Appothae theriyaamalWithout knowing back then,
Meinyaana mosam ponaenaeI fell into a real trap!
Deivamae….deivamae…..aiyaiyyo…Oh God... oh God... oh my!
Male
AiyaiyyoOh my!
Vedikkai pechchu verum vedikkai pechchuPlayful talk, mere playful talk,
Vinaiyaai pochcheHas turned into a disaster!
Thappitham thaayae oppaari vendaamMy mistake, dear lady, please don't lament,
Mannippu kettukiraen pothumaaI beg your forgiveness, is that enough?
Kannaththil pottukkiraen paarammaaI slap my own cheeks in remorse, look lady!
Female
Aiyyae….yaemaanthu pogalaamaaOh sir... is it right to get fooled?
Aiyyaavae meiyaaga pennidamOh sir, in truth, at the hands of a woman,
Tholvi adaiyalaamaa…oo…ooo….Should a man suffer defeat?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a humorous duel of wits between a man and a woman regarding gender roles, marriage, and modernity. The woman taunts the man for posing as an intellectual while being defeated by a woman in debate, mockingly asking if a man should accept defeat so easily. The man attempts to defend his stance by invoking classic literature like the Thirukkural, claiming that surrendering in love is a victory, and asserting traditional male dominance after marriage. However, the modern woman firmly rejects outdated notions of female subservience and warns him that times have changed. Realizing he cannot win the argument, the man humorously surrenders and begs for forgiveness, making light of his comedic defeat.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Methaavi polae yaedhetho pesi / Yaemaanthu pogalaamaa

Repetition of the second consonant 'th' sound across lines such as 'Methaavi' and 'Yaemaanthu' or 'Kattiyavan' and 'Udainthu'.

Metaphor / Paradox

Kadhal kalaththilae tholvi adaivathae / Aanukku vettrithaanae

Describing defeat in the battlefield of love as a victory for a man ('Kadhal kalaththilae tholvi adaivathae / Aanukku vettrithaanae').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Pechchinil pengal mayangiya kaalam

Matching initial sounds across adjacent words such as 'Pechchinil' and 'Pengal'.

Idiomatic Hyperbole

Kattiyavan sol thatti nadanthaal / Udainthu vizhum palthaanae

Exaggerated threat 'Udainthu vizhum palthaanae' (Teeth will break and fall) used for dramatic and comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Released in 1954, 'Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari' starred Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The song playfully mentions 'Nineteen sixty' (1960) as a symbol of the modern future, highlighting the progressive, humorous lyrics written by K. D. Santhanam under T. G. Lingappa's upbeat musical arrangement.

Keep listening

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