Meesai Vecha Aambalai
From Jadikketha Moodi · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Hamsalekha
- Details
- Jadikketha Moodi1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam | For all men who sprout a mustache, |
| Demandaiyyaa demaandu | Oh sir, there is high demand! |
| Ponna peththa appanukellaam | For every father who birthed a daughter, |
| Remandaiyyaa remand | Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand! |
| Male | |
| Aamabalaikku meesai vanthaa | When a man grows a mustache, |
| Aana mattum laabamaiyyaa | It brings endless profit, sir. |
| Pennoruththi kuththa vechchaa | But when a girl comes into age, |
| Appanukku nashttamaiyyaa | It turns into a total loss for her father, sir. |
| Maappillai velaiyai | Haven't they hung the groom's price tag |
| Kazhuththil maatti vidavillaiyaa | Right around the girl's neck? |
| Male | |
| Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam | For all men who sprout a mustache, |
| Demandaiyyaa demaandu | Oh sir, there is high demand! |
| Ponnap peththa appanukellaam | For every father who birthed a daughter, |
| Remandaiyyaa remand | Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand! |
| Ho ho ho oooooo | Ho ho ho oooooo |
| Male | |
| Mookku muzhiyirukka mookkuththi venumaa | When she has fine features, does she really need a nose-ring? |
| Muththu nagai venumaa maganae maganae…ae…ooo… | Does she need pearl jewelry, my son, my son? |
| Kattil mattum koduththa karppam vanthu serumaa | If you only provide a bed, will pregnancy just happen? |
| Kaiyil pillai varumaa aiyako aiyako…..ooo…. | Will a child come to your arms? Oh alas, oh alas! |
| Male | |
| Muththam onnu kettaa munooru roopaa | If a kiss is asked, it costs three hundred rupees, |
| Maththathukku saerththu maasam latcham roopaa | For everything else added, it costs a lakh a month! |
| Kattiputtu kattil yaeraiyaa….aa….oooh… | Pay up the sum before climbing onto the bed, sir! |
| Pudavai thodavae vilaiya maanam vetkkamillaiyaa | Are clothes priced so high? Have you no shame or self-respect? |
| Male | |
| Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam | For all men who sprout a mustache, |
| Demandaiyyaa demaandu | Oh sir, there is high demand! |
| Ponna peththa appanukellaam | For every father who birthed a daughter, |
| Remandaiyyaa remand haeh….hae… | Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand! |
| Male | |
| Katti koduththavarukku sottai izhunthirukku | The one who gave his daughter away has lost all his hair from stress, |
| Vatti kadan irukku ammammaa ammammaa…ho…oo… | He is buried under high-interest loans, oh my, oh my! |
| Ettu muzham vettiyum naalu muzham aanathu | The eight-cubit dhoti has shrunk to four cubits, |
| Kovanamthaan meeruthu appappaa appappaa…aa… | Leaving him stripped down to a loincloth, oh my, oh my! |
| Male | |
| Kalyaanam ingae viyaabaaramthaanaa | Is marriage just a business transaction here? |
| Katcheri ellaam opparithaanaa | Are all the musical celebrations actually a wail of lamentation? |
| Aampillainga sattam niyaayamaa…oo.ooo | Is this male-centric law fair at all? |
| Kaasaiyum koduththu pombalai kanni kazhiyanumaa | Must a woman pay money and still remain unmarried due to dowry demands? |
| Male | |
| Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam | For all men who sprout a mustache, |
| Demandaiyyaa demaandu | Oh sir, there is high demand! |
| Ponna peththa appanukellaam | For every father who birthed a daughter, |
| Remandaiyyaa remand | Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand! |
| Male | |
| Aamabalaikku meesai vanthaa | When a man grows a mustache, |
| Aana mattum laabamaiyyaa | It brings endless profit, sir. |
| Pennoruththi kuththa vechchaa | But when a girl comes into age, |
| Appanukku nashttamaiyyaa | It turns into a total loss for her father, sir. |
| Maappillai velaiyai | Haven't they hung the groom's price tag |
| Kazhuththil maatti vidavillaiyaa | Right around the girl's neck? |
மீசை வெச்ச ஆம்பளைக்கெல்லாம்
டிமெண்டய்யா டிமெண்டு
பொண்ணப் பெத்த அப்பனுக்கெல்லாம்
ரிமெண்டய்யா ரிமெண்டு
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Oh sir, there is high demand!
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
ஆம்பளைக்கு மீசை வந்தா
ஆன மட்டும் லாபமய்யா
பெண்ணொருத்தி குத்த வெச்சா
அப்பனுக்கு நஷ்டமய்யா
மாப்பிள்ளை வெலயை
கழுத்தில் மாட்டி விடவில்லைய்யா
When a man grows a mustache,
It brings endless profit, sir.
But when a girl comes into age,
It turns into a total loss for her father, sir.
Haven't they hung the groom's price tag
Right around the girl's neck?
மீசை வெச்ச ஆம்பளைக்கெல்லாம்
டிமெண்டய்யா டிமெண்டு
பொண்ணப்பெத்த அப்பனுக்கெல்லாம்
ரிமெண்டய்யா ரிமெண்டு
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோஓஓஓஓஒ
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Oh sir, there is high demand!
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
Ho ho ho oooooo
மூக்கு முழியிருக்க மூக்குத்தி வேணுமா
முத்து நகை வேணுமா மகனே மகனே.....ஏ......ஓஒ
கட்டில் மட்டும் கொடுத்தா கர்ப்பம் வந்து சேருமா
கையில் பிள்ளை வருமா ஐயகோ ஐயகோ....ஓஒ....
When she has fine features, does she really need a nose-ring?
Does she need pearl jewelry, my son, my son?
If you only provide a bed, will pregnancy just happen?
Will a child come to your arms? Oh alas, oh alas!
முத்தம் ஒன்னு கேட்டா முந்நூறு ரூபா
மத்ததுக்கு சேர்த்து மாசம் லட்சம் ரூபா
கட்டிப்புட்டு கட்டில் ஏறயா....ஆ.....ஓஒஹ்....
புடவை தொடவே விலைய மானம் வெட்கமில்லய்யா
If a kiss is asked, it costs three hundred rupees,
For everything else added, it costs a lakh a month!
Pay up the sum before climbing onto the bed, sir!
Are clothes priced so high? Have you no shame or self-respect?
மீசை வெச்ச ஆம்பளைக்கெல்லாம்
டிமெண்டய்யா டிமெண்டு
பொண்ணப்பெத்த அப்பனுக்கெல்லாம்
ரிமெண்டய்யா ரிமெண்ட்டு ஹேஹ்...ஹே.......
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Oh sir, there is high demand!
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
கட்டிக் கொடுத்தவருக்கு சொட்டை விழுந்திருக்கு
வட்டி கடன் இருக்கு அம்மம்மா அம்மம்மா......ஹோ......ஓஓ
எட்டு முழம் வேட்டியும் நாலு முழம் ஆனது
கோவனம் தான் மீறுது அப்பப்பா அப்பப்பா....ஆ.....
The one who gave his daughter away has lost all his hair from stress,
He is buried under high-interest loans, oh my, oh my!
The eight-cubit dhoti has shrunk to four cubits,
Leaving him stripped down to a loincloth, oh my, oh my!
கல்யாணம் இங்கே வியாபாரம் தானா
கச்சேரி எல்லாம் ஒப்பாரி தானா
ஆம்பிளைங்க சட்டம் நியாயமா....ஓ.....ஓ....
காசையும் கொடுத்து பொம்பளை கன்னி கழியனுமா
Is marriage just a business transaction here?
Are all the musical celebrations actually a wail of lamentation?
Is this male-centric law fair at all?
Must a woman pay money and still remain unmarried due to dowry demands?
மீசை வெச்ச ஆம்பளைக்கெல்லாம்
டிமெண்டய்யா டிமெண்டு
பொண்ணப்பெத்த அப்பனுக்கெல்லாம்
ரிமெண்டய்யா ரிமெண்ட்டு
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Oh sir, there is high demand!
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
ஆம்பளைக்கு மீசை வந்தா
ஆன மட்டும் லாபமய்யா
பெண்ணொருத்தி குத்த வெச்சா
அப்பனுக்கு நஷ்டமய்யா
மாப்பிள்ளை வெலயை கழுத்தில்
மாட்டி விடவில்லைய்யா....
When a man grows a mustache,
It brings endless profit, sir.
But when a girl comes into age,
It turns into a total loss for her father, sir.
Haven't they hung the groom's price tag
Right around the girl's neck?
Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Demandaiyyaa demaandu
Oh sir, there is high demand!
Ponna peththa appanukellaam
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Remandaiyyaa remand
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
Aamabalaikku meesai vanthaa
When a man grows a mustache,
Aana mattum laabamaiyyaa
It brings endless profit, sir.
Pennoruththi kuththa vechchaa
But when a girl comes into age,
Appanukku nashttamaiyyaa
It turns into a total loss for her father, sir.
Maappillai velaiyai
Haven't they hung the groom's price tag
Kazhuththil maatti vidavillaiyaa
Right around the girl's neck?
Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Demandaiyyaa demaandu
Oh sir, there is high demand!
Ponnap peththa appanukellaam
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Remandaiyyaa remand
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
Ho ho ho oooooo
Ho ho ho oooooo
Mookku muzhiyirukka mookkuththi venumaa
When she has fine features, does she really need a nose-ring?
Muththu nagai venumaa maganae maganae…ae…ooo…
Does she need pearl jewelry, my son, my son?
Kattil mattum koduththa karppam vanthu serumaa
If you only provide a bed, will pregnancy just happen?
Kaiyil pillai varumaa aiyako aiyako…..ooo….
Will a child come to your arms? Oh alas, oh alas!
Muththam onnu kettaa munooru roopaa
If a kiss is asked, it costs three hundred rupees,
Maththathukku saerththu maasam latcham roopaa
For everything else added, it costs a lakh a month!
Kattiputtu kattil yaeraiyaa….aa….oooh…
Pay up the sum before climbing onto the bed, sir!
Pudavai thodavae vilaiya maanam vetkkamillaiyaa
Are clothes priced so high? Have you no shame or self-respect?
Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Demandaiyyaa demaandu
Oh sir, there is high demand!
Ponna peththa appanukellaam
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Remandaiyyaa remand haeh….hae…
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
Katti koduththavarukku sottai izhunthirukku
The one who gave his daughter away has lost all his hair from stress,
Vatti kadan irukku ammammaa ammammaa…ho…oo…
He is buried under high-interest loans, oh my, oh my!
Ettu muzham vettiyum naalu muzham aanathu
The eight-cubit dhoti has shrunk to four cubits,
Kovanamthaan meeruthu appappaa appappaa…aa…
Leaving him stripped down to a loincloth, oh my, oh my!
Kalyaanam ingae viyaabaaramthaanaa
Is marriage just a business transaction here?
Katcheri ellaam opparithaanaa
Are all the musical celebrations actually a wail of lamentation?
Aampillainga sattam niyaayamaa…oo.ooo
Is this male-centric law fair at all?
Kaasaiyum koduththu pombalai kanni kazhiyanumaa
Must a woman pay money and still remain unmarried due to dowry demands?
Meesai vachcha aamabalaikellaam
For all men who sprout a mustache,
Demandaiyyaa demaandu
Oh sir, there is high demand!
Ponna peththa appanukellaam
For every father who birthed a daughter,
Remandaiyyaa remand
Oh sir, it feels like being sent to remand!
Aamabalaikku meesai vanthaa
When a man grows a mustache,
Aana mattum laabamaiyyaa
It brings endless profit, sir.
Pennoruththi kuththa vechchaa
But when a girl comes into age,
Appanukku nashttamaiyyaa
It turns into a total loss for her father, sir.
Maappillai velaiyai
Haven't they hung the groom's price tag
Kazhuththil maatti vidavillaiyaa
Right around the girl's neck?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Meesai Vachcha Aambalaikellaam is a sharp, satirical Tamil film song that critiques the social evil of the dowry system and patriarchal bias in marriage. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses witty loanwords and colloquial imagery to compare the birth of a boy to financial profit and high market demand, while the birth of a girl is treated as a financial sentence or remand for her father. The song highlights the extreme financial hardship, stress, and indebtedness inflicted on the bride's family, questioning whether marriage has turned into mere commercial trade rather than a sacred union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme (Iyaibu / Loanword Paronomasia)
“Demandaiyyaa demaandu / Remandaiyyaa remand”
The pairing of 'Demand' and 'Remand' creates an emphatic, satirical end-rhyme contrasting market privilege against legal confinement.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Aana mattum laabamaiyyaa / Appanukku nashttamaiyyaa”
Contrasts the societal perception of a son bringing profit ('laabam') versus a daughter bringing financial loss ('nashtam').
Hyperbole (Uyirvu Navirtchi)
“Ettu muzham vettiyum naalu muzham aanathu / Kovanamthaan meeruthu”
Exaggerates the shrinking of clothing from eight cubits down to a loincloth to symbolize complete financial ruin due to wedding expenses.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song uses English administrative and commercial terms like 'Demand' and 'Remand' formatted into Tamil folk rhythm, a classic style of Vairamuthu's social commentary lyrics during the late 1980s.
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