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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mittayi Thenkuzhalu Kutti

From Rajathi Rojakili · 1985

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Rajathi Rojakili
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
22 Sept 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mittaayi thaenkuzhalu kutti
Murukku laddu poonthi vadai
Thattaama vaangi thaaraen
Thangamae nee vaai thiranthaa
Karupparasi soraakki
Paruppu kozhambu kaachchi
Kinniyilae podum munnae
Kai velangu vanthuduchchaam
Karupparasi soraakki
Paruppu kozhambu kaachchi
Kinniyilae podum munnae
Kai velangu vanthuduchchaam
Aththula vellaam vara aalum munga thanni vara
Thanni vantha aaththoram kaanaama yaenguraenae
Aththula vellaam vara aalum munga thanni vara
Thanni vantha aaththoram kaanaama yaenguraenae
Candies and crisp thenkuzhal, my little girl,
Murukku, laddu, boondi, and vadai—
I will gladly buy them all for you,
My precious one, if you only open your mouth and ask...
She cooked a meal of black rice,
And made the lentil curry,
But before she could serve it in the bowl,
They say the handcuffs arrived...
She cooked a meal of black rice,
And made the lentil curry,
But before she could serve it in the bowl,
They say the handcuffs arrived...
Floods rushed into the river, deep enough to drown a person,
By that flooded riverbank, I pine away, unable to see you...
Floods rushed into the river, deep enough to drown a person,
By that flooded riverbank, I pine away, unable to see you...
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This folk-infused song from the 1985 film 'Rajathi Rojakili' expresses a blend of affectionate courtship and poignant yearning. The lover initially promises a lavish spread of traditional Tamil sweets and snacks to his beloved if she simply asks for them. However, the song shifts into a traditional folk motif describing a sudden, unfortunate twist of fate where someone is handcuffed right before eating a freshly cooked meal, followed by a metaphor of rising floodwaters on a riverbank representing intense emotional grief and longing due to separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mittaayi thaenkuzhalu kutti

Repetition of the 'M' sound across adjacent lines ('Mittaayi', 'Murukku'), establishing a rhythmic folk cadence.

Sensory Imagery (Culinary Imagery)

Murukku laddu poonthi vadai

Enumeration of iconic Tamil snacks and dishes (thaenkuzhal, murukku, laddu, boondi, vadai, karuppu arasi, paruppu kozhambu) to evoke rural warmth and comfort.

Metaphor

Aththula vellaam vara aalum munga thanni vara

Deep, person-submerging river floods ('aalum munga thanni') serve as a metaphor for overwhelming emotions and grief caused by separation.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rajathi Rojakili' (1985) featured music by Chandrabose, who was known for blending authentic Tamil folk rhythms with popular film arrangements during the mid-1980s. Lyricist Muthulingam drew heavily upon authentic Tamil rural food items and folk proverbs for this song's lyrics.

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