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Lyrics & meaning

Moonu Vairamani

From Pattikattu Thambi · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Pattikattu Thambi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ammadi ammaOh my mother, oh mother!
Male
Ada moonu vairamaniHey, three diamond beads!
Muppathettu sangumaniThirty-eight conch beads!
Naalum kalandha kanmaniMy precious eye who combines all four!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male :Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakalluMale: Paddy sown with desire in Aadi month, and the diamond gems born from it,
Kaadhal mayakkam thandhaachuHave given us the intoxication of love!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male
Poomaalaithaan poda porenI am going to place a flower garland!
Ponnoonjal aada porenI am going to swing on a golden swing!
Chorus :HahahahaChorus: Hahahaha
Male :Maamaannu thaan konja poraaMale: She will coax me calling me 'Maama'!
Machaanaiyae minja poraShe will surpass her Machaan himself!
Chorus :HahahahaChorus: Hahahaha
Male :HaiyooMale: Oh dear!
Male
Moonu vairamaniThree diamond beads!
Muppathettu sangumaniThirty-eight conch beads!
Naalum kalandha kanmaniMy precious eye who combines all four!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male :Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakalluMale: Paddy sown with desire in Aadi month, and the diamond gems born from it,
Kaadhal mayakkam thandhaachuHave given us the intoxication of love!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male
Thalathalnu valarnthiruppaShe would have grown up plump and glowing,
Thala kuninju nadanthiruppaShe would walk with her head bowed down,
Nadu vagidu eduthiruppaShe would partition her hair right down the middle,
Naareduthu mudinjiruppaShe would tie her hair up using plantain fibre,
Mann vaasanai marakkaamaWithout forgetting the fragrance of the soil,
Kandaangi thaan uduppaalaShe will wear a traditional Kandangi saree,
Tantaan takkara dangara dangaradadanTantaan takkara dangara dangaradadan
Kaalvaayil thaan kulipaalaamThey say she bathes in the canal stream!
Male
Cinema naanga dhinasari parpomWe watch movies every single day,
Sogama kaadhal paattukkal ketpomWe listen to sorrowful love songs,
Iruppen naanum medhappula thaandaI will live in high spirits and pride,
Inimae yekkam manasula yenda deiWhy should there be longing in the heart anymore, buddy?
Male
Moonu vairamaniThree diamond beads!
Muppathettu sangumaniThirty-eight conch beads!
Naalum kalandha kanmaniMy precious eye who combines all four!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male :Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakalluMale: Paddy sown with desire in Aadi month, and the diamond gems born from it,
Kaadhal mayakkam thandhaachuHave given us the intoxication of love!
Chorus :Ammadi ammamaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Female
……………………………...
Female
Naadhaswaram thavil adichuuPlaying the Nadaswaram and Thavil...
Male :AppuramMale: And then?
Female :Naal paarthu mana mudichuFemale: Finding an auspicious date and getting married...
Male :AiyaiyooMale: Oh my goodness!
Female :Mudhal iravil kann muzhippenFemale: I will stay awake on the wedding night,
Kadhai padippen kai anaikkaI will read stories while embracing hands!
Male :Thaambulatha edupaalaeMale: She will take the betel leaves,
Kaiyala thaan madipaalaeShe will fold them with her own hands,
Aiyaiyaiyoo aiyoo yappaOh my my, oh my goodness dear sir!
Naan poda thaan koduppalaeShe will hand them over for me to chew!
Female
Medhuva neeyum anaikkanum maamaYou must embrace me gently, uncle!
Male :Readya naanum irukkiren aamaMale: Yes, I am ready too!
Female :Pudichaa novu edukkudhu saamiFemale: If you hold me, it hurts, my lord!
Male :Tharisa paavam thavikkudhu boomiMale: The dry land is suffering in agony, poor thing!
Male
Ada moonu vairamaniHey, three diamond beads!
Muppathettu sangumaniThirty-eight conch beads!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male :Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakalluMale: Paddy sown with desire in Aadi month, and the diamond gems born from it,
Kaadhal mayakkam thandhaachuHave given us the intoxication of love!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male
Poomaalaithaan poda porenI am going to place a flower garland!
Ponnoonjal aada porenI am going to swing on a golden swing!
Chorus :HahahahaChorus: Hahahaha
Male :Maamaannu thaan konja poraaMale: She will coax me calling me 'Maama'!
Machaanaiyae minja poraShe will surpass her Machaan himself!
Chorus :HahahahaChorus: Hahahaha
Male
Ada moonu vairamaniHey, three diamond beads!
Muppathettu sangumaniThirty-eight conch beads!
Naalum kalandha kanmaniMy precious eye who combines all four!
Chorus :Ammadi ammaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!
Male :Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakalluMale: Paddy sown with desire in Aadi month, and the diamond gems born from it,
Kaadhal mayakkam thandhaachuHave given us the intoxication of love!
Chorus :Ammadi ammamaaChorus: Oh my mother, oh mother!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and earthy folk track from Pattikattu Thambi (1988) captures the romantic banter between a village youth and his beloved. Filled with rustic charm, the song weaves together agricultural metaphors, regional customs like wearing Kandangi sarees and tying hair with plantain fiber, and playful anticipations of married bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Moonu vairamani / Muppathettu sangumani

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines such as 'Thalathalnu' and 'Thala kuninju' or 'Moonu' and 'Muppathettu', creating rhythmic flow characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Aadi aasaiyum nellu atha petha vairakallu

Comparing the lover's eyes and grace to precious gems ('vairamani') and traditional ornaments, and comparing romantic longing to agricultural cultivation during the Aadi season.

Onomatopoeia (Etai Kizalavi / Sound Mimicry)

Tantaan takkara dangara dangaradadan

Use of folk rhythmic syllables like 'Tantaan takkara dangara' to elevate the celebratory and dance-like tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Vaali, the song showcases the dynamic interplay between real-life siblings S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Shailaja, whose vocal chemistry brings out the theatrical banter of rural Tamil folk performances.

Keep listening

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