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Isaimozhi
Pookkari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muppathu Paisa

From Pookkari · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Pookkari
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
20 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muppathu paisa moonu mozham
Mullai malligai kanagaamparam
Ippathaanunga malarnthathunga
Naareduthuthu naanae thoduththathunga
Ippathaanunga malarnthathunga
Naareduthuthu naanae thoduththathunga
Muppathu paisa moonu mozham
Mullai malligai kanagaamparam
Kanagaamparam roja mullai
Sambangi sevvanthi
Thanjavur-u kadhambam….kadhambam kadhambam
Vellikkizhamai velakku vachchaa
Veettilirukkum pendaatti
Vellikkizhamai velakku vachchaa
Veettilirukkum pendaatti
Aval alli mudikka mallaigai poovai
Vaangithaaiyya kai neetti
Ava azhagaa iruppaa
Un mel anbaaa iruppaa
Ava azhagaa iruppaa
Un mel anbaaa iruppaa
Nee sonna ketpaa pinnagai pooppaa
Unnai anaippaa
……………
Muppathu paisa moonu mozham
Mullai malligai kanagaamparam
Kanagaamparam roja mullai
Sambangi sevvanthi
Thanjavur-u kadhambam….
Inthaa thambi senthaamaraippoo
Irukkira thutta nee podu
Nam kannaa irunthu nenjil niraintha
Annaa silaikku poo podu
Nam kannaa irunthu nenjil niraintha
Annaa silaikku poo podu
Nee vaasanau poovaa
Nallaa vaazhanum thambi
Sila kaagithapoo kannai parikkum
Pogaathae nambi
: Roja mullai sambangi sevvanthi
Thanjavur-u kadhambam….kadhambam kadhambam
Vaadikkaiyaa naan poo vikkumpothu
Vedikkaiyaa nee paarkkaathae
Un paarvai enna purinjikkittaendaa
Mookku mogara jaakkirathai
Naan bayapadamaattaendaa
Unakku vasappadamaattaendaa
Naan bayapadamaattaendaa
Unakku vasappadamaattaendaa
Kaippattaa taappu egiri pogum
Thottu paaraendaa
Lalalaallaallaalaa
Lalalaallaallaalaa
Lalalaallaallaalaa
Muppathu paisa moonu mozham
Mullai malligai kanagaamparam
Kanagaamparam roja mullai
Sambangi sevvanthi
Thanjavur-u kadhambam….kadhambam kadhambam
Thirty paise for three cubits!
Wild jasmine, sweet jasmine, and firecracker flowers!
They have just blossomed fresh right now,
I strung them myself with plantain fiber!
They have just blossomed fresh right now,
I strung them myself with plantain fiber!
Thirty paise for three cubits!
Wild jasmine, sweet jasmine, and firecracker flowers!
Firecracker flowers, roses, wild jasmine,
Tuberoses and chrysanthemums,
Thanjavur mixed garlands... garlands of mixed flowers!
When the evening lamp is lit on a Friday,
Your wife will be waiting at home.
When the evening lamp is lit on a Friday,
Your wife will be waiting at home.
For her to gather and wear in her hair,
Reach out your hand, sir, and buy some jasmine flowers!
She will look so lovely,
She will shower you with love.
She will look so lovely,
She will shower you with love.
She will listen to whatever you say, bloom with a smile,
And hold you close in her arms!
................................
Thirty paise for three cubits!
Wild jasmine, sweet jasmine, and firecracker flowers!
Firecracker flowers, roses, wild jasmine,
Tuberoses and chrysanthemums,
Thanjavur mixed garlands...
Here, little brother, take this red lotus flower,
Just pay whatever money you have with you!
To him who was our guiding light and lives in our hearts,
Offer these flowers at Anna's statue!
To him who was our guiding light and lives in our hearts,
Offer these flowers at Anna's statue!
Like a sweet-smelling flower,
May you live a wonderful life, brother!
Some paper flowers might catch your eye,
Do not trust them and be fooled!
Roses, wild jasmine, tuberoses, chrysanthemums,
Thanjavur mixed garlands... garlands of mixed flowers!
While I go about my work selling flowers,
Do not stand there ogling at me for fun!
I understand very well what that look means,
You better watch your nose and face!
I am not going to be scared of you,
I will never give in to you!
I am not going to be scared of you,
I will never give in to you!
If my hand strikes you, your head will go spinning!
Just dare to touch me and see!
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
Thirty paise for three cubits!
Wild jasmine, sweet jasmine, and firecracker flowers!
Firecracker flowers, roses, wild jasmine,
Tuberoses and chrysanthemums,
Thanjavur mixed garlands... garlands of mixed flowers!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lively street vendor song captures the vibrant life and fierce independence of a traditional Tamil flower-seller (Pookkari). She sings out rhythmic calls advertising her fresh garlands of jasmine, rose, and chrysanthemum, inviting husbands to buy flowers for their wives on auspicious Fridays to foster love and harmony in marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaip (Alliteration)

Muppathu paisa moonu mozham / Mullai malligai kanagaamparam

Repetition of the 'm' sound at the beginning of words creates a catchy, rhythmic street-vendor call rhythm.

Emonaip / Eyaibu (Rhyme & Assonance)

Ippathaanunga malarnthathunga / Naareduthuthu naanae thoduththathunga

Repetition of ending suffixes '-unga' creates a fluid, colloquial spoken rhythm.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Sila kaagithapoo kannai parikkum / Pogaathae nambi

Comparing fake or superficial allure to artificial paper flowers (kaagithapoo) that catch the eye but lack substance.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic track from the 1973 M.G. Ramachandran film 'Pookkari' features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Singer L. R. Eswari's energetic delivery turned the humble street vendor's rhythm into a timeless hit in Tamil popular culture, complete with a reference paying homage to DMK founder C. N. Annadurai ('Annaa silaikku poo podu').

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