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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Murungakaa Paavakkaa

From Vasanthi · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Vasanthi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Murungakkaa paavakkaa vendakkaa kaththarikkaaDrumstick, bitter gourd, okra, brinjal
Murungakkaa paavakkaa….Drumstick, bitter gourd....
Female
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Female
Sundakkaa vendakkaa vaazhakkaa nee paaththukkoTurkey berry, lady's finger, plantain—take a look
Chinnakkaa periyakkaa yaarakkaa nee vaangikkikoYounger sister, elder sister, anyone can buy these
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illaatha kaa africaEverything is available here, is there any vegetable not here? Only Africa!
Female
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappoi…Buy and try the drumstick, Murugappoi...
Mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappoi….You will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappoi....
Female
Murungakkaa venumunnaaIf you want drumsticks
Valachchu paaththu vaanganumYou must bend and check before buying
Mullangi venumunnaaIf you want radishes
Ilaiyoda vaanganumYou must buy them along with the leaves
Female
Vendakkaa venumunnaaIf you want lady's fingers (okra)
Killi paaththu vaanganumYou must snap the tip to check before buying
Kotthavarangaa venumunnaaIf you want cluster beans
Odichchu paaththu vaanganumYou must break them to check before buying
Female
Pinjju maanga venumunnaaIf you want tender green mangoes
Amukki paaththu vaanganumYou must press them gently to check before buying
Kanni ponna mattum neengaBut when it comes to a young maiden
Kai thodaama vaanganumYou must win her over without touching her with your hands
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illaatha kaa africaEverything is available here, is there any vegetable not here? Only Africa!
Female
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Female
Vayaththukulla soodirunthaa keeraththandu nallathuIf there is body heat in your stomach, greens stalk is good
Vantha neeru piriyalannaa vaazhaththandu nallathuIf urine is not flowing freely, banana stem is good
Paduththum sarkkara viyaathi vanthaa paavakkaa nallathuIf troubling diabetes strikes, bitter gourd is good
Parambaraiyaa piththam vanthaa pudhinaavum nallathuIf hereditary biliousness (acidity) strikes, mint leaves are good
Female
Koththamalli vaangi paaru kulirchchi adhil ullathuBuy coriander leaves and see, cooling relief is within it
Nee kumari ponna etti nillu kudumbaththukkae nallathuStay at a respectable distance from a young maiden, it is good for the whole family
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illatha kaaEverything is available here, is there any vegetable not here?
Male :AfricaMale: Africa!
Female
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaaBuy and try the drumstick, Murugappa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaaYou will place your finger on your nose in astonishment, Muniyappa
Female
Sundakkaa vendakkaa vaazhakkaa nee paaththukkoTurkey berry, lady's finger, plantain—take a look
Chinnakkaa periyakkaa yaarakkaa nee vaangikkikoYounger sister, elder sister, anyone can buy these
Murungakkaa…..paavakkaa…..vendakkaa…..kaththarikkaa…hoiDrumstick... bitter gourd... okra... brinjal... hoi!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat and humorous Tamil market song uses the vendor's routine of calling out vegetables as a playful metaphor for life advice and traditional wellness knowledge. The singer highlights the health benefits of various local vegetables like bitter gourd for diabetes, banana stem for urinary health, and mint for acidity, showcasing folk wisdom surrounding food as medicine.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monotony (Edhukai & Monai)

Murungakkaa paavakkaa vendakkaa kaththarikkaa

Repetitive rhyming endings with '-kaa' (Murungakkaa, paavakkaa, vendakkaa, kaththarikkaa) create a rhythmic, catchy vendor call style.

Metaphor / Social Metaphor

Kanni ponna mattum neenga kai thodaama vaanganum

Compares selecting quality vegetables to approaching social relationships with care and respect.

Pun / Wordplay

Ellaamae irukkukkaa illaatha kaa africa

Plays on the suffix '-kaa' (vegetable suffix) and 'akka' (sister) while referencing 'Africa' as a humorous non-existent vegetable.

Did you know?

Trivia

This playful song features the unique folk songwriting style of lyricist Vairamuthu, blending traditional health advice (Siddha/Ayurvedic uses of vegetables like banana stem and bitter gourd) into a lighthearted commercial track.

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