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Isaimozhi
Vasanthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Murungakaa Paavakkaa

From Vasanthi · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Vasanthi
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
19 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Murungakkaa paavakkaa vendakkaa kaththarikkaa
Murungakkaa paavakkaa….
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Sundakkaa vendakkaa vaazhakkaa nee paaththukko
Chinnakkaa periyakkaa yaarakkaa nee vaangikkiko
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illaatha kaa africa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappoi…
Mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappoi….
Murungakkaa venumunnaa
Valachchu paaththu vaanganum
Mullangi venumunnaa
Ilaiyoda vaanganum
Vendakkaa venumunnaa
Killi paaththu vaanganum
Kotthavarangaa venumunnaa
Odichchu paaththu vaanganum
Pinjju maanga venumunnaa
Amukki paaththu vaanganum
Kanni ponna mattum neenga
Kai thodaama vaanganum
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illaatha kaa africa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Vayaththukulla soodirunthaa keeraththandu nallathu
Vantha neeru piriyalannaa vaazhaththandu nallathu
Paduththum sarkkara viyaathi vanthaa paavakkaa nallathu
Parambaraiyaa piththam vanthaa pudhinaavum nallathu
Koththamalli vaangi paaru kulirchchi adhil ullathu
Nee kumari ponna etti nillu kudumbaththukkae nallathu
Ellaamae irukkukkaa illatha kaa
Male :Africa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Murungakkaa vaangi paaru murugappaa
Nee mookku melae verala vaippae muniyappaa
Sundakkaa vendakkaa vaazhakkaa nee paaththukko
Chinnakkaa periyakkaa yaarakkaa nee vaangikkiko
Murungakkaa…..paavakkaa…..vendakkaa…..kaththarikkaa…hoi
Drumstick, bitter gourd, okra, eggplant...
Drumstick, bitter gourd...
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
Turkey berry, okra, raw banana, take a look!
Younger sister, elder sister, whoever you are, come and buy!
I have every kind of veggie, sister; the only one missing is Africa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
If you want drumsticks,
You must bend them to check before you buy!
If you want radishes,
You must buy them with their greens!
If you want okra,
You must snap the tip to check before you buy!
If you want cluster beans,
You must break them to check before you buy!
If you want tender raw mangoes,
You must gently press them to check before you buy!
But when it comes to an unmarried girl,
You must accept her without laying a hand on her first!
I have every kind of veggie, sister; the only one missing is Africa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
If your stomach is overheated, amaranth stems are good!
If your urine doesn't pass freely, banana stem is good!
If troublesome diabetes strikes, bitter gourd is good!
If you suffer from chronic bile and heat, mint leaves are good!
Buy some coriander and see, it brings refreshing coolness!
Stay away from a young girl, that's good for the whole family!
I have every kind of veggie, sister; the only one missing is...
Male: Africa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
Buy some drumsticks and see, Murugappa!
You'll put your finger on your nose in amazement, Muniyappa!
Turkey berry, okra, raw banana, take a look!
Younger sister, elder sister, whoever you are, come and buy!
Drumstick... bitter gourd... okra... eggplant... hey!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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