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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthamma Ennai Songs

From Sigaram · 1991

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. N. Surendar, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Details
Sigaram1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Muththammaa ennai moodi vaikka vendumMuththamma, is it a law that I must be kept covered?
Endru sattammaaIs it a law?
Vandhu kollai kondu pongalCome and plunder me!
Enna kuttrammaaWhat crime is there in that?
Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaaWhat difference does man or woman make here, just like that?
Male
Muththammaa unnai moodi vaikka vendumMuththamma, is it a law that you must be kept covered?
Endru sattammaaIs it a law?
Unnai kollai kolla vendumI must plunder you!
Enna kuttrammaaWhat crime is there in that?
Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaaWhat difference does man or woman make here, just like that?
Male
Devadhaikkum achcham unduEven a goddess has fear,
Theerndha pinnum michcham unduEven when it ends, some remains.
Thiththikkum sangeedham unduThere is sweet music,
Penngal illaadha swargaththinA heaven without women—
Perai maattrungalen..ah..haChange its name... ah ha!
Female
Bhakthi indha pennil unduDevotion exists in this woman,
Mukththi indha kannil unduLiberation exists in these eyes.
Per inbam veru engae raajaaWhere else is supreme bliss, my king?
Dhegham ippodhu soodaachchuThe body has now become hot,
Thaenai oottrungalenPour the honey!
Male
Engu sendra podhumWherever you go,
Karkal mannoduStones belong to the earth.
Yenna sonna podhumWhatever is said,
Aanmai pennoduManhood belongs with womanhood.
Muththam endraThe pearl called a kiss,
Muthedukka poraaduFight to retrieve that pearl!
Mukkuliththu moochuDeep-dive until your breath fails,
Mutta poraduFight for it!
Female
Gangai pogum pokkilOn its course, the river Ganges
Kadalai thaanae podumJoins the sea on its own.
Sathanghal yaar seivadhu…Who can make rules against nature?
Male
Muththammaa unnai moodi vaikka vendumMuththamma, is it a law that you must be kept covered?
Endru sattammaaIs it a law?
Unnai kollai kolla vendumI must plunder you!
Enna kuttrammaaWhat crime is there in that?
Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaaWhat difference does man or woman make here, just like that?
Female
Achcham paadhi naanam paadhiHalf fear, half modesty,
Andha kaalam pennin thaedhiThat was a woman's era in the old days.
Ippodhu yen andha needhiWhy hold onto that rule now?
Vetkka pattalae innaalilBeing shy nowadays,
Vetkka kedu allavaaIsn't that a shameful thing?
Male
Kaadhal paadhi kaamam paadhiHalf love, half lust,
Anbu paadhi aasai paadhiHalf affection, half desire,
Illai endru yaar solla koodumWho can deny that these exist?
Muththam yaar ingae thandhaalumWhoever gives a kiss here,
Inbam ondrallavaaIsn't the bliss one and the same?
Female
Paththinikkum aasai unduEven a virtuous wife has desires,
VaazhattumLet them live!
Paththiyanghal thevai illaiDietary restrictions and inhibitions are unnecessary,
TheerattumLet them end!
Aadai endra poimai ingaeLet the lie called clothing
PogattumGo away!
Dhegam ennum unmai mattumLet only the truth called the body
VaazhattumLive!
Male
Mannil vinnai kanduSeeing heaven on earth,
Vinnil mannai kanduSeeing earth in heaven,
Bhoogolam thadumaarattumLet the whole globe falter!
Female
Muththammaa ennai moodi vaikka vendumMuththamma, is it a law that I must be kept covered?
Endru sattammaaIs it a law?
Vandhu kollai kondu pongalCome and plunder me!
Enna kuttrammaaWhat crime is there in that?
Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaaWhat difference does man or woman make here, just like that?
Male
Muththammaa unnai moodi vaikka vendumMuththamma, is it a law that you must be kept covered?
Endru sattammaaIs it a law?
Unnai kollai kolla vendumI must plunder you!
Enna kuttrammaaWhat crime is there in that?
Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaaWhat difference does man or woman make here, just like that?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muththammaa from the 1991 movie Sigaram is a bold, passionate duet composed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song directly challenges conventional social taboos and conservative expectations surrounding physical intimacy, modesty, and gender dynamics. Through provocative imagery, the lovers discard old traditional ideals like excessive fear and modesty ('achcham, naanam'), viewing passion as a fundamental human right rather than a moral transgression. Vairamuthu frames love and desire as natural laws that transcend social conventions, comparing physical passion to the Ganges river naturally flowing into the ocean. The lyrics boldly assert that clothing is merely a superficial construct ('Aadai endra poimai'), whereas the physical form and authentic passionate union represent the ultimate truth ('Dhegam ennum unmai').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aadai endra poimai ingae... Dhegam ennum unmai mattum

Translates clothing to a social lie ('poimai') and the human body/passion to absolute truth ('unmai').

Analogy / Natural Metaphor

Gangai pogum pokkil Kadalai thaanae podum

Compares human romantic union to the river Ganges naturally finding its way into the ocean, emphasizing that passion is natural and unstoppable.

Assonance & Internal Rhyme (Emonai / Ethirai)

Bhakthi indha pennil undu Mukththi indha kannil undu

Rhyming words 'Bhakthi' and 'Mukththi' are paired to contrast spiritual devotion with sensory liberation.

Rhetorical Question

Enna kuttrammaa / Idhil aan yenna penn yenna summaa

Repeatedly asks questions to challenge traditional moral norms and stress equality in desire.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Sigaram (1991) marked legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's debut as a full-fledged film music director, while he also played the lead role. This track was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam along with K. S. Chithra.

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