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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naalum Nalla

From Mathar Kula Manickam · 1956

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Trichy Loganathan, A. P. Komala
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Mathar Kula Manickam1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa…aa…haa…aaa…aa…Haa…aa…haa…aaa…aa…
Haa..haa…haa…aa…aa..Haa..haa…haa…aa…aa..
Male
Naalum nalla naalu indruEvery day is a good day, but today
Namakku thagundha naaluIs a day perfectly suited for us.
Naalum nalla naalu indruEvery day is a good day, but today
Namakku thagundha naaluIs a day perfectly suited for us.
Rendu perum thaanae jooruJust the two of us make a grand pair,
Ingae yaarum illai paaruLook around, there is no one else here.
Naalum nalla naalu indruEvery day is a good day, but today
Namakku thagundha naaluIs a day perfectly suited for us.
Male
Yegaandha solaiyilaeIn this secluded garden grove,
Idaiyilae oru vaeliThere stands a fence in between.
En maaman enai kandaalIf my beloved uncle/suitor sees me,
Seeruvadhae joliHis only business will be to fume at me.
En maaman enai kandaalIf my beloved uncle/suitor sees me,
Seeruvadhae joliHis only business will be to fume at me.
Naalum nalla naalu indruEvery day is a good day, but today
Namakku thagundha naaluIs a day perfectly suited for us.
Female
Podhum podhum neengaEnough, enough of this, you,
Konjam porumaiyoda vaangaPlease approach with a little patience.
Poravaangha yaarum kaettaIf passersby happen to listen,
Kaeli pannuvanghaThey will make fun of us.
Purushan manaiviyaana piragumEven after becoming husband and wife,
Nilaimai maaralaamaShould our situation change?
Purushan manaiviyaana piragumEven after becoming husband and wife,
Nilaimai maaralaamaShould our situation change?
Urimaiyaana kaeni jalathaiCan a sudden flood sweep away
Vellam kondupomaaThe well water that rightly belongs to us?
Vellam kondupomaaThe well water that rightly belongs to us?
Male
HaahaanHaahaan
Male
Vedhaandham pesidavaa kalyaanam aachuDid we get married just to talk philosophy?
Vilaiyattu pennai pola pesuvadha paechuIs talking like a playful girl all you can do?
I love you my darlingI love you my darling,
I love youI love you!
Female
Acham madam naanam adhuFear, modesty, and shyness—these
Avasiyam venumAre essential qualities needed for a woman.
Penn alatchiyama ninaichaaIf you treat a woman disrespectfully,
Adhu aangalukkae eenamIt brings disgrace to manhood itself.
Adhu aangalukkae eenamIt brings disgrace to manhood itself.
Male
OhooOhoo!
Thirumughathai oru mughamaaTurn your divine face towards me a bit,
Thiruppi konjam kattuTurn and show it to me.
Maraimughamaai pakkuraaneHe looks secretly from behind cover,
Manmadhanai ottuDrive away Cupid (Manmadhan)!
Maraimughamaai pakkuraaneHe looks secretly from behind cover,
Manmadhanai ottuDrive away Cupid (Manmadhan)!
Female
Thandhirathaal thengaayumCan a coconut fall down
Vilundhidumaa maamaaBy using clever tricks, uncle?
Male :Mandhirathaal maangaaiMale: A mango will fall down by chanting a spell,
Vilundhidum sari vaamaaIt will indeed fall, so come along dear!
Vilundhidum sari vaamaaIt will indeed fall, so come along dear!
Female
Haa..aaa…haa…aaa..aa…Haa..aaa…haa…aaa..aa…
Haa..haa..haa…aaaHaa..haa..haa…aaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic duet from 'Mathar Kula Manickam' (1956) features a romantic and playful banter between a newlywed or courting couple. The male protagonist celebrates the opportune day and quiet surroundings to express his love and seek intimacy, while the female protagonist playfully hesitates, reminding him of modesty, social decorum, and traditional feminine values. Through witty exchanges and proverbial references, the lovers tease each other about patience, affection, and marriage obligations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naalum nalla naalu indru / Namakku thagundha naalu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'Naalum' and 'Namakku').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Rendu perum thaanae jooru / Ingae yaarum illai paaru

Matching second consonants across lines (e.g., 'Rendu' and 'Ingae', 'Vedhaandham' and 'Vilaiyattu').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Rendu perum thaanae jooru / Ingae yaarum illai paaru

Matching sentence/word endings creating rhythm (e.g., 'jooru' and 'paaru').

Metaphor / Folk Proverbial Allusion

Mandhirathaal maangaai vilundhidum sari vaamaa

Using natural metaphors like 'mandhirathaal maangaai' (falling mangoes via spells) to represent coaxing love through persuasion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mathar Kula Manickam (1956) is a bilingual Tamil-Telugu film (released in Telugu as 'Charana Daasi') directed by T. Prakash Rao. The music scored by S. Rajeswara Rao was widely acclaimed, featuring popular playback tracks rendered by Trichy Loganathan and A. P. Komala.

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