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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Rottu Mele Paattu

From Vaanga Mappillai Vaanga · 1984

Lyricist
Sankar Balan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Vaanga Mappillai Vaanga1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Koranja vela neranja pothaLow price, high intoxication,
Kodukkuthadaa kuppammaa sarakkuKuppamma's liquor gives it, man!
Adha therinjukkaththaan naan kudichchaenI drank it just to find that out,
Rompa nallaaththaan irukkuIt is really good!
Sarakku rompa nallaathaan irukkuThe liquor is really good!
Male
Naan road-u melae paattu paadaTo sing a song on the road,
Naattu sarakka pottutaenI drank local liquor.
En paattukkeththa dappaangkuththaTo match my song's folk rhythm,
Paththu pera kooppittaenI called ten people.
Male
Naan road-u melae paattu paadaTo sing a song on the road,
Naattu sarakka pottutaenI drank local liquor.
En paattukkeththa dappaangkuththaTo match my song's folk rhythm,
Paththu pera kooppittaenI called ten people.
Male
Kudichchathu saaraayam pudichchathu vedhaaalamDrank country liquor, got possessed like a spirit,
Kudichchathu saaraayam pudichchathu vedhaaalamDrank country liquor, got possessed like a spirit,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight.
Male
Antha kaala rishi koodaEven the ancient sages,
Intha rushiya kandaandaaDiscovered this rich taste!
Appanum pullaiyum onnaa saernthuFather and son coming together,
Ippa kudikka poraandaaAre now going to drink!
Male
Antha kaala rishi koodaEven the ancient sages,
Intha rushiya kandaandaaDiscovered this rich taste!
Appanum pullaiyum onnaa saernthuFather and son coming together,
Ippa kudikka poraandaaAre now going to drink!
Female
Kaalaiyilae kanji thanniGruel water in the morning,
Maalaiyilae intha thanniThis liquor water in the evening,
Kattaiyila poravanukkuFor one who will eventually go on the wooden bier,
Michcham enna sollu enniWhat else remains? Tell me by counting!
Female
Nee road-u melae paattu paadaTo sing a song on the road,
Naattu sarakka pottuttaeYou drank local liquor,
Un paattukkeththa dappaangkuththaTo match your song's folk rhythm,
Paththu pera kooppittaenI called ten people.
Male
Kudichchathu saaraayam pudichchathu vedhaaalamDrank country liquor, got possessed like a spirit,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight.
Female
Nee kannu veenga kudichchupputtuDrinking until your eyes swell,
Kariyum sorum thinnupputtuEating meat and rice,
Kattil melae otti paduththaaLying down cozy on the cot,
Thookkam varuthaiyyaaSleep comes so peacefully, sir!
Male
Kuppammaa kitta irunthaaIf you go to Kuppamma,
Ettu tharam thanni irunthaaThere are eight varieties of drink!
Kuppammaa kitta irunthaaIf you go to Kuppamma,
Ettu tharam thanni irunthaaThere are eight varieties of drink!
Male
Vutta kora thotta koraThe shortcomings at home and touch,
Naan maranthu iruppendiI will forget them all, woman!
Voottukkulla rendum yaeraAs both kick in inside the house,
Paduththiruppendi naanI will lie down relaxed!
Male
Naan road-u melae paattu paadaTo sing a song on the road,
Naattu sarakka pottutaenI drank local liquor.
En paattukkeththa dappaangkuththaTo match my song's folk rhythm,
Paththu pera kooppittaenI called ten people.
Male
Kudichchathu saaraayam pudichchathu vedhaaalamDrank country liquor, got possessed like a spirit,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight,
Aana idhulethaan salbettaa yaeraalaamBut only in this can you gain endless delight.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a lighthearted, upbeat folk-style track depicting street-level camaraderie, drinking, and light philosophical banter. The singer celebrates the potency and budget-friendly appeal of local arrack sold by Kuppamma, framing drinking as a way to unwind, sing freely on the streets, and forget life's everyday hardships and deficiencies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Emonai)

Koranja vela neranja potha

Matching end sounds in adjacent lines like 'potha', 'sarakku', and repetitive rhythm words.

Pun / Wordplay (Slesai)

Antha kaala rishi kooda / Intha rushiya kandaandaa

Wordplay between ancient 'Rishi' (sages) and 'Rushi' (taste/relish).

Contrast (Ethirnilai)

Kaalaiyilae kanji thanni / Maalaiyilae intha thanni

Contrasts basic sustenance in the morning ('kanji thanni') with liquor in the evening ('intha thanni').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases the energetic composition style of the duo Shankar-Ganesh in mid-1980s Tamil cinema, heavily relying on traditional 'Dappangkuthu' folk beats suited for street-dance sequences.

Keep listening

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