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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Unakku Nalla Paattu

From Nethiyadi · 1988

Lyricist
Satta Muthan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
R. Pandiarajan
Details
Nethiyadi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan unakku nalla paattu onnuI will teach you
Solli tharuvaena good song,
Adha kandippaa nee kaththukkanumand you must definitely learn it.
Male
Naan unakku nalla paattu onnuI will teach you
Solli tharuvaena good song.
Female
Ezhuthinavan yaettai keduththaanThe one who wrote ruined the leaf (manuscript),
Padichchavano paatta keduththaanthe one who read it ruined the song,
Innumoru paattu paadiso don't sing another song
Namma naatta kedukkaathaeand ruin our country!
Female
Nee enakku onnumYou don't need to
Paattu solli thara venaamteach me any song,
Naan unnavida padichchavaI am more educated than you.
Nee enakku onnumYou don't need to
Paattu solli tharavenaamteach me any song.
Male
Ulaga urundaiya odaippaenI will break the globe of the world,
Kedaichatha samamaa koduppaen eppadiand share whatever is found equally... how?
Female :Nee summaa kodukkum panamthaanFemale: The money you give away for free
Sombala valarkkum uamthaanis just fertilizer that breeds laziness.
Male
Ozhaikkanum kodukkanumOne must work hard and then give,
Sonnaangalaeso they said!
Female :Aahaah koduththuttuFemale: Ah, but after giving it all away,
Theruvula ninnaangalaethey ended up standing on the street!
Male :Samsaaramae venaandiMale: I don't want family life anymore, my girl,
Female :YaenFemale: Why?
Male :Sanniyaasamae poraendi sivasivaMale: I am going into asceticism, Shiva Shiva!
Female :Saamiyaaraa ponaalumFemale: Even if you become a monk,
Soru thinna kaasu venumyou need money to eat food!
Female
Nee enakku onnumYou don't need to
Paattu solli thara venaamteach me any song.
Male :Yaenaam..Male: Why not..?
Female :Naan unnavida padichchavaFemale: I am more educated than you.
Nee enakku onnumYou don't need to
Paattu solli thara venaamteach me any song.
Male
Kodukkura kaithaan sivakkumOnly the hand that gives grows red (charitable),
Adhuthaan ulagaththa jeyikkumand that alone conquers the world.
Female :Inthaannu thanthaalae inikkumFemale: Giving freely tastes sweet,
Illaennu sonnaalae kasakkumsaying 'no' tastes bitter.
Male
Palana paaththuttaa tharumam illaIf you look for benefits, it's not true charity.
Female :Kadana vaangittaa thookam illaFemale: If you take a loan, there's no sleep!
Male :Ambalaingalae pombambalaingalaeMale: Oh men! Oh women!
Appaavi naan ingae maattikkittaen aiyayoI, an innocent man, got caught here, oh no!
Female :Appaavaa aagap poraeFemale: You are going to become a father soon,
Unna naanum vidamaattaenI won't let you go!
Female
Naan unakku nalla paattu onnuI will teach you
Solli tharuvaena good song,
Adha thena thaenam padikkanumyou must practice it every single day.
Naan unakku nalla paattu onnuI will teach you
Solli tharuvaena good song.
Ezhuthinavan yaettai keduththaanThe one who wrote ruined the manuscript,
Padichchavano paatta keduththaanthe one who read it ruined the song,
Innumoru paattu paadidon't sing another song
Namma naatta kedukkaathaeand ruin our country!
Male
Evalum enakkouNo woman needs to
Paattu solli tharavenaamteach me any song,
Kandapadi thittiduvaenI will scold randomly!
Evalum enakkouNo woman needs to
Paattu solli tharavenaamteach me any song.
Vaenavae vaenaam…..I don't want it at all...!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful banter song from the 1988 film 'Nethiyadi' features a comical argument between a husband and wife regarding morality, philosophy, charity, and domestic life. The male character attempts to preach philosophical lessons and song to the female character, while the female character wittily retorts that practical life requires money, hard work, and responsible living rather than idealistic rhetoric.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ezhuthinavan yaettai keduththaan / Padichchavano paatta keduththaan

Matching second consonants across lines: 'Ezhuthinavan' and 'Padichchavano'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Palana paaththuttaa tharumam illa

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'p' in 'Palana' and 'paaththuttaa'.

Antithesis (Contrast)

Inthaannu thanthaalae inikkum / Illaennu sonnaalae kasakkum

Contrasting 'Inthaannu' (giving) with 'Illaennu' (refusing), and 'inikkum' (sweet) with 'kasakkum' (bitter).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nethiyadi' (1988) was directed by Pandiarajan, who is known for his comical, light-hearted folk-style duets featuring practical banter between leads.

Keep listening

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