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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nagma Nagma Nagma

From Pooncholai · 1997

Lyricist
Bharathi Baskar
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pooncholai1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hae nagmaa nagmaa nagmaa hahaaHey Nagma, Nagma, Nagma, haha!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
Idhu nagmaa illa daa upmaaThis is not Nagma, pal, it's Upma!
Indha upmaa nammalukku pathmaaIs this Upma enough for us?
Idhu upmaa illa daa kupmaaThis is not Upma, pal, it's trash-flour!
Indha kuppumaavukkevvalavu mappu maaHow much arrogance does this trash-flour have!
Ada yekka yekka chakkamaaOh elder sister, elder sister, Chakka!
Enga kitta sikkumaaWill she be caught by us?
Male
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
NagmaaNagma!
Male
SikkumaaWill she be caught?
Male
Hae… pazhaiya baakki onnuHey... an old debt...
Kanakku theerthu vaippomaaShall we settle the account?
Male
Vazhiya vazhiyaOverflowing, overflowing...
Sembu paalum pazhamum yeppamaaWhen will there be milk in a copper pot and fruits?
Male
Raakku muthu raakku raakkammaaRaakku, pearl Raakku, Raakkamma!
Adi raakkuHey Raakku!
Nadaiya paathu manasu kekkumaaSeeing her walk, will the heart listen?
Ai haaiAi haai!
Kaala neram manasu paakkumaaWill the heart look for auspicious times?
Kaala odambu thadanju thaeikkumaaWill it stroke and massage the tired body?
Kettaa tharalaamaa ponaa varalaamaaIf asked, can we give? If we leave, can we return?
Enga look patta luck maa enna aachu vekkamaaWhere our look falls, luck follows; why the shyness?
Male
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
HaeiHey!
Male
Idhu nagmaa illa daa upmaaThis is not Nagma, pal, it's Upma!
Indha upmaa nammalukku pathmaaIs this Upma enough for us?
Male
Ada yekka yekka chakkamaaOh elder sister, elder sister, Chakka!
Enga kitta sikkumaaWill she be caught by us?
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
YaeYeah!
Male
Achacha chacha choAchacha chacha cho!
Male
Manja poosi vandha manakkum kai yengamaaWhere is the fragrant hand that applied turmeric?
Male
Kuniju nadandhu vandhaComing while walking with head bowed down,
Panja paava ponnumaaIs she a poor innocent girl?
Male
Nadakkum nadaiya naadu thaangumaa yappaaCan the land withstand her walking stride, oh my!
Nadandhu poga manasu thoongumaaWhen she walks away, will the mind sleep?
Hae nadaiya purinju nadandhu pongammaaHey, understand your stride and walk along, lady!
Ponna pola porandhu vaangamaaBorn like gold, come and receive!
Thottaa vidalaamaa vittaa thodalaamaaIf touched, can we let go? If let go, can we touch?
Ada ninnadhellaam nikkumaa rathathoda neethamaaWill all that stood remain standing? Is it in the nature of the blood?
Male
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
HaeiHey!
Male
Idhu nagmaa illa daa upmaaThis is not Nagma, pal, it's Upma!
Indha upmaa nammalukku pathmaaIs this Upma enough for us?
Male
Ada yekka yekka chakkamaaOh elder sister, elder sister, Chakka!
Enga kitta sikkumaaWill she be caught by us?
Nagmaa nagmaa nagmaaNagma, Nagma, Nagma!
Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaaWill this Nagma be caught in our hands?
Male
YaeYeah!
Male
NagmaaNagma!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful song from the movie Pooncholai features upbeat, comical teasing aimed at a girl playfully referred to as Nagma. The speakers use quirky rhyming wordplay, humorously contrasting her name with basic foods like upma and trash-flour, while complimenting her beauty, graceful walk, and charm in a cheeky, lighthearted style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Idhu nagmaa illa daa upmaa / Indha upmaa nammalukku pathmaa

The lines rhyme at the end using rhythmic rhyming words ending with 'maa'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Indha nagmaa namma kaiyil sikkumaa

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'g' in 'Nagmaa' and 'k' in 'sikkumaa' across lines creates a harmonious cadence.

Wordplay / Pun

Idhu nagmaa illa daa upmaa / Idhu upmaa illa daa kupmaa

Playful rhyming pun comparing the name Nagma with colloquial words like Upmaa and Kupmaa for comical effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pooncholai is an unreleased Tamil film directed by Gangai Amaran featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

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