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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Enna Meesai Vacha

From Muthu Engal Sothu · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Muthu Engal Sothu1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hoi hoihoiHoi hoihoi
Hoi hoihoi hoi….Hoi hoihoi hoi….
Hoi hoihoiHoi hoihoi
Hoi hoihoi hoi….Hoi hoihoi hoi….
Female
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
Naan konjam solli thaaraen kannaaLet me teach you a lesson, my dear
Haei nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaHey, are you a girl who grew a mustache?
Naan konjam solli thaaraen kannaaLet me teach you a lesson, my dear
Female
Sakthi ulla pilla puthi mattum illaYou are a child with physical strength, but lacking intelligence
Sakthi ulla pilla puthi mattum illaYou are a child with physical strength, but lacking intelligence
Saela uduththikko maappillaiDrape a saree then, bridegroom!
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
Female :Aei…Female: Hey...
Male :En kitta veeram kaatta vaenaaMale: Don't show off your bravery to me
Female :Chchee pae…Female: Chchee, go away...
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
En kitta veeram kaatta vaenaaDon't show off your bravery to me
Enna pathi kelu soorakkotta aaluAsk about me, I am a tough man from Soorakkottai
Enna pathi kelu soorakkotta aaluAsk about me, I am a tough man from Soorakkottai
Sollaathadi inga un vaalu…Don't show your mischievous tail here, girl...
Female :Aah….Female: Aah....
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
En kitta veeram kaatta vaenaaDon't show off your bravery to me
Female
Seval thirumbumaa enna virumbumaaWill the rooster turn around and desire me?
Kozhi onna verattum vidumaaWill a hen chase you away and leave you?
Male :Aaval irukkamma seval porukkumaaMale: There is desire, my lady, but can a rooster tolerate it?
Muttaikkavasaramaa porammaAre you in a hurry for the egg, my lady?
Female
Pillaiyaar pol irukkurae maamaaYou look like Lord Ganesha, uncle!
Kanni pen kaaththirukkuthae summaaA maiden girl is waiting for no reason
Male :Veppenna poosi vechchatho kudumiMale: Did you smear bitter neem oil on your hair knot?
Thaenunnaa vandu varumo virumbiIf it was honey, would a beetle come willingly?
Female
Potta pulla vanthirukkuA young girl has come to you
Thottu konjam pazhaguTouch and get familiar with her a bit
Male :Vetti pechchu pesaathaediMale: Don't talk useless talk, girl
Vittu konjam velaguLeave and move away a little
Female :HaeiFemale: Hey
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
En kitta veeram kaatta vaenaaDon't show off your bravery to me
Enna pathi kelu soorakkotta aaluAsk about me, I am a tough man from Soorakkottai
Enna pathi kelu soorakkotta aaluAsk about me, I am a tough man from Soorakkottai
Sollaathadi inga un vaalu…Don't show your mischievous tail here, girl...
Male
Pothum savukkadi konjam madakkudiEnough of this whipping, lower it down a bit
Enna adikkiriyae sariyaaIs it fair that you keep beating me?
Female :Intha savukkadi chinna kosukkadiFemale: This lash of the whip is just like a small mosquito bite
Innum irukkuthaiyaa rediyaaThere is still more ready for you, sir!
Male
Singaara kadhal kalliyae onakkuOh beautiful thief of love, for you
Ennodu yaedhum ullathaa vazhakkuDo you have any dispute or complaint with me?
Female :Aayiram solli paaththaena onakkuFemale: I tried telling you a thousand things
Appuram kaiyil eduththaen savukkuOnly then did I take the whip in my hand
Male
Sonnapadi ketkkuraendeeI will listen to whatever you say, my girl
Enna seiya onakkuWhat should I do for you?
Female :Raaththirikku pesikkalaamFemale: We can talk tonight
Appadi vaa vazhikkuThat's it, come to your senses!
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
Female :Aei…Female: Hey...
Female :Naan konjam solli thaaraen kannaaFemale: Let me teach you a lesson, my dear
Male :Haan….Male: Aha....
Female
Sakthi ulla pilla puthi mattum illaYou are a child with physical strength, but lacking intelligence
Sakthi ulla pilla puthi mattum illaYou are a child with physical strength, but lacking intelligence
Saela uduththikko maappillaiDrape a saree then, bridegroom!
Male
Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaaAre you a girl who grew a mustache?
Female :Aei…Female: Hey...
Male :En kitta veeram kaatta vaenaaMale: Don't show off your bravery to me

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful playful duet features a playful battle of wits and mock hostility between the hero and heroine. The heroine taunts the hero by calling him a 'girl with a mustache' and questioning his manhood, teasing him for lacking brains despite his physical strength and mockingly advising him to wear a saree. The hero retaliates by claiming his toughness as a man from Soorakkottai and telling her not to show off her mischievous antics around him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Sakthi ulla pilla puthi mattum illa

The second consonant 'k' rhymes in 'Sakthi' and 'Puthi'.

Metaphor / Irony

Nee enna meesai vachcha ponnaa

Calling a man a 'meesai vachcha ponnaa' (girl with a mustache) is a humorous metaphorical insult questioning his masculinity.

Hyperbole / Simile

Intha savukkadi chinna kosukkadi

Comparing a lash of the whip to a small mosquito bite ('chinna kosukkadi') as a dramatic understatement.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a classic playful 'Sandaipattu' (folk banter song) written by the legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1983 film 'Muthu Engal Sothu'. Such songs were immensely popular in rural Tamil cinema during the late 70s and 80s to depict the playful romantic friction between lead characters.

Keep listening

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