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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Odakara Marimuthu

From Indira · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Indira1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pacha paavakkaa..Green bitter gourd..
Female :Palapalanga..Female: Shining brightly..
Male :Pazhani pacha..Male: Palani green..
Female :Minuminunga..Female: Glittering..
Male :Sengarutti..Male: Red brick..
Female :Sevathapulla..Female: Fair-skinned girl..
Male :Kinnaavandhaa..Male: Like a small cup..
Female :Kinukatti..Female: Tying a little bell..
Male :Udumbu..Male: Monitor lizard..
Female :Thuduppu..Female: Oar paddle..
Male :Magaa..Male: Great..
Female :Sugaa..Female: Comfort..
Male :Paa..Male: Paa..
Female :Parangi..Female: Pumpkin..
Male :Ettuman..Male: Eight hands measure..
Female :KundumanFemale: Round object..
Male
Chill….Chill….
Hey odakara maarimuthuHey, Marimuthu by the riverbank!
Ottavaayi maarimuthuBlabbermouth Marimuthu!
Oorukkulla vayasupponnungaHow are all the young girls in the village
SowkkiyamaDoing fine?
Female :HaanFemale: Yeah!
Male
Ye arisikkadaHey, the rice shop
Aaiyyaavu ponnuAaiyyaavu's daughter,
Aappakkaari annamma ponnuAppam-seller Annamma's daughter,
Javuli vikkum maanikkam ponnuTextile seller Manikkam's daughter,
SowkkiyamaAre they doing fine?
Male
Pazhaiya baakki irukkudhaIs there any old debt left unpaid?
Paiyan manasu thudikkudhaIs the young boy's heart throbbing?
Pazhaiya baakki irukkudhaIs there any old debt left unpaid?
Paiyan manasu thudikkudhaIs the young boy's heart throbbing?
Male
Pattanathu style-ah kandaaJust because you experienced city style,
Pattikkaadu kasandhidumaaWill the countryside become distasteful?
Pallikkooda nenappirukkaeThe memories of school days remain,
Paavi manam marandhidumaaWill this poor heart ever forget them?
Pattuppaavaadaikku nenju thudikkuthuMy heart longs for the silk skirt,
Retta jadai innum kannil midhakkuthuDouble-braided hair still floats before my eyes.
Male
Odakara maarimuthuMarimuthu by the riverbank,
Ottavaayi maarimuthuBlabbermouth Marimuthu,
Oorukkulla vayasupponnungaHow are all the young girls in the village
SowkkiyamaDoing fine?
Male
Oi arisikkadaHey, the rice shop
Aaiyyaavu ponnuAaiyyaavu's daughter,
Aappakkaari annamma ponnuAppam-seller Annamma's daughter,
Javuli vikkum maanikkam ponnuTextile seller Manikkam's daughter,
SowkkiyamaAre they doing fine?
Male
Gundu ponnu komalavalliChubby girl Komalavalli,
Ennaanaa ennaanaaWhat happened to her, what happened?
Male :Rettappulla porandhadhumaeMale: As soon as she gave birth to twins,
Noolaanaa noolaanaaShe became thin as a thread, thin as a thread!
Male
Kulla vaathu teachar kanagaaShort duck-like teacher Kanaga,
Male :Aiyo.. paarvaiyila pacha molagaaMale: Oh my... she has a fiery glance like a green chili!
Male :Melpadippu padikka ponaMale: She went off to pursue higher studies,
Merkondu enna aanaaMale: What happened to her further?
Male :Mothathula moonu maarkkilMale: In total, by just three marks,
Failaanaa failaanaaMale: She failed, she failed!
Male
Ollikkuchi raajameenaaSkinny stick-like Rajameena,
Odipponaa enna aanaaShe ran away, what happened to her?
Male :Poosanikkaa vayiru vaangiMale: She got a belly as big as a pumpkin
Thirumbi vandhaalaeAnd returned back!
Male
Hey odakara maarimuthuHey, Marimuthu by the riverbank,
Ottavaayi maarimuthuBlabbermouth Marimuthu,
Oorukkulla vayasupponnungaHow are all the young girls in the village
SowkkiyamaDoing fine?
Male
ArisikkadaRice shop
Aaiyyaavu ponnuAaiyyaavu's daughter,
Aappakkaari annamma ponnuAppam-seller Annamma's daughter,
Javuli vikkum maanikkam ponnuTextile seller Manikkam's daughter,
SowkkiyamaAre they doing fine?
Male
Amman koyil veppamaramThe neem tree at the Amman temple,
Ennaachu ennaachuWhat happened to it, what happened?
Male :Saadhi sanda kalavarathulaMale: In the caste fight and riot,
Rendaachu rendaachuIt got split into two, split into two!
Male
Melatheru karuppaiyaavumMelatheru Karuppaiya
Keezhatheru sevathammaalumAnd Keezhatheru Sevathammal,
Solakkaattu moolaiyilaIn the corner of the cornfield,
Jodiserndha kadhaiyennaachuWhat became of their love story when they paired up?
Male :Mootha ponnu vayasukkuthaanMale: Their elder daughter has come of age,
Vandhaachu vandhaachuShe has indeed, she has indeed!
Male
Matha kadhai enakkedhukkuWhy do I need all these other stories?
Enkuruvi eppadi irukkuHow is my little bird (sweetheart)?
Male : Thaavichellum kuruviMale: The little bird that used to hop around
Innikku dhaavani pottirukkuHas put on a half-saree today!
Male
Hey odakara maarimuthuHey, Marimuthu by the riverbank,
Ottavaayi maarimuthuBlabbermouth Marimuthu,
Oorukkulla vayasupponnungaHow are all the young girls in the village
SowkkiyamaDoing fine?
Male
ArisikkadaRice shop
Aaiyyaavu ponnuAaiyyaavu's daughter,
Aappakkaari annamma ponnuAppam-seller Annamma's daughter,
Javuli vikkum maanikkam ponnuTextile seller Manikkam's daughter,
SowkkiyamaAre they doing fine?
Male
Pazhaiya baakki irukkudhaIs there any old debt left unpaid?
Paiyan manasu thudikkudhaIs the young boy's heart throbbing?
Pazhaiya baakki irukkudhaIs there any old debt left unpaid?
Paiyan manasu thudikkudhaIs the young boy's heart throbbing?
Male
Pattanathu style-ah kandaaJust because you experienced city style,
Pattikkaadu kasandhidumaaWill the countryside become distasteful?
Pallikkooda nenappirukkaeThe memories of school days remain,
Paavi manam marandhidumaaWill this poor heart ever forget them?
Pattuppaavaadaikku nenju thudikkuthuMy heart longs for the silk skirt,
Retta jadai innum kannil midhakkuthuDouble-braided hair still floats before my eyes.
Male
Odakara maarimuthuMarimuthu by the riverbank,
Ottavaayi maarimuthuBlabbermouth Marimuthu,
Oorukkulla vayasupponnungaHow are all the young girls in the village
SowkkiyamaDoing fine?
Male
Ada arisikkadaOh, the rice shop
Aaiyyaavu ponnuAaiyyaavu's daughter,
Aappakkaari annamma ponnuAppam-seller Annamma's daughter,
Javuli vikkum maanikkam ponnuTextile seller Manikkam's daughter,
SowkkiyamaAre they doing fine?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Odakkara Marimuthu' is a high-energy folk track that captures a playful, nostalgic dialogue between a young man returning/inquiring about his village and Marimuthu, the village's well-informed gossip ('Ottavaayi'). The lyrics open with rhythmic, playful nonsense rhymes before diving into a lively catch-up session regarding the village folks, childhood friends, former schoolmates, local feuds, and romantic developments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Pattanathu style-ah kandaa / Pattikkaadu kasandhidumaa

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound across lines creates melodic rhythm.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Aaiyyaavu ponnu / Annamma ponnu / Maanikkam ponnu

Repetition of the word 'ponnu' at the end of consecutive lines creates a playful refrain.

Simile / Metaphor (Uvama)

Aiyo.. paarvaiyila pacha molagaa

Comparing the teacher's sharp, stern gaze directly to a fiery 'pacha molagaa' (green chili).

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Enkuruvi eppadi irukku

Referring to his sweetheart affectionately as 'kuruvi' (little bird/sparrow).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the context specifies 'Unknown' for music director and singers, 'Indira' (1995) was directed by Suhasini Maniratnam with a soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman. This song, 'Odakkara Marimuthu', was sung by Shahul Hameed, Suresh Peters, and Sujatha Radhakrishnan with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song blends traditional rural Tamil folk rhythms with modernized electronic beats.

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