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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Babiyo Paavaiyo

From Sambavam · 1991

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sambavam1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ooh baby-yo paavaiyo i love youOoh baby or maiden, I love you
Nee bommaiyo unmaiyo i love youAre you a doll or reality, I love you
Adi taappu un shape-u thaan i love youHey, your figure is top-notch, I love you
En thaabamo paavamo i love youIs it my longing or my sin? I love you
Thevai edhuvo thevan madiyoWhat is the need? Is it God's lap?
Naan anaikka vaadum kiliyaeO parrot who wilts when I embrace you
Male
Ooh baby-yo paavaiyo i love youOoh baby or maiden, I love you
Nee bommaiyo unmaiyo i love youAre you a doll or reality, I love you
Adi taappu un shape-u thaan i love youHey, your figure is top-notch, I love you
En thaabamo paavamo i love youIs it my longing or my sin? I love you
Male
Pagalum raappozhuthum ninaiththaal nenjinikkumThinking of day and night sweetens the heart
Ilamai varumo eppavumWill youth stay with us forever?
Ilam pen orr naalil manam pen aagaathoWon't a young girl's mind become a bride's mind one day?
Pillaiyum kuttiyum perugumChildren and family will grow
Male
Preparation indri exam-kku ponaalIf you go to an exam without preparation
Pass-o fail-o ennadiWhether you pass or fail, who cares, my girl?
Adhupol inum anupavam undaagaSimilarly, to gain more experience
Ammani kadhal seiyaadiGo ahead and fall in love, my lady
Male
Antha kelviyum paadamum orr same vieThat question and lesson are one and the same
Oo poongili porkili i love youOh flower parrot, golden parrot, I love you
Nenjam nesikkum manjam malarmanjamThe bed that the heart loves, a floral bed
Saerum yaarkkum santhosam saerkkumBrings happiness to whoever joins together
Male
Baby-yo paavaiyo i love youBaby or maiden, I love you
Nee bommaiyo unmaiyo i love youAre you a doll or reality, I love you
Adi taappu un shape-u thaan i love youHey, your figure is top-notch, I love you
En thaabamo paavamo i love youIs it my longing or my sin? I love you
Thevai edhuvo thevan madiyoWhat is the need? Is it God's lap?
Naan anaikka vaadum kiliyaeO parrot who wilts when I embrace you
Male
Baby-yo paavaiyo i love youBaby or maiden, I love you
Nee bommaiyo unmaiyo i love youAre you a doll or reality, I love you
Adi taappu un shape-u thaan i love youHey, your figure is top-notch, I love you
Male
Adi sebastian masterkkuHey, for Sebastian Master
Sarala madam thaan pappaa rappapaa lalaa haanSarala Madam is the match, pappaa rappapaa lalaa haan
Chemistry seethaavum kumaasthaa gururaavumChemistry Seetha and Clerk Gururao
Sight-um letter-um adadaa…Exchanging glances and love letters, Oh my!
Male
Guruvum pon vandaai urugum college-ilWhen teachers melt like golden beetles in college
Payamaen manathil ammaadi haanWhy should there be fear in your heart, my girl? Ah!
Mother-um father kai nithamum anaichchaangaMother and father embraced each other daily
Piranthom adhanaal kiliyaeAnd that is why we were born, my parrot
Male
Haei thaenkani maangani i love youHey sweet fruit, mango fruit, I love you
Nee anthimaalai sundari i love youYou are the beauty of the twilight evening, I love you
Pullimaan nee endrum mullai poovendruCalling you a spotted deer, a jasmine flower
Thendral theenda vanthaal aagaathu selladiIf the breeze comes to touch you, it won't do, go away
Female
PokkiriYou rascal!
Ho thevaiyo romiyo i hate youHo, needy Romeo, I hate you
Enna moonjiyo kangali i hate youWhat a face! What eyes! I hate you
Nee mannano seemaano i hate youAre you a king or a lord? I hate you
Hae naattamo naattam i hate youHey, what an attitude! I hate you
Aanmai thimiro thaaba thudippoWhether it is male arrogance or throbbing desire
Modha nenaichchaa naanga readythaanIf you want to clash, we are ready!
Female
Thevaiyo romiyo i hate youNeedy Romeo, I hate you
Male :Baby-yo paavaiyo i love youMale: Baby or maiden, I love you
Female :Hae naattamo naattam i hate youFemale: Hey, what an attitude, I hate you!
Male: Adi taappu un shape-u thaan i love you….Male: Hey, your figure is top-notch, I love you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful track from 'Sambavam' (1991) is a romantic duet capturing a spirited conversation between a young man expressing his passionate love and a young woman jokingly pushing back against his overtures. The lyrics blend college culture, contemporary slang, and romantic tropes, contrasting the young man's energetic persuasion with the woman's witty retorts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)

Nee bommaiyo unmaiyo i love you

The second letter 'm' in 'bommaiyo' and 'unmaiyo' rhymes, creating a rhythmic Ethugai sound.

Monai (First letter rhyming)

Nenjam nesikkum manjam malarmanjam

The repetition of the initial consonant sounds 'Ne-' in 'Nenjam' and 'nesikkum' serves as Monai/Alliteration.

Metaphor

Haei thaenkani maangani i love you

The lyricist metaphorically compares the female lead to sweet honey-fruit ('thaenkani') and mango-fruit ('maangani').

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oo poongili porkili i love you

The words 'poongili' and 'porkili' share identical end sounds, creating internal end-rhyme.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned lyricist Vairamuthu for the 1991 film 'Sambavam', the song reflects early 1990s Tamil college culture by mixing English slang with Tamil folk rhythms.

Keep listening

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