Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Mama Unga Madimel Saayalaama

From Sabash Thambi · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Sabash Thambi
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
14 Jan 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oh mama unga madimel saayalaama
Hoi hoi hoi hoi maama neenga maapillai aagalaama
Kattazhagum pettazhagum
Kanni veitha pottazhagum
Thottavudan thullugindra thogai mayil allavoo
Hoooho mama unga madimel saayalaama
Kanni vandhu padu
Iru kannil vandhu
Ennai konjam thodu
Thoda vetkam vandhaal vidu
Azhagiya maadhu thunai varum bodhu
Aasaiyirundhaal vaa
Hoyi mama unga madimel saayalaama
Moodi konda aadai vazhiye
Odi sendrathu kaatru
Kann bodhai konda paavai nenjam
Paadi kolvadhu paattu
Moodi konda aadai vazhiye
Odi sendrathu kaatru
Kann bodhai konda paavai nenjam
Paadi kolvadhu paattu
Aanai kandu thozhai thazhuva
Aasai kondathu penmai
Sevaazhai thandu dhegam inge
Villaai valindhadhu unmai
Hoyi hoyi mama unga madimel saayalaama
Thanga silayaai thaavi nadanthaai
Angam muluvadhum minna
Konjum vizhiyaal jaadai puruvaai
Kaadhal manadhai pinna
Thanga silayaai thaavi nadanthaai
Angam muluvadhum minna
Mai konjum vizhiyaal jaadai purivaai
Kaadhal manadhai pinna
Enge sorgam endre ketkkum
Kaalai manamae vaa vaa
Adhu ange illai inge endru
Nenjai alli thaa thaa
Oh mama unga madimel saayalaama
Hoi hoi hoi hoi maama neenga maapillai aagalaama
Kattazhagum pettazhagum
Kanni veitha pottazhagum
Thottavudan thullugindra thogai mayil allavoo
Hoooho mama unga madimel saayalaama
Oh darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Hoy hoy hoy hoy darling, won't you become my groom?
A sculpted figure and feminine charm,
And the beauty of the bindi a young girl wears,
Isn't she a dancing peacock that leaps the moment you touch her?
Ho oho darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Come, young girl, and sing,
Come into both my eyes,
Touch me just a little,
If you feel shy to touch, let it be!
When a beautiful woman comes to be your companion,
If you feel desire, come!
Hoyi darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Through the clothes covering the body,
The breeze slipped past and ran,
With intoxicated eyes, this young woman's heart
Sings a song to itself,
Through the clothes covering the body,
The breeze slipped past and ran,
With intoxicated eyes, this young woman's heart
Sings a song to itself,
Seeing the man, longing to embrace his shoulders,
Womanhood was filled with desire,
A body tender as a red banana stem
Truly bent like a bow,
Hoyi hoyi darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Like a golden statue, you pranced and walked,
With your entire body shining bright,
With sweet eyes, you make playful signs,
To entangle a heart in love,
Like a golden statue, you pranced and walked,
With your entire body shining bright,
With kohl-lined sweet eyes, you make playful signs,
To entangle a heart in love,
Asking where heaven is,
O youthful heart, come, come!
Showing that it isn't over there, but right here,
Gather up your heart and give it to me!
Oh darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Hoy hoy hoy hoy darling, won't you become my groom?
A sculpted figure and feminine charm,
And the beauty of the bindi a young girl wears,
Isn't she a dancing peacock that leaps the moment you touch her?
Ho oho darling, can I rest upon your lap?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oh Mama Unga Madimel Saayalaama' from the 1967 spy-thriller film 'Sabash Thambi' is a seductive and playful romantic track sung by L. R. Eswari. The song captures a coy yet confident woman teasing her lover, expressing her desire to rest on his lap and asking flirtatiously if he is ready to marry her. Filled with vivid sensory descriptions, she compares her beauty and grace to a peacock, a golden statue, and a soft bow bending in passion. Set to S. M. Subbaih Naidu's upbeat, seductive rhythm and written by Vaali, the song showcases classic 1960s Tamil club-dance aesthetics. The lyrics weave romantic yearning with bold romantic invitations, assuring her partner that true heaven isn't somewhere far away, but right here in their passionate embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Oh mama unga madimel saayalaama / Hoi hoi hoi hoi maama neenga maapillai aagalaama”

The line endings 'saayalaama' and 'aagalaama' rhyme, creating a playful, musical cadence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kattazhagum pettazhagum / Kanni veitha pottazhagum”

The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across 'Kattazhagum', 'pettazhagum', and 'pottazhagum'.

Simile (Upamai)

“Sevaazhai thandu dhegam inge / Villaai valindhadhu unmai”

The lyrics explicitly compare the heroine's smooth, supple body to a red banana stem ('Sevaazhai thandu') and its flexibility to a bent bow ('Villaai valindhadhu').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Thottavudan thullugindra thogai mayil allavoo”

The maiden is directly metaphorized as a feathered peacock ('thogai mayil') that prances upon being touched.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sabash Thambi' (1967) is an action-thriller starring Jaishankar, who was fondly known as the 'James Bond of South India'. L. R. Eswari's energetic, flirtatious rendition of 'Oh Mama Unga Madimel Saayalaama' became one of the standalone musical highlights of the film, capitalizing on her reputation as the premier playback singer for glamorous dance numbers in 1960s and 70s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Ichchu Thariyia2004
AethireePlayful RomanceDesire
Unnaithan Enni Varukindren1980
Maria My DarlingCourtshipDesire
Thendral Vandhu1967
PanthayamDesireAttraction
Singalathu Chinnakuyile1986
Punnagai MannanCourtshipPlayful Romance
Raajayya En Melae1979
Vallavan VarukiranCourtshipPlayful Romance
Endhan Paarvayin1962
Sumai ThangiCourtshipPlayful

From the same album

More songs from Sabash Thambi

View album
Polish Boot Polish1967
Sabash ThambiPlayful
Clutchai Mithichi1967
Sabash ThambiPlayful
Aambala Singame1967
Sabash ThambiPlayful
Sabash Thambi1967
Sabash ThambiCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.