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
Details
Sabash Thambi1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oh mama unga madimel saayalaamaOh dear, can I lean on your lap?
Hoi hoi hoi hoi maama neenga maapillai aagalaamaHoi hoi hoi hoi dear, can you become the groom?
Kattazhagum pettazhagumGreat beauty and feminine charm,
Kanni veitha pottazhagumThe beauty of the bindi worn by the maiden,
Thottavudan thullugindra thogai mayil allavooIsn't she a peacock with spread feathers that leaps as soon as touched?
Hoooho mama unga madimel saayalaamaHoooho dear, can I lean on your lap?
Female
Kanni vandhu paduMaiden, come and lie down,
Iru kannil vandhuComing through both eyes,
Ennai konjam thoduTouch me a little,
Thoda vetkam vandhaal viduIf you feel shy to touch, leave it,
Azhagiya maadhu thunai varum bodhuWhen a beautiful lady comes as your companion,
Aasaiyirundhaal vaaIf you have desire, come!
Hoyi mama unga madimel saayalaamaHoyi dear, can I lean on your lap?
Female
Moodi konda aadai vazhiyeThrough the clothes that draped her,
Odi sendrathu kaatruThe wind rushed past,
Kann bodhai konda paavai nenjamThe maiden's heart intoxicated by her eyes,
Paadi kolvadhu paattuIs singing a song to itself,
Moodi konda aadai vazhiyeThrough the clothes that draped her,
Odi sendrathu kaatruThe wind rushed past,
Kann bodhai konda paavai nenjamThe maiden's heart intoxicated by her eyes,
Paadi kolvadhu paattuIs singing a song to itself,
Female
Aanai kandu thozhai thazhuvaSeeing the man, desiring to embrace his shoulders,
Aasai kondathu penmaiWomanhood desired,
Sevaazhai thandu dhegam ingeHere, a body like a red banana stem,
Villaai valindhadhu unmaiIt is true that it bent like a bow!
Hoyi hoyi mama unga madimel saayalaamaHoyi hoyi dear, can I lean on your lap?
Female
Thanga silayaai thaavi nadanthaaiYou walked prancing like a golden statue,
Angam muluvadhum minnaWith your entire body shimmering,
Konjum vizhiyaal jaadai puruvaaiMake gestures with coaxing eyes,
Kaadhal manadhai pinnaTo weave a heart of love,
Thanga silayaai thaavi nadanthaaiYou walked prancing like a golden statue,
Angam muluvadhum minnaWith your entire body shimmering,
Mai konjum vizhiyaal jaadai purivaaiMake gestures with kohl-adorned coaxing eyes,
Kaadhal manadhai pinnaTo weave a heart of love,
Female
Enge sorgam endre ketkkumAsking 'Where is heaven?',
Kaalai manamae vaa vaaOh youthful heart, come, come!
Adhu ange illai inge endruSaying it is not over there, but right here,
Nenjai alli thaa thaaGather and offer your heart!
Female
Oh mama unga madimel saayalaamaOh dear, can I lean on your lap?
Hoi hoi hoi hoi maama neenga maapillai aagalaamaHoi hoi hoi hoi dear, can you become the groom?
Kattazhagum pettazhagumGreat beauty and feminine charm,
Kanni veitha pottazhagumThe beauty of the bindi worn by the maiden,
Thottavudan thullugindra thogai mayil allavooIsn't she a peacock with spread feathers that leaps as soon as touched?
Hoooho mama unga madimel saayalaamaHoooho dear, can I lean on your lap?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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

More from Sabash Thambi