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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oho Lady Old Body

From Pani Malar · 1981

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Pani Malar1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaaShe walked in gracefully like a stylish lady
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaa haaShe walked in gracefully, haa
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'
Male
Oii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikkaOii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikka (Rhythmic beat)
Sabaikku vandhaadi…She came dancing to the assembly...
Oii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikkaOii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikka (Rhythmic beat)
Sabaikku vandhaadi…She came dancing to the assembly...
Aa pakkiri machaan paarthuputtuAh, seeing her, cousin Pakkiri
Mayangi ninnanadiStood there completely spellbound, my dear
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaaShe walked in gracefully like a stylish lady
Vandhaa vandhaaShe came, she came
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'
Male
…………….[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
{Aal illaadha thottathilaeIn an empty garden where no one is around
Apple pazham irukkudhuThere is an apple fruit
Adichu pudichu kadichu paarkkaTo snatch it eagerly and bite into it
Aiyaa kannu thudikkudhu} (2)The man's eyes are twitching with anticipation
Male
{Vayasupulla manasukulla kaadhalichaanHe fell in love in his young heart
Ilasu ponnu naisu panna kannadichaan} (2)He winked to flatter the young girl
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaa aaShe walked in gracefully, aa
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'
Male
{Poovattamma nadai thaerottammaHer walk is light like a flower, grand like a temple chariot
Madhavaram paalattamaPure like Madhavaram milk
Pandhattama inga vandhaadammaaShe came playing like a bouncing ball here
Pallavaram pakkam vaamma} (2)Come towards Pallavaram, girl
Male
Maan irukku meen irukku mai vizhikullaeDeer and fish reside within her kohl-lined eyes
Thaenirukku kaattukkullae vaadi pullaeThere is honey inside the forest, come along girl
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaa ha aa aaShe walked in gracefully, ha aa aa
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraal ho ooShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!' ho oo
Male
…………………….[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
{Thandhanathom thagathinathomThandhanathom thagathinathom (Rhythmic beat)
Thaalam poda solludhuIt prompts us to keep the rhythm
Thalukki kulukki minikki vandhaaWhen she arrives dolled up, swaying and glittering
Veeram ellam odudhu} (2)All bravery runs away
Male
Koottukullae kuyilirundhu paadidumaaWill a cuckoo sing from inside a cage?
Paatukkullae porul irukku paathukkamma ammaThere is deep meaning inside the song, watch out dear girl
Koottukullae kuyilirundhu paadidumaaWill a cuckoo sing from inside a cage?
Paatukkullae porul irukku paathukkammaThere is deep meaning inside the song, watch out dear girl
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaaShe walked in gracefully like a stylish lady
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'
Male
Oii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikkaOii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikka (Rhythmic beat)
Sabaikku vandhaadi…She came dancing to the assembly...
Oii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikkaOii dikkiri tikka dikkri tikka (Rhythmic beat)
Sabaikku vandhaadi…She came dancing to the assembly...
Aa pakkiri machaan paarthuputtuAh, seeing her, cousin Pakkiri
Mayangi ninnanadiStood there completely spellbound, my dear
Male
Oho old lady old bodyOho, old lady with an old body
Oiyaramma nadanthu vandhaaShe walked in gracefully like a stylish lady
Vandhaa vandhaaShe came, she came
Rold gold nagaiyai potttuWearing rolled-gold jewelry
Kumari ponnu naan dhaan endraalShe claimed, 'I am a young maiden!'

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted and comical Tamil folk-pop song pokes humor at an elderly woman attempting to present herself as a young maiden using imitation jewelry and grand walk postures. The narrator humorously describes her antics, her attempts at charm, and the bewildered reaction of onlookers like cousin Pakkiri.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Maan irukku meen irukku mai vizhikullae

Comparing her kohl-lined eyes to deer and fish ('Maan irukku meen irukku mai vizhikullae').

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Emonae)

Thalukki kulukki minikki vandhaa

Use of internal rhythmic rhyming words such as 'Thalukki kulukki minikki' enhancing the playful folk rhythm.

Code-mixing / Loan Words

Oho old lady old body

Blending English phrases ('old lady old body', 'Rold gold') directly into Tamil lyrics for comedic folk effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Muthulingam for the 1981 film 'Pani Malar', the song makes liberal use of Madras Tamil slang and local place names like Madhavaram and Pallavaram to create a catchy, urban folk flavor.

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