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Lyrics & meaning

Onna Irunthathu Onbatha

From Simma Soppanam · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Simma Soppanam1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Onnaa irunthathu onbathaa theriyuthuWhat was one now appears as nine to me
En melae kuththamillaeIt is not my fault
Adi ippo naan suththamillaeHey, right now I am not sober
Melae irupathu melae theriyuthuWhat is above appears above
Keezhae iruppathu melae theriyuthuWhat is below also appears above
Melae irupathu melae theriyuthuWhat is above appears above
Keezhae iruppathu melae theriyuthuWhat is below also appears above
Male
Onnaa irunthathu onbathaa theriyuthaaDoes what was one appear as nine?
En mele kuththmilleaIt is not my fault
Adi ippo naan suthamillaeHey, right now I am not sober
Male
Thanjaavurkaran thannilae koodaA man from Thanjavur, even when in liquor
Sangeedham paaduvaandiWill sing music, my girl
Sarigamapamagari sarigamapamagari sarigamapamagariSa-ri-ga-ma-pa-ma-ga-ri sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-ma-ga-ri sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-ma-ga-ri
Thanjaavurkaran thannilae koodaA man from Thanjavur, even when in liquor
Sangeedham paaduvaandiWill sing music, my girl
Ponjaathi mugaththa poovaaga nenachchuSeeing his wife's face as a flower
Vandaaga aaduvaandiHe will dance around like a honeybee, my girl
Male
Kalla kudichchthum thulli kudhikkuthuEven after drinking toddy, my heart leaps and jumps
Kattilaraiyilae mettu padikkuthuIt sings a tune inside the bedroom
Manja kulichchava nenja anaikuthuThe girl bathed in turmeric embraces my chest
Aththai magalukku meththai virikkuthu….Laying out a bed for my cousin...
Ammaadiyov….Oh my goodness...
Mel moochchu vaanguthadi en keezh moochu yaenguthdiI am gasping for breath, and my lower breath yearns
Male
Onnaa irunthathu onbathaa theriyuthuWhat was one now appears as nine
En melae kuththmillaeIt is not my fault
Adi ippo naan suththamillaeHey, right now I am not sober
Male
Kasthuri maane kaaveri meenaeOh musk deer, oh Kaveri fish
Katcheri vaikkalaamaaShall we host a music concert?
Needhandi enakku naiyaandi melamYou are the lighthearted mock-drum beats to my rhythm
Thattaama nikkalaamaShall we stand together without missing a beat?
Male
Kasthuri maane kaaveri meenaeOh musk deer, oh Kaveri fish
Katcheri vaikkalaamaaShall we host a music concert?
Needhandi enakku naiyaandi melamYou are the lighthearted mock-drum beats to my rhythm
Thattaama nikkalaamaShall we stand together without missing a beat?
Male
Alli mudikkira kondai irukkuthuThere is hair gathered neatly into a bun
Aadi kulungira thandai irukuthuThere are anklets jingling as you sway
Killi parikkira aasai porakkuthuA yearning arises to pluck and savor
Kattabompanukku meesa silirkkuthuKattabomman's mustache bristles with pride
Male
Alli mudikkira kondai irukkuthuThere is hair gathered neatly into a bun
Aadi kulungira thandai irukuthuThere are anklets jingling as you sway
Killi parikkira aasai porakkuthuA yearning arises to pluck and savor
Kattspombanukku meesa silirkkuthuKattabomman's mustache bristles with pride
Yedhedho aachchuthadi udambu sooderi pochchuthadiOh, all sorts of things happened, my body has heated up
Male
Onnaa irunthathu onbathaa theriyuthaaDoes what was one appear as nine?
En mele kuththmilleaIt is not my fault
Adi ippo naan suthamillaeHey, right now I am not sober
Male
Onnaa irunthathu onbathaa theriyuthaaDoes what was one appear as nine?
En mele kuththmilleaIt is not my fault
Adi ippo naan suthamillaeHey, right now I am not sober

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Onnaa Irunthathu Onbathaa Theriyuthu' is a lively, humorous song sung from the perspective of an intoxicated protagonist who lightheartedly blames alcohol for his blurred vision and giddy romantic mood. He boasts about his roots in Thanjavur—a land famous for its rich classical music heritage—joking that even when completely drunk ('thannilae'), a native of Thanjavur never forgets how to sing or woo his beloved. Throughout the track, the song blends folk rhythm and classical solfege (swaras) as the protagonist playfully praises his lover's traditional beauty, anklets, and charm. Sung with energetic theatricality by T. M. Soundararajan and composed by K. V. Mahadevan, the song captures a joyful, lighthearted interaction filled with clever puns and folk expressions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

Melae irupathu melae theriyuthu / Keezhae iruppathu melae theriyuthu

Contrasts 'Melae' (above) and 'Keezhae' (below) to vividly convey the disorienting, dizzy effect of intoxication.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Ponjaathi mugaththa poovaaga nenachchu / Vandaaga aaduvaandi

Metaphorically compares the wife's face to a blooming flower ('poovaaga') and the husband to a bee ('vandaaga') hovering around it.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Kasthuri maane kaaveri meenae

End-rhyming words 'maane' (deer) and 'meenae' (fish) create a rhythmic, musical cadence in poetic address.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Alli mudikkira kondai irukkuthu / Aadi kulungira thandai irukuthu

Matching initial vowel sounds 'A' ('Alli' and 'Aadi') at the start of consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song playfully uses the wordplay 'thannilae' (which literally means 'in water', but colloquially refers to being under the influence of liquor) to connect Thanjavur's legendary music tradition with the singer's drunken state. Simma Soppanam (1984) starred Sivaji Ganesan, Prabhu, Radha, and Saritha, with music composed by the veteran 'Thirai Isai Thilagam' K. V. Mahadevan.

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