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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Onnu Rendu Moonuda

From Pudhiya Mannargal · 1994

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Pudhiya Mannargal1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Onnu rendu moonudaaOne, two, three, man!
Ponnugala paarudaLook at the girls!
Engala jeyicha aambalainga yaarudaWho are the men that can defeat us?
Female
Onnu rendu moonudaaOne, two, three, man!
Ponnugala paarudaLook at the girls!
Engala jeyicha aambalainga yaarudaWho are the men that can defeat us?
Female
Vaa vaa idha oththukkoCome, come, accept this!
Modhaama othippoStep aside without picking a fight!
College-la suththuna suththunaWandering around college,
Gumbalil kaththunaShouting in crowds,
Kaasa kotti neeyum angaePouring money down the drain there,
Padichadhenna mudichadhennaWhat did you study? What did you accomplish?
Padichchu mudichu dhinamAfter finishing your studies daily,
Kizhicha kadhaiyumennaWhat great feat did you actually achieve?
Purinjikkada therinjikkadaUnderstand this and know this, man,
Pudavai neelathulaCompared to the length of a saree,
Vaetti paadhi endruA dhoti is only half as long!
Male
Onnu rendu moonudiOne, two, three, girl!
Aambalaiya paaradiLook at the men!
Engala jeyicha pombalainga yaaradiWho are the women that can defeat us?
Male
Vaa vaa idha oththukkoCome, come, accept this!
Modhaama othippoStep aside without picking a fight!
College-la suththuna suththunaWandering around college,
Gumbalil kaththunaShouting in crowds,
Kaasa kotti neeyum angaePouring money down the drain there,
Padichadhenna mudichadhennaWhat did you study? What did you accomplish?
Padichchu mudichu dhinamAfter finishing your studies daily,
Kizhicha kadhaiyumennaWhat great feat did you actually achieve?
Evanukkumae initial-ahFor anyone, as an initial,
Mudhalil ezhudhuvadhuThe name that is written first,
Thagappen peru kannuIs the father's name, dear!
Female
Aaa…aaa…aaaa..Aaa…aaa…aaaa..
Aaa….aaa…aaa..aa…aaa..Aaa….aaa…aaa..aa…aaa..
Aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa….Aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa….
Odivarum yamunai vaigai adhumThe flowing Yamuna and Vaigai rivers,
Engal penn inamae adhai kettukkoBelong to our women's kind, hear that!
Male
Oor vidiya suttrum sooriyanumThe sun that circles to bring daylight,
Engal aan inamae adhai yethukkoBelongs to our men's kind, accept that!
Female
Oru pathu maadham veithuCarrying you for ten months,
Ingu unnai peththu pottavaThe one who gave birth to you here,
Avalum or ponnu endruWas also a woman,
Neeyum oththukkoYou too accept that!
Male
Adi podi thandhai indriHey girl, without a father,
Annai aavadheppadiHow can anyone become a mother?
Adikkaadhae andhar baltiDon't do verbal gymnastics!
Vaaya poottu eeya ottuZip your mouth and keep quiet!
Pazhangkadhaiya purinjikkadiUnderstand ancient history, girl!
Adi adhaam yevaalHey, regarding Adam and Eve,
Yaaridhu mudhal endruWho came first?
Koovuvadhu sevaladiIt is the rooster that crows, girl!
Kozhiyendru adhaiTo turn that into a hen,
MaattriyadhaenadiWhy did you change history, girl?
Male
Onnu rendu moonudiOne, two, three, girl!
Aambalaiya paaradiLook at the men!
Engala jeyicha pombalainga yaaradiWho are the women that can defeat us?
Male
Vaa vaa idha oththukkoCome, come, accept this!
Modhaama othippoStep aside without picking a fight!
College-la suththuna suththunaWandering around college,
Gumbalil kaththunaShouting in crowds,
Kaasa kotti neeyum angaePouring money down the drain there,
Padichadhenna mudichadhennaWhat did you study? What did you accomplish?
Padichchu mudichu dhinamAfter finishing your studies daily,
Kizhicha kadhaiyumennaWhat great feat did you actually achieve?
Evanukkumae initial-ahFor anyone, as an initial,
Mudhalil ezhudhuvadhuThe name that is written first,
Thagappen peru kannuIs the father's name, dear!
Female
Onnu rendu moonudaaOne, two, three, man!
Ponnugala paarudaLook at the girls!
Engala jeyicha aambalainga yaarudaWho are the men that can defeat us?
Male
Jeans galilIn jeans,
Baggie pant-galilIn baggie pants,
Adi aangalai pol varumComing dressed up like men,
Marmam yenWhy this mystery?
Female
Selaigalai suttrumHovering around sarees,
VaalugalinTo counter the bad looks,
Ketta paarvaigalaiOf those rogue guys,
Konjam maattrathaanJust to change that a bit!
Male
Haei…Hey…
Ilai vaithu moodikkondaalEven if covered with a leaf,
Kaniyin vaasam maraiyaadhuThe fragrance of a fruit won't hide!
Adi pennae meesai vaikkaHey girl, growing a mustache,
Unnaal mudiyaadhuIs something you cannot do!
Female
Veeramdhaan vetti thallumBravery does not reside,
Meesaikkullae kidaiyaadhuJust within a mustache you cut and trim!
Mudi veru moolai veruHair is different, brain power is different,
Oorudhorum kettu paaruGo ask around in every town!
Female
Araikoraiyae neeYou half-baked fellow,
ThirundhanundaYou ought to reform!
Thirundhalannaa pinbuIf you don't reform, later,
Varundhanum varundhanumYou will regret it, you will regret it!
Porakkaiyilae buthi irukkanundaOne must have intelligence at birth, man!
Irukkalanna adhaiIf you don't have it,
Valakkanum valakkanumYou must cultivate it, cultivate it!
Female
Onnu rendu moonudaaOne, two, three, man!
Ponnugala paarudaLook at the girls!
Engala jeyicha aambalainga yaarudaWho are the men that can defeat us?
Female
Vaa vaa idha oththukkoCome, come, accept this!
Modhaama othippoStep aside without picking a fight!
College-la suththuna suththunaWandering around college,
Gumbalil kaththunaShouting in crowds,
Kaasa kotti neeyum angaePouring money down the drain there,
Padichadhenna mudichadhennaWhat did you study? What did you accomplish?
Padichchu mudichu dhinamAfter finishing your studies daily,
Kizhicha kadhaiyumennaWhat great feat did you actually achieve?
Purinjikkada therinjikkadaUnderstand this and know this, man,
Pudavai neelathulaCompared to the length of a saree,
Vaetti paadhi endruA dhoti is only half as long!
Female
Onnu rendu moonudaaOne, two, three, man!
Ponnugala paarudaLook at the girls!
Engala jeyicha aambalainga yaarudaWho are the men that can defeat us?
Male
Onnu rendu moonudiOne, two, three, girl!
Aambalaiya paaradiLook at the men!
Engala jeyicha pombalainga yaaradiWho are the women that can defeat us?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Onnu Rendu Moonudaa' from the 1994 film Pudhiya Mannargal is a playful, high-energy college duet representing a battle of the sexes between young men and women. The girls start off asserting their superiority, poking fun at the boys' lack of serious focus in college and highlighting symbolic comparisons like the grandeur of sarees versus dhotis. In response, the boys counter with traditional perspectives, citing paternal naming traditions and biological roles in creation to assert their standing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Onnu rendu moonudaa / Ponnugala paaruda

The second consonant sound 'n' ('nnu' / 'nnu') rhymes across consecutive lines, providing rhythmic symmetry.

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

Padichadhenna mudichadhenna / Padichchu mudichu dhinam

The initial sound 'Pa' repeats at the beginning of adjacent line phrases, establishing alliteration.

Metaphor

Pudavai neelathula / Vaetti paadhi endru

The lyricist metaphorically compares the length and status of traditional attire (saree vs. dhoti) to argue cultural weight.

Irony / Sarcasm

Padichchu mudichu dhinam / Kizhicha kadhaiyumenna

Colloquial sarcasm ('kizhicha kadhai') is used to mock academic credentials and superficial accomplishments.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt lists the music director as unknown, 'Pudhiya Mannargal' features a soundtrack composed by Oscar-winner A. R. Rahman, with lyrics written by Kalidasan, Vairamuthu, and Palani Bharathi. This dynamic youth track 'Onnu Rendu Moonudaa' was sung by Mano and Swarnalatha, showcasing Rahman's energetic fusion of modern beats and catchy college banter during his iconic mid-90s era.

Keep listening

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