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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oor Ellam Pakkum

From Nalla Naal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nalla Naal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!
Themmaangu paada thottukittu aadaTo sing folk tunes and dance holding each other,
Vachukittaa ponnu vera edam onnuIf I am to keep a woman, I need a different place!
Female
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!
Female
Maamen illaama thaanWithout my dear beloved nearby,
Indha mainaa thindaadudhuThis Myna bird is struggling.
Machaan um mela thaanOnly upon you, my dear,
Oru mayakkam kondaadudhuA spell of intoxication is celebrating.
Female
Arinjukka purinjukkaKnow this, understand this,
Adhukku thaan therinjukkaLearn it just for that reason!
Arinjukka purinjukkaKnow this, understand this,
Adhukku thaan therinjukkaLearn it just for that reason!
Female
Naan vandhu nikkattaShall I come and stand before you,
Atha nee kandu sokka thaanSo you can look at me and be mesmerized?
Aanandham en kittaHappiness lies with me,
Adhu aarambam un kittaAnd its beginning is with you!
Vaaren thaaren konjam summaa iruI am coming, I am giving, just stay still for a bit!
Female
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!
Themmaangu paada thottukittu aadaTo sing folk tunes and dance holding each other,
Vachukittaa ponnu vera edam onnuIf I am to keep a woman, I need a different place!
Female
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!
Female
Naethu raavoda thaanOnly since last night,
Un nenappu undaachudhuThoughts of you arose.
Kaatthu poovoda thaanLike the wind with a flower,
Ippo kalandhu onnaachudhuNow it has mingled and become one.
Female
Odambu thaan karumbu thaanHer body is indeed sweet sugarcane,
Vaai vedicha arumbu thaanHer mouth is a blooming flower bud!
Odambu thaan karumbu thaanHer body is indeed sweet sugarcane,
Vaai vedicha arumbu thaanHer mouth is a blooming flower bud!
Female
Vaa machaan kattikkaCome, my dear, embrace me,
Konjam nee enna ottikkaStick close to me for a bit!
Mogaththa theethukkaSatisfy your desire,
Adha theekkuren paathukkaWatch as I fulfill it!
Acham vetkam konjam pogattumLet fear and shyness vanish for a while!
Female
Mhumhum venaa venaaMmh-mmh, no, no!
Oorellaam paakkum paakkumThe whole town will watch, will watch!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil folk song depicts a lighthearted romantic dialogue between lovers. The heroine teasingly resists public displays of affection, pointing out that 'the whole town is watching' and suggesting they seek a private spot for their romance. Meanwhile, the hero woos her with affectionate compliments and romantic coaxing, expressing how deeply intoxicated he is by her presence. As the song progresses, the tone shifts into romantic yearning filled with vivid folk metaphors, comparing the heroine's grace and sweetness to sugarcane and blooming buds. Lyricist Vaali masterfully combines rural idiom, playful teasing, and romantic intimacy to create an energetic duet that captures the charm of classic Tamil film music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Arinjukka purinjukka / Adhukku thaan therinjukka

The repetitive '-ukka' verbal suffixes at the end of adjacent phrases create an energetic rhythmic end-rhyme (Iyaipu).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Odambu thaan karumbu thaan / Vaai vedicha arumbu thaan

Directly compares the lover's body to sweet sugarcane and her mouth/lips to a blooming flower bud without using explicit comparative conjunctions.

Personification / Metaphor

Indha mainaa thindaadudhu

Refers to the heroine metaphorically as a 'Mainaa' (Myna bird) struggling in love.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Aanandham en kitta / Adhu aarambam un kitta

The repetition of the initial vowel sound 'Aa' in 'Aanandham' and 'aarambam' provides melodic alliteration (Monai).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nalla Naal' (1984) starred Vijayakanth and Thiagarajan in lead roles with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics were penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali, who was renowned for crafting catchy, rhythmically infectious folk duets that blended everyday spoken idioms with rich poetic imagery.

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