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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ooran Potta Thottathile

From Magizhampoo · 1969

Lyricist
V. Lakshmanan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, A. P. Komala
Music director
D. B. Ramachandran
Details
Magizhampoo1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaloolam aaloolamAaloolam aaloolam (shooing birds call)
Ooraan potta thottathilaeIn the garden planted by someone else
Uzhudhu vedacha maathiriyaeAs if ploughed and sown
Ooraan potta thottathilaeIn the garden planted by someone else
Uzhudhu vedacha maathiriyaeAs if ploughed and sown
Kadhira ellaam kothuriyaeYou peck at all the ears of grain
Kalla kanda kathuriyaeOh musk-scented lady who looks like a stone
Female
Aaloolam aaloolamAaloolam aaloolam
Female
Kaayatha kaanagathaeIn the unwithering forest
Nindru ulavum kaarigaiyaeOh maiden who wanders around standing tall
Saayadha kombudanumWith unyielding horns
Thaththum nadaiyudanumAnd a galloping gait
Maan vandhatha …maan vandhathaDid a deer come... did a deer come?
Meiyaadha maan vandhathaDid a non-grazing deer come?
Thamizh maan vandhathaDid a Tamil deer come?
Female
Madhuvendra kudam rendu thudikkumTwo pots of honey throb
Kannil iru vandu siragindri parakkumIn the eyes, two wingless bees fly
Chinna nadhiyondru udalendru nadikkumA small river pretends to be a body
Adhan nadaiyundhaan nadai pola irukkumAnd its gait itself is like a grand stride
Maan vandhatha …Did a deer come...
Meiyaadha maan vandhathaDid a non-grazing deer come?
Thamizh maan vandhathaDid a Tamil deer come?
Female
Kambhu thinaiyum vilaiyum idangalilIn places where pearl millet and foxtail millet grow
Kombhu thaen theduriyaAre you searching for branch honey?
Kambhu thinaiyum vilaiyum idangalilIn places where pearl millet and foxtail millet grow
Kombhu thaen theduriyaAre you searching for branch honey?
Idhai naan nambanum engiraayaaDo you want me to believe this?
Oru vambhu varum mundhi thambhi neeBefore trouble comes, brother, you...
Appadi konjam vilaguriyaMove away a little bit like that
Oru vambhu varum mundhi thambhi neeBefore trouble comes, brother, you...
Appadi konjam vilaguriyaMove away a little bit like that
Unakku nenjil bayamillaiyaaDon't you have fear in your heart?
Unakku nenjil bayamillaiyaaDon't you have fear in your heart?
Female
Thondu kizhavan ennai kanduSeeing me, an old servant/sage
Pon vandu kumariyargal vandhuGolden bee-like young women come
Nattu thinaiyum thaenum thandhuOffer country millet and honey
Kaiyai kaatti kuriyum kettpathunduShow their palms and ask for palmistry predictions
Female
Nalla nalla regai odudhuGood lines are running
Amma kaiyil nalla nalla regai odudhuGood lines are running on the lady's hand
Naan sonnadhu nadakka poguthuWhat I said is going to happen
Nalla nalla regai odudhuGood lines are running
Female
Regaiyum thirumana regaiyumLine of fortune and line of marriage
Nalla mana regaiyum anbu guna regaiyumGood mind line and loving character line
Udan ingu nalla nalla regai odudhuTogether here good lines are running
Amma kaiyil nalla nalla regai odudhuGood lines are running on the lady's hand
Female
Thaagam kuraindhadhuMy thirst has lessened
Thaagam kuraindhadhu valli kuramagalaeMy thirst has lessened, oh Valli, daughter of the Kuravas
Adi vanna siru kiliyaeOh colorful little parrot
Konda mogamum naan vandha vegamumThe passion I held and the speed at which I came
Maathiram innum kuraiyalaiyaeOnly that hasn't diminished yet
Unakku ennam puriyalaiyaeYou don't understand the thought
Enakkum solla theriyalaiyaeAnd I don't know how to explain it either
Unakku ennam puriyalaiyaeYou don't understand the thought
Enakkum solla theriyalaiyaeAnd I don't know how to explain it either
Female
Vayasukku thaguntha padi padungaSing according to your age
Thaatha padunga aasa padungaGrandfather, sing and desire within limits
Unga vaaliba ennangala vidungaLeave your youthful thoughts aside
Udhari vidunga kaiyai vidungaShake it off and let go of my hand
Female
Ennai kandu enna bayamaAre you afraid seeing me?
Pazham thannai kizhi veruthidumaaWill a parrot hate the fruit itself?
Ennai kandu enna bayamaAre you afraid seeing me?
Pazham thannai kizhi veruthidumaaWill a parrot hate the fruit itself?
Ada ne enna periya yaanaiyaaHey, are you some big elephant?
Ennai nimmadhiyaa konjam neram vidaiyaaLeave me in peace for a little while
Ada ne enna periya yaanaiyaaHey, are you some big elephant?
Ennai nimmadhiyaa konjam neram vidaiyaaLeave me in peace for a little while
Female
Ellamae naanendru enni unai maranthuThinking everything is 'I' and forgetting oneself
Sollaamal vandha thuyar poruthuEnduring the unsaid sorrow that arrived
Annaa nee vikkinangal theerthuOh Lord Ganesh, clear all obstacles
Virumbum manam mudikka ikkanamae ingae ezhuTo marry the beloved heart, rise right this moment here
Manam mudikka ikkanamae ingae ezhuTo marry the beloved heart, rise right this moment here

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song depicts a play-acted interaction set in a rural folk landscape, echoing the traditional Thiruvilaiyadal and Valli-Kanthar folk play tropes (Valli Kalyanam). Lord Murugan disguises himself as an old fortune-teller/hunter approaching Valli in the millet fields (Tinai punam), teasing her with poetic metaphors comparing her beauty to nature while reading her palm and declaring her romantic destiny. Valli playfully rebuffs his old-age advances, telling him to act his age and leave her in peace, while Murugan persists with affectionate analogies. In the end, a prayer to Lord Ganesha (Annaa) is invoked to clear obstacles so that the loving souls can be united in marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kambhu thinaiyum vilaiyum idangalil / Kombhu thaen theduriya

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ooraan' and 'Uzhudhu' or 'Kambhu' and 'Kombhu'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Madhuvendra kudam rendu thudikkum / Kannil iru vandu siragindri parakkum

Comparing physical attributes to nature, such as pots of honey for breasts and wingless bees for eyes.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Pazham thannai kizhi veruthidumaa

Asking questions to express playful disbelief or affection, like asking if a parrot would ever hate a fruit.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song draws heavy inspiration from the traditional 'Valli Kalyanam' folk theater tradition (Kuravan-Kurathi drama), where Lord Murugan comes disguised as an elderly fortune teller to court Valli in her millet field.

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