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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oothunga Sruthi Yethunga

From Revathi · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Revathi1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ooothunga sruthi yethungaBlow the instruments and raise the pitch!
Dhinai meththai melae viththai sollumThe one who teaches the art of love upon the bed of millet,
Sithini naan thaaneAm I not a Sithini (an enticing, perfect woman)?
Oru thaali illa vaeli illaWithout a sacred marital thread, without a boundary fence,
Pathini naan thaanae yaeiAm I not a chaste woman, hey!
Female
Ooothunga sruthi yethungaBlow the instruments and raise the pitch!
Dhinai meththai melae viththai sollumThe one who teaches the art of love upon the bed of millet,
Sithini naan thaaneAm I not a Sithini?
Oru thaali illa vaeli illaWithout a sacred marital thread, without a boundary fence,
Pathini naan thaanae hahahahAm I not a chaste woman, hahahah!
Male
…………..
Female
Enenna sonnalum oththu porenWhatever you say, I will go along with it.
Engengae sollunga mutham thaarenTell me where, and I will give you kisses.
HaanAh!
Enenna sonnalum oththu porenWhatever you say, I will go along with it.
Engengae sollunga mutham thaarenTell me where, and I will give you kisses.
Kai serthu aadatho katcheri nanaeWon't a musical performance happen when our hands unite?
Naan paadum paattellam thuttukku thaanaeEvery song I sing is only for money, after all!
Pesaamal koosaamal pinni kolvenaeWithout speaking, without hesitating, I will entwine with you.
Haan pesaamal koosaamal pinni kolvenaeAh, without speaking, without hesitating, I will entwine with you!
Female
Ooothunga sruthi yethungaBlow the instruments and raise the pitch!
Dhinai meththai melae viththai sollumThe one who teaches the art of love upon the bed of millet,
Sithini naan thaaneAm I not a Sithini?
Oru thaali illa vaeli illaWithout a sacred marital thread, without a boundary fence,
Pathini naan thaanae yaeiiAm I not a chaste woman, hey!
Male
………………..
Female
Sondhangal bandhangal maari pochuAll relatives and bonds have changed.
Kaalathin kolathil kannerraachuIn the play of fate, everything turned to tears.
Sondhangal bandhangal maari pochuAll relatives and bonds have changed.
Kaalathin kolathil kannerraachuIn the play of fate, everything turned to tears.
Ennodu uravellam illama pochuAll my relationships have ceased to exist.
Rosappu ippodu mullagi pochuThe rose flower has now turned into a sharp thorn.
Naan enna sollattum yedhoyedho aachuWhat can I say? So many strange things have happened.
Naan enna sollattum yedhoyedho aachuWhat can I say? So many strange things have happened.
Female
Ooothunga sruthi yethungaBlow the instruments and raise the pitch!
Dhinai meththai melae viththai sollumThe one who teaches the art of love upon the bed of millet,
Sithini naan thaaneAm I not a Sithini?
Oru thaali illa vaeli illaWithout a sacred marital thread, without a boundary fence,
Pathini naan thaanae yaeiiiAm I not a chaste woman, hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a seductive yet tragic interior monologue of a female dancer/entertainer. On the surface, she plays her expected role—flirting, promising affection, and putting on a musical show for money without hesitation. She ironically refers to herself as a 'Sithini' (one of the four traditional categories of women according to classical Indian texts, known for beauty and skill) and asserts her inner purity ('Pathini') despite lacking societal status, marriage, or protection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Dhinai meththai melae viththai sollum / Sithini naan thaane

The second consonant 'th' sound in 'Dhinai/meththai/viththai' creates rhythmic harmony across lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Sondhangal bandhangal maari pochu / Kaalathin kolathil kannerraachu

The line endings 'pochu' and 'aachu' rhyme to emphasize the tragic shift in her life.

Metaphor

Rosappu ippodu mullagi pochu

Comparing herself to a rose that turned into a thorn symbolizes how harsh circumstances hardened her gentle personality.

Irony

Oru thaali illa vaeli illa / Pathini naan thaanae

She calls herself a 'Pathini' (a chaste, ideal wife) while explicitly acknowledging she lacks a 'thaali' (marriage thread) or 'vaeli' (protective boundary), highlighting social irony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned lyricist Vaali for the 1986 film 'Revathi', the song follows a classic Tamil cinema trope of using a lively dance/cabaret number to deliver a deeply tragic backstory about the performer's fallen social status and heartbreak.

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