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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Munnooru Nanooru

From Ponnukku Sethi Vanthachu · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Ponnukku Sethi Vanthachu1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………………….
Male
Oru munnoru naanooru thaanIt is just three hundred or four hundred,
Ullae ponakka thagaraaru thaanOnce it goes inside, it causes a big dispute!
Thillataangu taanguThillatangutangu!
Nee thiruppi pottu vaanguFlip it around and get it back!
Thaalam thappi pona adhu romba romba raanguIf the beat goes off, it turns very, very wrong!
Kudichaa kushi thaan kummalamthaanIf you drink, it's pure joy and celebration!
Male
Oru munnoru naanooru thaanIt is just three hundred or four hundred,
Ullae ponakka thagaraaru thaanOnce it goes inside, it causes a big dispute!
Thillataangu taanguThillatangutangu!
Nee thiruppi pottu vaanguFlip it around and get it back!
Thaalam thappi pona adhu romba romba raanguIf the beat goes off, it turns very, very wrong!
Kudichaa kushi thaan kummalamthaanIf you drink, it's pure joy and celebration!
Male
Pathaatti oothikidaaPour fifty for yourself!
Oru ful bottleil yethikkadaChug a full bottle!
Uchilae soodu varumHeat will rise to the crown of your head,
Unakku oohoonnu moodu varumAnd you will get into an excited mood!
Male
Aandaalu potta kadaThe shop set up by Aandaal,
Ada angae thaan kera vadaOh, that is where you get spinach vada!
Pudhusaathaan suttu vechaaShe made them fresh and hot,
Koduppa kai melae thuttu vachaaShe will hand it over if you place cash in her hand!
Male
Naanum neeyum thaandaYou and I, my friend,
Ada indha naatu mannarAre the kings of this country!
Podum thanni thaandaThe liquor we consume,
Namma iravu nera dinnerIs our nighttime dinner!
Adidaa thanni kondaattam thaanStrike it up, drinking is a grand celebration!
Male
Oru munnoru naanooru thaanIt is just three hundred or four hundred,
Ullae ponakka thagaraaru thaanOnce it goes inside, it causes a big dispute!
Thillataangu taanguThillatangutangu!
Nee thiruppi pottu vaanguFlip it around and get it back!
Thaalam thappi pona adhu romba romba raanguIf the beat goes off, it turns very, very wrong!
Kudichaa kushi thaan kummalamthaanIf you drink, it's pure joy and celebration!
Male
Eppodhum rathiri thaan inguHere, it is always nighttime,
Ennoda raajiyam thaanThis is entirely my kingdom!
Police pudikirathaWill the police catch us?
Pudichu lathiyila adikkirathaaCatch us and beat us with lathis?
Male
Neendhaadha kuttaiyilaeIn an unswum pond,
Ada en thaagam pattiyilaeAh, in my list of thirsts,
Thaagangal maarupadumDesires and thirsts change,
Adhu pola thaneerum verupadamLikewise, the drink also differs!
Male
Thannila thaan daaWhile under the influence of alcohol,
Naan thathuvatha sonnenI spoke words of philosophy!
Kuthu mathippaAs a rough estimate,
Oru puthagam pol ninnenI stood like an open book!
Idhu thaan thambhi gnyaanasthaanamThis is the place of enlightenment, my brother!
Male
Oru munnoru naanooru thaanIt is just three hundred or four hundred,
Ullae ponakka thagaraaru thaanOnce it goes inside, it causes a big dispute!
Thillataangu taanguThillatangutangu!
Nee thiruppi pottu vaanguFlip it around and get it back!
Thaalam thappi pona adhu romba romba raanguIf the beat goes off, it turns very, very wrong!
Kudichaa kushi thaan kummalamthaanIf you drink, it's pure joy and celebration!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy, lighthearted Tamil folk/tavern song ('Thanni Pattu') that captures the jovial, carefree spirit of drinking with friends. The narrator whimsically reflects on how alcohol transforms ordinary working-class men into 'kings' of their own nocturnal realm, bringing warmth, high spirits, and a sense of liberation from daily troubles and police fears.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oru munnoru naanooru thaan / Ullae ponakka thagaraaru thaan

The lines end with the rhyming suffix 'thaan', creating a rhythmic cadence typical of Tamil folk songs.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kudichaa kushi thaan kummalamthaan

Repetition of the initial 'Ku' sound in 'Kudichaa', 'kushi', and 'kummalamthaan'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Oru puthagam pol ninnen

The speaker compares himself standing transparently and offering drunken wisdom to an open book ('puthagam pol').

Metaphor (Urudham)

Idhu thaan thambhi gnyaanasthaanam

The tavern/drinking spot is metaphorically referred to as a place of spiritual enlightenment ('gnyaanasthaanam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali was legendary for writing high-spirited folk and tavern tracks that seamlessly blended local Madras/rural slang, observational humor, and disguised philosophical thoughts. Songs like this served as popular entertainer tracks in 90s Tamil cinema, portraying bonding and casual banter among working-class characters.

Keep listening

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