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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Othaiyila Nikkuriye

From Thaai Paasam · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Thaai Paasam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
10 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Othaiyilae nikkuriyae
Aththa vecha vathakolambhae
Ottikava kattikava
Vetti vecha katti karumbhae
Adi aathi sadapottu nada potta
Azhukkaama pakkuren
Pazhasaarum odhattoram dhinam oorum
Adhathaanae ketkkuren
Othaiyilae nikkuthaiyaa
Aththa vecha vathakolambhu
Ottikava kattikava
Vetti vecha katti karumbu
Adi aathi sadapottu nada potta
Azhukkaama pakkura
Pazhasaarum odhattoram dhinam oorum
Adhathaanae ketkkura
Ada othaiyilae nikkuriyae
Aththa vecha vathakolambhae
Female :Ahaa
Male :Hoo hoo
Female :Ahaa
Male :Laaa laa
Mundhaana pottu pottu moodi maraikkirae
Thottaalae kudhikkirae theeyattam kothikkirae
Machaana maalai neram vaati vadhaikkirae
Therkaala veesum kaathu soodu yethathu
Ullaara vegudhu yedhyedho aaguthu
Unnala kaalum kaiyum verthu oothuthu
Annadam yengugiren
Mel moochu vaangugiren
Unnaala thookkam pochu urugi vaadugiren
Othaiyilae nikkuriyae
Aththa vecha vathakolambhae
Female :Haan haan haan haan
Ottikava kattikava
Vetti vecha katti karumbu
Semmena valachu poda thoondil poduren
Sikkama nazhuvudhu nikkama ooduthu
Aathaadi rendil onnu naanum pakkuren
Unnodu kaalam dhorum vaazhapogiren
Pennaaga porandhadhum poovaaga malarnthathum
Maama un tholil yeri oonjal ada thaan
Kannana kanmani
Ponnaana ponmani
Vellottam naama pakka velai ennadi
Othaiyilae nikkuriyae
Aththa vecha vathakolambhae
Female :Hey hey hey
Ottikava kattikava
Vetti vecha katti karumbu
Hoi adi aathi sadapottu nada potta
Azhukkaama pakkuren
Female :Pazhasaarum odhattoram dhinam oorum
Adhathaanae ketkkura
Othaiyilae nikkuriyae
Aththa vecha vathakolambhae
Female :Ahaa ahaa ahaa ha ha haa haan
Ottikava kattikava
Vetti vecha katti karumbu
Heheh aahaa ..hahahah
You are standing all alone,
my aunt's tangy, spicy curry!
Shall I come close and hold you,
you freshly cut sweet sugarcane?
Oh girl, swinging your braid as you walk,
I gaze at you without taking my eyes off!
Sweet nectar gathers at the corner of your lips,
and that is all I am asking for!
It is standing all alone, sir,
the spicy curry made by your aunt!
Shall I come close and hold you,
you freshly cut sweet sugarcane?
Swinging my braid as I walk,
you stare at me without blinking!
Sweet nectar gathers at the corner of my lips,
and isn't that what you are asking for?
Ah, you are standing all alone,
my aunt's tangy, spicy curry!
Female: Aaha
Male: Hoo hoo
Female: Aaha
Male: Laa la
You keep pulling your sari over to hide yourself,
you jump if touched, boiling like a flame!
You tease and torment your sweetheart in the evening!
The southern breeze stirs up the heat,
I burn inside, and strange feelings stir!
Because of you, my hands and feet are dripping with sweat!
Every single day I long for you,
gasping heavily for breath!
Because of you, I lost my sleep and I am melting in yearning!
You are standing all alone,
my aunt's tangy, spicy curry!
Female: Haan haan haan haan
Shall I come close and hold you,
you freshly cut sweet sugarcane?
I cast my line to catch that prize fish,
it slips away without getting caught, running without stopping!
Oh my, I am going to see this through to the end!
I am going to live with you for all time!
Being born a woman and blooming like a flower
was only to swing upon your shoulders, my darling!
My precious darling,
my golden treasure,
when is the right time for our trial run?
You are standing all alone,
my aunt's tangy, spicy curry!
Female: Hey hey hey
Shall I come close and hold you,
you freshly cut sweet sugarcane?
Hoy, swinging your braid as you walk,
I gaze at you without taking my eyes off!
Female: Sweet nectar gathers at the corner of my lips,
and that is what you are asking for!
You are standing all alone,
my aunt's tangy, spicy curry!
Female: Aaha aaha aaha haa haa haa haan
Shall I come close and hold you,
you freshly cut sweet sugarcane?
Heheh aaha... hahahaah
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Othaiyilae Nikkuriyae is a playful and flirtatious folk duet from the 1988 Tamil movie Thaai Paasam. The song features a romantic dialogue between the male and female leads, filled with classic village metaphors. The hero playfully compares the heroine's irresistible charm to rich vathakuzhambu (a spicy tangy traditional Tamil curry) and sweet sugarcane, expressing his intense desire and longing to be with her. The heroine teasingly responds, acknowledging his attraction while playfully keeping him on his toes. As the song progresses, both lovers express their deep passion, describing how their love causes physical restlessness, loss of sleep, and sweet torment. The lyrics by Vaali beautifully blend rustic charm, romantic banter, and rhythmic folk tropes, complemented by the lively music composition of Chandrabose and energetic vocal renditions by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

“Aththa vecha vathakolambhae / Vetti vecha katti karumbhae”

Comparing the lover's beauty and sweet charm to traditional foods like 'vathakolambhu' (spicy curry) and 'katti karumbu' (block of sugarcane).

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Othaiyilae nikkuriyae / Ottikava kattikava”

The second consonant 't' (த்/ட்) rhymes in consecutive lines ('Othaiyilae' and 'Ottikava').

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Pennaaga porandhadhum poovaaga malarnthathum”

Repetition of the 'P' sound at the start of words in the line.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Thottaalae kudhikkirae theeyattam kothikkirae / Machaana maalai neram vaati vadhaikkirae”

Matching end sounds with rhythmic verbal endings like 'kudhikkirae', 'kothikkirae', and 'vadhaikkirae'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thaai Paasam (1988) featured music composed by Chandrabose, who was known for delivering popular high-energy folk tunes during the late 1980s. Lyricist Vaali utilized clever food metaphors and traditional rural slang to create an instant hit among rural and urban listeners alike.

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