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Lyrics & meaning

Othukkadi Othukku Machanathan

From Thalayanai Mandiram · 1984

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thalayanai Mandiram1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanStep aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Yaei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanStep aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Yaei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Female
Vaanga machchaan vanthanam vanthanamWelcome brother-in-law, greetings and welcome
Pottukkungadi santhanam santhanamApply the sandalwood paste, friends
Kettukunga kadhal manthiram…..hmm hmmListen to the incantation of love... hmm hmm
Chorus
Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanStep aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Yaei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Female :Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanFemale: Step aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Yaei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Female
Vanthaaru maappillaithaanHere comes the groom
Chorus :Valathu kaalai thaangadiChorus: Support his right step, girls
Female :Vaazhapora jodikalaiFemale: For the couple about to live together
Chorus :Saerththu vaippom vaangadiChorus: Let us unite them together, come on
Female
Munthaana parappulaIn the expanse of your saree pallu
Nee anthapuram pottukkoSet up your private inner chamber
Aththaanin udhattaalaeWith the lips of your beloved man
Muththam onnu kettukoAsk for a sweet kiss
Female
Kattazhagan paaradi kaalkala vaaradiLook at the handsome man, sweep off his feet
Kattikkittu kaadhula kadhala oodhudiEmbrace him and whisper love into his ears
Paathaam paruppai arachchugadiGrind the almond nuts well
Paalil pottu karaichchu vaiyaadiMix it up nicely in milk
Padukkumpothu kudikka solludi….ee…..ee….ee…Ask him to drink it when he goes to bed... ee... ee... ee...
Chorus
Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanStep aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Haei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Female
Vaanga machchaan vanthanam vanthanamWelcome brother-in-law, greetings and welcome
Pottukkonkadi santhanam santhanamApply the sandalwood paste, friends
Kettukkunga kadhal manthiram….hmm hmmListen to the incantation of love... hmm hmm
Female
Odhukkadi odhukku machachaanaththaanStep aside, step aside for the brother-in-law
Haei onakkonnu kedachchidum achcharamthaanHey, you will get a token of advance/assurance for sure
Male
Hoiiii….yaa…Hoiiii... yaa...
Chorus :Aah haa….Chorus: Aah haa....
Male :Hoiiii….hoiiyaaMale: Hoiiii... hoiiyaa
Chorus :Aah haa….Chorus: Aah haa....
Male :……………..Male: [Instrumental vocalization]
Chorus :…………..Chorus: [Instrumental vocalization]
Male
Pondaatti aagaanumnnaaIf you want to become my wife
Poruththam konjam vaenumadiSome compatibility is required, girl
En manavi seedhayadi soorppanagai neeyadiMy wife is like Sita, but you are like Surpanakha
Male
Pondaatti aagaanumnnaaIf you want to become my wife
Poruththam konjam vaenumadiSome compatibility is required, girl
En manavi seedhayadi soorppanagai neeyadiMy wife is like Sita, but you are like Surpanakha
Male
Neeryaanai kutti ada neeyadi en jodiYou are like a baby hippopotamus, oh you my pair
Thaangaadhu en odambu aala vidu ammaadiMy body cannot bear this, spare me, dear woman
Pattapagal vaelaiyilae palavantham pannaathaeDo not force yourself on me in broad daylight
Karpulla en maelae pazhi poda ennaathaeDo not think of blaming my chaste reputation
Male
Ammaadi vaazha vidu vaazha viduOh dear, let me live, let me live
Iththoda aala vidu aala viduLeave me alone right here, leave me alone
Pondaatti aasai thappuththaan….haan haan….The desire to make you my wife is a mistake... haan haan...
Male
Odhungadi odhungu kottaappuliMove away, move away, you sour tamarind fruit
Yaei ulunthula uruttuna kundothariHey, rotund Kundodhari rolled out of urad dal
Odhungadi odhungu kottaappuliMove away, move away, you sour tamarind fruit
Yaei ulunthula uruttuna kundothariHey, rotund Kundodhari rolled out of urad dal
Male
Yaelappaththiri ellurundaMace spice and sesame ball
Aala kuththura kannirendaTwo sharp eyes that pierce a person
Nondiduvaen ottaathae ingae….ae…ae…ae…I will get bruised, do not stick close to me here... ae... ae... ae...
Male
Odhungadi odhungu kottaappuliMove away, move away, you sour tamarind fruit
Yaei ulunthula uruttuna kundothari…..ri….Hey, rotund Kundodhari rolled out of urad dal... ri...
Male
……………….[Fade out / Instrumental]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful track from 'Thalayanai Mandiram' (1984), written by Gangai Amaran, features playful banter and teasing between women welcoming a groom and a reluctant male character. The song begins with joyful celebratory verses welcoming the groom, offering wedding advice, and teasingly urging romantic intimacy between the newly wedded pair. In the second half, the male singer humorously rejects the advances, hilariously comparing his actual wife to the virtuous Sita while calling the teasing woman a monstrous Surpanakha or a baby hippo. Filled with comic metaphors and folk rhythms, the song highlights lighthearted marital comedy traditional in 1980s Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pondaatti aagaanumnnaa / Poruththam konjam vaenumadi

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Odhukkadi' and 'Yaei' in alternating lines, or 'Pondaatti' and 'Poruththam'.

Monaai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Vaanga machchaan vanthanam vanthanam

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within the same line, as in 'Vaanga machchaan vanthanam vanthanam'.

Mythological Allusion & Metaphor

En manavi seedhayadi soorppanagai neeyadi

Contrasting the virtuous character Sita with the demonic character Surpanakha from the Ramayana to humorously describe character traits.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thalayanai Mandiram' (1984) is a comedy-drama featuring music composed by Gangai Amaran or his contemporaries. The title 'Thalayanai Mandiram' translates to 'Pillow Talk' (the advice or influence a wife gives her husband in private), which forms the core theme of the film's marital dynamics.

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