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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ottiyanam Senju Tharen

From Arul · 2004

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Srimathumitha, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Arul2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thiri thari…Rhythmic vocal beats...
Chorus
Kavvikichu love-u…Kavvikichu love-u…Love has caught on... Love has caught on...
Male
Ottiyaanam senju thaaren variyaaWill you come if I make you a gold waist-belt?
Naan ottikolla idai konjam thariyaaWill you give me your waist a little so I can cling to it?
Male
Hoi ottiyaanam senju thaaren variyaaHey, will you come if I make you a waist-belt?
Naan ottikolla idai konjam thariyaaWill you give me your waist a little so I can cling to it?
Female
:Ottiyaanam kittiyaanam thevayaaAre waist-belts or ornaments really needed?
Idai kattikolla kai rendu illayaaDon't you have two hands to embrace my waist?
Male
Mooku muzhi ullavalaeOh girl with prominent facial features!
Muthathukku nallavalaeOh girl perfect for kisses!
Maaralavu naan eduthuShall I measure your bust area...
Muthu malai tharavaa...and give you a pearl necklace?
Female
Muchathula ullavanaeOh man standing in the courtyard!
Macham ulla manmadhanaeOh Cupid with a charming mole!
Maaralavu edukkayilaeWhile taking my bust measurement...
Orralavu thodavaaMay I touch you just a little bit?
Male
Vellikodamae.. thanga vadamaeOh silver pot! Oh golden rope!
Indha cheeyan pakkam thirumbuTurn towards this 'Cheeyan' (handsome guy)!
Female
Sandhu kedacha pandhu adippaStriking the ball whenever there's a gap...
Ithu koyambattur kurumbu...that's the playful mischief of Coimbatore!
Male
Ottiyaanam senju thaaren variyaaWill you come if I make you a waist-belt?
Naan ottikolla idai konjam thariyaaWill you give me your waist a little so I can cling to it?
Female
Ottiyaanam kittiyaanam thevayaaAre waist-belts or ornaments really needed?
Idai kattikolla kai rendu illayaaDon't you have two hands to embrace my waist?
Chorus
Thiri thari…Rhythmic vocal beats...
Male
Sutha thangam patha vechuMelting pure gold...
Natchathira kallu vechuEmbedding star-like gems...
Nethi sutti panni thaarenI will make you a headband ornament...
Enna suthi suthi vaariyaaWill you come circling around me?
Female
Nethi suthi thevaiyillaNo need for a headband ornament,
Neela kallum thevaiyillaNor is a blue gem required.
Nethiyila kungumathaaWith vermilion on my forehead,
Nee vechivida vaariyaWill you come to apply it for me?
Male
Un kathi mookoda muthu mookuthiA pearl nose-ring for your sharp knife-like nose,
Kuthivida poren variyaaI am going to pierce and fix it, will you come?
Female
Un muthu mookuthi uppukaaghaathuYour pearl nose-ring isn't worth salt,
Mookil mookurasa variyaaWill you come to rub nose to nose with me?
Male
Thanga thodu naan thaarenI will give you gold earrings,
Angathodu nee variyaaWill you come with your beautiful body?
Female
Thodu podum kaathoduNear the ear where the earring is placed,
Moortha sethi sollayyaWhisper the auspicious wedding news, my man!
Male
Hoi ottiyaanam senju thaaren variyaaHey, will you come if I make you a waist-belt?
Naan ottikolla idai konjam thariyaaWill you give me your waist a little so I can cling to it?
Female
Ottiyaanam kittiyaanam thevayaaAre waist-belts or ornaments really needed?
Idai kattikolla kai rendu illayaaDon't you have two hands to embrace my waist?
Chorus
Ule lo le lo shayya…ule lo looChanting rhythmic sounds...
Ule lo le lo shayya…ulee loo haiii..Chanting rhythmic sounds...
Aye varuthu varuthu sayya…Hey, it is coming, it is coming...
Aye varuthu varuthu sayya…Hey, it is coming, it is coming...
Sayyyaaa…aaaaaaOh my beloved...
Male
Velli katti vetti thattiBeating and flattening silver blocks,
Salli salli maanukattiForging tiny silver beads,
Kolusugha panni tharaenI will make you anklets,
En kooda maada variyaaWill you come to assist and support me?
Female
Kooda maada vaarathukkuTo come and assist you,
Kolusugal thevai illaiNo anklets are required!
Nee kenda kaalu nandu polaLike a crab at your calf,
Un sundu viral theyumayyaYour little toe will wear down, my man!
Male
Adi vanji un kayyilOh delicate woman, for your hand,
Konji vilayaada valayal naan thaaraen variyaaI will give bangles to playfully jingle on you, will you come?
Female
Ada valayal vendaamaeOh, I don't need bangles!
Ippa varuvenaeI will come right now,
Valathu kai konjam thariyaaWill you give me your right hand?
Male
Thanga chain-u naan thaarenI will give you a gold chain,
Thamma thundu nee thariyaaWill you give me a tiny piece of yourself?
Female
Manja kayiru nee thanthaIf you give me the sacred yellow thread,
Ennai urichu thaarenyaI will surrender myself to you!
Male
Ottiyaanam ottiyaanam ottiyaanamWaist-belt, waist-belt, waist-belt...
Atha senju tharen senju tharen vaariyaaI will make it and give it, will you come?
Female
Dandanakka dandanakka dandanakkaRhythmic drum beats...
Idai kattikolla kai rendu illayaaDon't you have two hands to embrace my waist?
Male
Mooku muzhi ullavalae…Female :Hoii..Oh girl with prominent facial features... Female: Hey!
Muthathukku nallavalae…Female :Hoii..Oh girl perfect for kisses... Female: Hey!
Maaralavu naan eduthu…Female :Hoii..Shall I measure your bust area... Female: Hey!
Muthu malai tharavaaAnd give you a pearl necklace?
Female
Muchathula ullavanae….Male :Hoii…Oh man standing in the courtyard... Male: Hey!
Macham ulla manmadhanae….Male :Hoii…Oh Cupid with a charming mole... Male: Hey!
Maaralavu edukkayilae….Male :Hoii…While taking my bust measurement... Male: Hey!
Orralavu thodavaaMay I touch you just a little bit?
Male
Vellikodamae.. thanga vadamaeOh silver pot! Oh golden rope!
Indha cheeyan pakkam thirumbuTurn towards this 'Cheeyan' (handsome guy)!
Female
Sandhu kedacha pandhu adippaStriking the ball whenever there's a gap...
Inghu venam venam kurumbuNo need for such playful mischief here!
Chorus
Thiri thari…Rhythmic vocal beats...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features the male protagonist offering various lavish ornaments—such as a gold waist-belt (Ottiyaanam), a headband (Nethi sutti), a pearl nose-ring, earrings, and anklets—in exchange for closeness and love from his sweetheart. The heroine playfully rejects the material jewelry, emphasizing that simple romantic gestures like holding hands, applying vermilion (kumkum), and tying the sacred yellow thread (Thali) mean far more to her than gold and silver. Set against a lively folk-pop rhythm characteristic of Hari's cinema, the song captures the flirty banter between two lovers who move from lighthearted teasing about regional mischief to romantic devotion, culminating in mutual acceptance and affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Rhyme (Alliteration)

Ottiyaanam senju thaaren variyaa / Naan ottikolla idai konjam thariyaa

Matching initial sounds in consecutive lines created for rhythmic flow, such as 'Ottiyaanam' and 'Ottikolla'.

Etukai / Second Letter Rhyme

Nethi sutti thevaiyilla / Neela kallum thevaiyilla

Matching second consonants across lines ('th' in Nethi/Nethiyila/Neela).

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Un kathi mookoda muthu mookuthi

Describing the woman's sharp nose as 'Kathi mooku' (knife-sharp nose) and calling her 'Vellikodamae' (silver vessel) as affection.

Anaphora / Repetition

Ottiyaanam ottiyaanam ottiyaanam

Repetition of the phrase 'Ottiyaanam' and folk vocal refrains ('Thiri thari') for rhythmic drive.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Ottiyaanam' is composed by Harris Jayaraj for the film 'Arul' (2004), directed by Hari and starring Vikram and Trisha. The lyrics use the moniker 'Cheeyan', which became actor Vikram's iconic nickname after his acclaimed performance in the film 'Sethu' (1999).

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