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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pachai Nellu Kuthi Vachaa

From Idhu Engal Rajyam · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Idhu Engal Rajyam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Male
Pachai nellu kuththi vachchaaPounded the green raw paddy
Pattiyila ponga vachchaaCooked sweet pongal in the cattle shed
Ponga vacha neram paarththuLooking at the auspicious time the pongal was boiled
Ponnu aalaanaaThe young girl has come of age
Male
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Male
Pachai nellu kuththi vachchaaPounded the green raw paddy
Pattiyila ponga vachchaaCooked sweet pongal in the cattle shed
Ponga vacha neram paarththuLooking at the auspicious time the pongal was boiled
Ponnu aalaanaaThe young girl has come of age
Male
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Chorus
Thomthana thom thaidathomThomthana thom thaidathom
Thanthana thanthanaththom paadungadiSing the rhythmic tune, girls!
Thomthana thom thaidathomThomthana thom thaidathom
Thanthana thanthanaththom paadungadiSing the rhythmic tune, girls!
Thanthana thanthana thanthana thanthanaThanthana thanthana thanthana thanthana
Male
……………….....
Male
Adiyae vanjikkodiyaeHey you, slender vine-like girl!
Intha nadaiyae oru thaalamaaIs this walk of yours set to a musical rhythm?
Arumbe katti karumbeYou sweet bud and sugary cane
Konjam thirumbe enna naadamaaTurn around a bit, what is this drama?
Vanthu ninnaalae……namma munnaalae….She came and stood... right in front of us...
Irandu kannaalae ennai thinnaalaeWith her two eyes, she devoured me whole
Chorus
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Male
Pachai nellu kuththi vachchaaPounded the green raw paddy
Pattiyila ponga vachchaaCooked sweet pongal in the cattle shed
Ponga vacha neram paarththuLooking at the auspicious time the pongal was boiled
Ponnu aalaanaaThe young girl has come of age
Male
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Chorus
Thanthanaa naa thanthanaa naaThanthanaa naa thanthanaa naa
Thanthanaa naa thanthanaa naaThanthanaa naa thanthanaa naa
Male
Sirichchaa munthi virichchaaShe smiled and spread the pallu of her saree
Ennai anaichchaa kili pechchilaeShe embraced me with her parrot-like sweet speech
Anaichchaa udal kodhichchaaAs she embraced, my body simmered with warmth
Ennai nenaichchaa perum moochchilaeThinking of me, she let out a deep sigh
Ava paavaadai…..vanthu kaaththaada….Her skirt... fluttered gently in the breeze...
Adha paarththaenae manam kooththaada…Seeing that, my heart danced in joyful jubilation...
Chorus
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Male
Pachai nellu kuththi vachchaaPounded the green raw paddy
Pattiyila ponga vachchaaCooked sweet pongal in the cattle shed
Ponga vacha neram paarththuLooking at the auspicious time the pongal was boiled
Ponnu aalaanaaThe young girl has come of age
Male
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Ava poopparikka thoppukkullaTo the grove where she picks flowers
Vaanga mamanaaCome along, uncle!
Chorus
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Thanthanaa thana thanthanaaThanthanaa thana thanthanaa
Thana thanthanaa thananaananaaThana thanthanaa thananaananaa
Chorus
Thomthana thom thaidathomThomthana thom thaidathom
Thanthana thanthanaththom paadungadiSing the rhythmic tune, girls!
Thomthana thom thaidathomThomthana thom thaidathom
Thanthana thanthanaththom paadungadiSing the rhythmic tune, girls!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This rural folk song celebrates a young village girl attaining womanhood (puberty ceremony context) and the blossoming romantic feelings associated with it. The traditional customs, such as pounding raw paddy and cooking celebratory pongal in the shed, highlight the festive village atmosphere. The lyrics playfully invite the maternal uncle ('Maaman'), a traditional prospective groom in Tamil culture, to join the celebrations in the flower grove.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagaththulakku)

Adiyae vanjikkodiyae

Comparing the slender girl to a vine ('vanjikkodi') and sweet sugarcane ('karumbu').

Rhyme and Assonance (Edhukai & Monai)

Sirichchaa munthi virichchaa / Anaichchaa udal kodhichchaa

Repetition of second letter consonants and starting letter sounds in 'Sirichchaa' and 'Anaichchaa'.

Personification / Hyperbole

Irandu kannaalae ennai thinnaalae

Describing her gaze as 'devouring' or eating him up with her two eyes.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features traditional folk rhythm structures (Thandhana/Jathi beats) typical of rural Tamil Nadu puberty functions and village festivities, penned by the legendary lyricist Pulamaipithan.

Keep listening

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