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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pachaiyilum Neeyum Pachai

From Petra Maganai Vitra Annai · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Jikki, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Petra Maganai Vitra Annai1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pachayilae pachaeGreen among green,
Neeyum arakku pachaeYou are dark green.
Un baacha palikuminnaaThinking your trickery would work,
Neeyum nenachae machaanYou believed it, my dear man.
Female
Pachayilae pachaeGreen among green,
Neeyum arakku pachaeYou are dark green.
Un baacha palikuminnaaThinking your trickery would work,
Neeyum nenachae machaanYou believed it, my dear man.
Pachayilae pachae machaanGreen among green, cousin.
Pachayilae pachaeGreen among green,
Neeyum arakku pachaeYou are dark green.
Male
Pachaiyaaga illavittaal payir kaanumaIf there is no greenness, can crops be seen?
Boomi paalaivanam aagivitta pasi theerumaaIf the earth turns into a desert, will hunger be satisfied?
Female :HahaanFemale: Hahaan
Male :Pachaiyaaga illavittaal payir kaanumaMale: If there is no greenness, can crops be seen?
Boomi paalaivanam aagivitta pasi theerumaaIf the earth turns into a desert, will hunger be satisfied?
Male
Kannu vechathuthaan vechenOnce I set my eyes on you, I kept them there,
Un mela aasai vechenI developed a longing for you.
Enakku vaacha nalla jodi endruThinking you were the suitable partner destined for me,
Naanum nenachenI too believed it.
Kannu vechathuthaan vechenOnce I set my eyes on you, I kept them there,
Un mela aasai vechenI developed a longing for you.
Female
Pachoondi koottam polaeLike a swarm of chameleons,
Pallai kaatti illikkiraeYou show your teeth and grin.
Achchani illaamae vandiyai ottaDriving a cart without an axle pin,
Aalaiyum kullaa poduraYou fool people completely.
Male
Vachakuri thavaridumaWill the targeted aim miss?
Valaiyil vilunthu paranthidumaHaving fallen into the net, will it fly away?
Vakkalathu ketka vandhaComing to plead like a lawyer,
Poikkaal kudhira thulladhaeDo not prance like a wooden dummy horse!
Male
Vechathuthaan vechenOnce I set my eyes, I kept them there,
Un mela aasai vechenI developed a longing for you.
Enakku vaacha nalla jodi endruThinking you were the suitable partner destined for me,
Naanum nenachen kannuI too believed it, my darling.
Female :Pachayilae pachaeFemale: Green among green,
Neeyum arakku pachaeYou are dark green.
Female
Aatta kadichi maatta kadichiBiting the goat, biting the cow,
Aatta kadichi maatta kadichiBiting the goat, biting the cow,
Aalaiyum kadikka moraikkuraYou glare as if to bite a human too.
Nee aandhai polavae muzhikkuraYou stare wide-eyed like an owl.
Ennai kaandham polavae izhukkuraYou pull me towards you like a magnet.
Male
Kaalam theriyaamae vaaliba kaalathaWithout realizing the passage of time, your youth,
Thannanthaniyaaga kazhikkuraYou spend all alone.
Ennai kaattu poochiyaaga ninaikkuraYou think of me as a wild insect.
Kannukkulae nee nadikkuraYou play games right inside my eyes.
En kannukkulae nee nadikkuraYou play games right inside my eyes.
Enakkum kaadhal vegam illainaa nee malaikkuraIf I don't show the speed of love, you stand astonished.
Female
Nee sathiyam seidha kattikalamIf you make a solemn promise, we can embrace,
Thaali kattikalaamWe can tie the sacred wedding thread.
Male :Nee sammadha patta thottukalaamMale: If you agree, we can touch,
Onnu pattukalaamWe can become one.
Female :Machaan sathiyam seiFemale: Cousin, make a promise!
Male :Kannu thalaiyil adikkirenMale: Darling, I swear on my head!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful track from Petra Maganai Vitra Annai (1958) is a lively folk-style dialogue song between lovers. The song is filled with rural proverbs, humor, and mock-arguing as the couple teases each other about motives, deceit, and attraction, using rich imagery like chameleons, magnets, desert landscapes, and dummy horses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Nee aandhai polavae muzhikkura / Ennai kaandham polavae izhukkura

Compares the lover's wide-eyed staring to an owl, and her magnetic pull to a magnet.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Boomi paalaivanam aagivitta pasi theerumaa

Uses desert (paalaivanam) as a metaphor for a life void of love and vitality.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Edhugai)

Aatta kadichi maatta kadichi

Rhythmic repetition of words like 'kadichi' and 'pachae' creating a playful folk beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Petra Maganai Vitra Annai (1958) features music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics penned by the acclaimed folk specialist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.

Keep listening

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