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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panjumittai Selai

From Ettupatti Rasa · 1997

Lyricists
Not listed
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Deva
Details
Ettupatti Rasa1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Panju mittaai sela kattiDraped in a cotton-candy-colored saree,
Pattuvanna ravika potuWearing a silk-colored blouse,
Adi panju mittaai sela kattiHey, draped in a cotton-candy saree,
Pattuvanna ravika potuWearing a silk-colored blouse,
Male
Kanji kondu poravalaeOh girl carrying rice porridge to the fields,
Nenjukulla nee vaariyaWill you come inside my heart?
Female
Thumba poovu mallu vetiWearing a thumba-flower white dhoti,
Male
AahaaAhha,
Female
Thoda theriya yethi kattiHitching it up to show your thighs,
Male
OhoOho,
Female
Vambu panna vaaravugalaOh people coming to pick a playful fight,
Vazhi vidunga neramaachuMake way, it is getting late!
Male
Apdi poduThat is it!
Male
Ezha buthikullaInside this poor man's mind,
Suthudhu kirukuA craze is spinning round,
Un idupu kosuvathulaIn the pleats of your waist saree,
Sootchamum irukuThere lies a secret charm,
Male
Nee nelinju pogayilaeWhen you sway and walk away,
Nenjula sulukuMy heart catches a sprain,
Female
Vaada kaathadichuThe chilly northern wind blows,
Vaatudhu mamaIt torments me, my dear uncle,
En kooda vanthuCome along with me,
Kuchukulla ottika mamaAnd snuggle inside the hut, my dear uncle,
Female
Un oodaluku sooduTo this playful quarrel of yours,
Konjam yethika mamaRaise the heat a bit, my dear uncle,
Male
Un kannuYour two eyes
Rendum navapazhamAre like jamun fruits,
Kaachu iruku koiyapazhamGuavas are hanging ripe,
Moodi vaikaadhaeDo not keep them covered,
Thingaama veenadikadhaeDo not waste them without enjoying,
Female
Ada pularuka pogayilaeAh, as the dawn is breaking,
Pulla varam ketka vanthenI came asking for the boon of a child,
Thalli nikaatha manasa killi vaikaathaDo not stand far away, do not pinch my heart,
Male
Adiyae panju mittaai sela kattiHey girl, draped in a cotton-candy saree,
Female
HaanHaan,
Male
Pattuvanna ravika potuWearing a silk-colored blouse,
Kanji kondu poravalaeOh girl carrying rice porridge,
Nenjukulla nee vaariya pullaWill you come inside my heart, girl?
Male
…………………………….....
Male
Oranjaram paarthuWatching the edges and borders,
Othunganum pathamaWe must step aside carefully,
Pinna oda thannikullaAnd then into the stream's water,
Mungi kulikanum sugamaWe should take a delightful dip,
Male
Mella lavagama unGently and skillfully,
Muthuga theikanum idhamaI should rub your back comfortably,
Female
Mama pammureyaeUncle, why are you shrinking back?
Pozhuthuku melaeAs time passes by,
Nee kammankaatuIn the millet field's
Moolaiyilae kallanai polaeCorner like a thief,
Female
Naan othaiyila thaanI will come all alone,
Varuven un ninaipalaLost in thoughts of you,
Male
Ada manja kaatuAh, at the edge of the
Orathilae mathiyana nerathilaTurmeric field in the afternoon,
Kaathirukata thinamum kaathirukataShall I wait, shall I wait for you every day?
Female
Ada vellaichola soruAh, with white sorghum rice
Vachu kaarapoova ezharachuAnd spicy chutney ground together,
Ooti vidataa unaku ooti vidataaShall I feed you, shall I feed you?
Male
Ye pullaHey girl,
Panju mittaai sela kattiDraped in a cotton-candy saree,
Pattuvanna ravika potuWearing a silk-colored blouse,
Kanji kondu poravalaeOh girl carrying rice porridge,
Nenjukulla nee vaariyaWill you come inside my heart?
Female
Thumba poovu mallu vetiWearing a thumba-flower white dhoti,
Thoda theriya yethi kattiHitching it up to show your thighs,
Vambu panna vaaravugalaOh people coming to pick a playful fight,
Vazhi vidunga neramaachuMake way, it is getting late!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Panju Mittaai Sela Katti is a playful rural Tamil folk duet from the film Ettupatti Rasa (1997). The song captures a romantic and flirtatious conversation between a young man and woman in a village setting. The hero expresses his admiration for her vibrant outfit and charming walk as she carries porridge to the agricultural fields, while the heroine playfully teases him back and invites him to share cozy moments with her in their rustic surroundings. The lyrics rely heavily on authentic rural Tamil imagery—ranging from cotton-candy saree colors, sorghum rice, and turmeric fields to stream baths and cool northern winds. Through lively rhythms and sweet tease, the track encapsulates the innocent warmth and vibrant charm of village romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Un kannu rendum navapazham

The lover directly compares her dark eyes to jamun fruits (navapazham) to emphasize their beauty.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Moolaiyilae kallanai polae

Comparing the lover waiting secretly in the corner of the millet field to a thief (kallanai polae).

Alliteration & Rhyme (Etukai / Monai)

Panju mittaai sela katti / Pattuvanna ravika potu

Assonance and initial letter rhyming between 'Panju' and 'Pattu' across adjacent lines creates a lyrical folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Ettupatti Rasa (1997) was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Kasthuri Raja. Starring Napoleon and Urvashi, the film's soundtrack became notable for its popular rustic folk compositions that resonated widely across rural Tamil Nadu during the late 1990s.

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