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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Parpodi Kalnaar Parpodi

From Aayiram Roobai · 1964

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Aayiram Roobai1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Parppodi …kalnaar parppodiToothpowder... asbestos toothpowder!
Parppodi …pocket orana parppodiToothpowder... one anna per pocket-sized packet!
Hey parppodi …kalnaar parppodiHey toothpowder... asbestos toothpowder!
Parppodi …pocket orana parppodiToothpowder... one anna per pocket-sized packet!
Male
Padathil nadikkum starugal ellamAll the movie stars who act in films
Paathu vaangura parppodiCarefully choose and buy this toothpowder!
Padathil nadikkum starugal ellamAll the movie stars who act in films
Paathu vaangura parppodiCarefully choose and buy this toothpowder!
Parppodi …kalnaar parppodiToothpowder... asbestos toothpowder!
Parppodi …pocket orana parppodiToothpowder... one anna per pocket-sized packet!
Female
Haaa..aaa..aaaa..aaa…Haaa..aaa..aaaa..aaa…
Hoo oo oo hoo oo hooHoo oo oo hoo oo hoo
Makkuudiyamma makkudiSnake-charmer pipe, oh pipe!
Idhu majaa illadha makkudiThis is a snake-pipe with no fun or thrill!
Makkuudiyamma makkudiSnake-charmer pipe, oh pipe!
Idhu majaa illadha makkudiThis is a snake-pipe with no fun or thrill!
Manasu polavae oorai suthuraWandering around town as my heart pleases,
Maadu illadha sekkudiLike an oil-press operating without a bullock!
Manasu polavae oorai suthuraWandering around town as my heart pleases,
Maadu illadha sekkudiLike an oil-press operating without a bullock!
Makkuudiyamma makkudi..Snake-charmer pipe, oh pipe!..
Male
Vilaki paarungaTry brushing and see,
Vethalaiyum kaaviyumBetel leaf stains and reddish discoloration
Vilagi poopol velukkumWill vanish and make teeth as white as flowers!
Vilaikku vaangiya poi pal settilEven on false artificial tooth sets bought for a price,
Irukkum naattram parakkumThe foul odor lingering inside will fly away!
Male
Vilaki paarungaTry brushing and see,
Vethalaiyum kaaviyumBetel leaf stains and reddish discoloration
Vilagi poopol velukkumWill vanish and make teeth as white as flowers!
Vilaikku vaangiya poi pal settilEven on false artificial tooth sets bought for a price,
Irukkum naattram parakkumThe foul odor lingering inside will fly away!
Male
Parppodi …kalnaar parppodiToothpowder... asbestos toothpowder!
Parppodi …pocket orana parppodiToothpowder... one anna per pocket-sized packet!
Female
Pachaiyadi pachaiyadi pachaiyadiIt is a green cheat, a green cheat, a green cheat!
Pallai kaatura pachaiyadiA blatant cheat showing off its teeth!
Pachaiyadi pachaiyadi pachaiyadiIt is a green cheat, a green cheat, a green cheat!
Pallai kaatura pachaiyadiA blatant cheat showing off its teeth!
Achu illama vandiya ottiDriving a cart without an axle,
Aala parakkira pachaiyadi pachaiyadiFlying over people, a blatant cheat, a green cheat!
Achu illama vandiya ottiDriving a cart without an axle,
Aala parakkira pachaiyadi pachaiyadiFlying over people, a blatant cheat, a green cheat!
Di dii….Di dii….
Makkuudiyamma makkudiSnake-charmer pipe, oh pipe!
Male
Pechai kelunga thechu paarungaListen to my words and try brushing with it,
Piragu engitta sollungaAnd then give me your feedback!
Pirarai polae naan pallai kattiUnlike others who grin submissively,
Pichai ketkkavum vallingaI am not skilled at begging!
Male
Pechai kelunga thechu paarungaListen to my words and try brushing with it,
Piragu engitta sollungaAnd then give me your feedback!
Pirarai polae naan pallai kattiUnlike others who grin submissively,
Pichai ketkkavum vallingaI am not skilled at begging!
Male
Parppodi …kalnaar parppodiToothpowder... asbestos toothpowder!
Parppodi …pocket orana parppodiToothpowder... one anna per pocket-sized packet!
Female
Appadi podu kodutha sooduHit it like that! The heat it gave,
Aalai uttuda solludhadiTells me to leave this person alone!
Appadi podu kodutha sooduHit it like that! The heat it gave,
Aalai uttuda solludhadiTells me to leave this person alone!
Seppadi vithae selladhunnuKnowing that magic tricks and sleight of hand won't work,
Therinjukinnu idhu melludhadiIt is chewing quietly on this,
Vaaya melludhadi ..Chewing its own mouth!..
Seppadi vithae selladhunnuKnowing that magic tricks and sleight of hand won't work,
Therinjukinnu idhu melludhadiIt is chewing quietly on this,
Vaaya melludhadi ..Chewing its own mouth!..
Makkuudiyamma makkudi..ee ee eeSnake-charmer pipe, oh pipe!..ee ee ee

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features street vendors engaging in witty banter and playful teasing while selling their wares. One vendor hawking toothpowder enthusiastically boasts about its miraculous whitening powers, claiming even famous movie stars use it to remove betel nut stains and odor. The other vendor counters with humorous skepticism, calling out the exaggerated sales pitch as a gimmick and poking fun at the street hawker's theatricality. Through humorous dialogue and rhythmic folk motifs, the song captures the vibrant street life, folk salesmanship, and casual banter typical of classic Tamil cinema comedy sequences of the 1960s.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Parppodi …pocket orana parppodi

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' consonant sound across consecutive words.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vilaki paarunga / Vilaikku vaangiya

Matching second consonant 'la' sound across consecutive line beginnings (Vilaki / Vilaikku).

Simile (Upamai)

Vilagi poopol velukkum

Comparing the whiteness of cleaned teeth directly to flowers ('poopol velukkum').

Metaphor / Folk Idiom

Maadu illadha sekkudi

Using 'Maadu illadha sekkudi' (an oil press running without a bullock) as a metaphor for wandering around aimlessly.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, this song highlights the street-vendor duet format popular in 1960s Tamil cinema. Maruthakasi utilized local Madras Tamil slang ('orana', 'pachaiyadi', 'seppadi vithae') to lend authentic regional color to the street hawker characters.

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