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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paththa Nalla Module

From Ilamai · 1985

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. N. Surendar, P. Jayachandran
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Ilamai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paaththaa nalla moduleIf you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Paduththaakka thallu moduleIf it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Haei paaththaa nalla moduleHey, if you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Paduththaakka thallu moduleIf it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
Paaththaa nalla moduleIf you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Haei paduththaakka thallu moduleHey, if it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Haei paaththaa nalla moduleHey, if you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Paduththaakka thallu moduleIf it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Pottaa potti pottathu ennaWhy compete and contest like this?
Male :Pottathu enna kettathu ennaMale: What was put? What went wrong?
Male :Paaththaa moonji maarunuthennaMale: Why did your face change upon looking?
Male :Maarunathenna yaerunathennaMale: What changed? What escalated?
Male
Malligai maalai rendu solli vaikkattaaShall I order two jasmine garlands?
Male :Haei haeiMale: Hey hey!
Male :Maarula saeththu kittu alli vaikkattaaMale: Shall I hold you close to my chest and embrace you?
Male :Aa malligai maalai rendu solli vaikkattaaMale: Ah, shall I order two jasmine garlands?
Male :Hoo hoo….Male: Hoo hoo....
Male :Maarula saeththukittu alli vaikkattaaMale: Shall I hold you close to my chest and embrace you?
Male
Oodaatha nalla vandi naangakooda nallavandiI am a fine vehicle that doesn't break down easily, a good vehicle.
Oththu ozhaikka vantha aththa magan nallavandiThe cousin who came to work together is a good vehicle!
Male
Paaththaa nalla moduleIf you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Haei paduththaakka thallu moduleHey, if it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Haei paaththaa nalla moduleHey, if you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Paduththaakka thallu moduleIf it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
{PaaththaaIf you look...
Male :Nalla moduleMale: A good model
Male :PaduththaakkaMale: If it lies down...
Male :Thallu module} (2)Male: A push-start model
Male
Kaalam pooraa kaaka varattaaShall I come to guard and protect you all your life?
Male :Kakka varattaa paakka varattaaMale: Shall I come to guard? Shall I come to see?
Male :Vaangi thaaraen mutta parottaaMale: I will buy you egg parotta!
Male :Hae mutta parottaa yaendi kalaattaaMale: Hey egg parotta, why create a scene?
Male
Manja kayiru onnu katti izhuththaaIf tied with a sacred yellow thread and pulled,
Kattilarai varaikkum vandi nagarumThe vehicle will move all the way to the bedroom!
Male :Manja kayiru onnu katti izhuththaaMale: If tied with a sacred yellow thread and pulled,
Kattilarai varaikkum vandi nagarumThe vehicle will move all the way to the bedroom!
Male
Morachchaalum thappu illaiEven if you glare, there is nothing wrong.
Maraichchaalum kuththamillaEven if you hide, there is no fault.
Male :Intha idaththinilae kattililla meththaiyillaMale: In this place, there is no bed or mattress!
Male
Paaththaa nalla moduleIf you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Haei paduththaakka thallu moduleHey, if it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Haei paaththaa nalla moduleHey, if you look at it, it looks like a good model.
Paduththaakka thallu moduleIf it lies down, it becomes a push-start model.
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakkuThe good stuff tucked and packed inside,
Ambuttum poli sarakku…..Is all fake stuff...
Male
{PaaththaaIf you look...
Male :Nalla moduleMale: A good model
Male :PaduththaakkaMale: If it lies down...
Male :Thallu module} (2)Male: A push-start model
Male
……………….....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet from the film 'Ilamai' (1985) features lighthearted romantic banter between two lovers using auto-mechanical metaphors. The female singer playfully teases her suitor, comparing him to a flashy vehicle ('nalla module') that breaks down easily ('thallu module') and calling his charms counterfeit. In response, the male singer enthusiastically asserts his reliability, courting her with gifts of jasmine garlands and egg parotta, while humorously promising that once they are wed with the sacred yellow thread ('manja kayiru'), their journey to romance will seamlessly proceed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaththana)

Paaththaa nalla module / Paduththaakka thallu module

Human personality, vigor, and romantic reliability are humorously compared to automobile models ('nalla module', 'thallu module', 'vandi').

Emona / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Alli sorugi vachcha nalla sarakku / Ambuttum poli sarakku

Use of matching English loanwords ('module') and Tamil colloquialisms ('sarakku') at line ends to create a catchy folk rhythm.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

Morachchaalum thappu illai / Maraichchaalum kuththamilla

The second consonant 'ra' matches across lines ('Morachchaalum' / 'Maraichchaalum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Muthulingam, the song incorporates early 1980s Tamil folk-pop cinema tropes and street colloquialisms, blending English technical words like 'module' into romantic folk lyrics to generate comedic effect.

Keep listening

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