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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Polish Boot Polish

From Sabash Thambi · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Sabash Thambi1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Polish boot polish polish boot polishPolish, boot polish, polish, boot polish!
Polish boot polish polish boot polishPolish, boot polish, polish, boot polish!
Female
Coatum sootum maattum pergalPeople who wear coats and suits,
Bootukku podum polish polishApply polish to their boots, polish!
Coatum sootum maattum pergalPeople who wear coats and suits,
Bootukku podum polish polishApply polish to their boots, polish!
Ennidam polish pottu paaruGet a polish from me and see,
Pottadhai veliyae kettu paaruAsk others outside about the quality!
Polish boot polishPolish, boot polish!
Female
Powder enbadhu mughathukku polishPowder is the polish for the face,
Cutex enbadhu nagathukku polishCutex nail paint is the polish for nails,
Powder enbadhu mughathukku polishPowder is the polish for the face,
Cutex enbadhu nagathukku polishCutex nail paint is the polish for nails,
Lipstick enbadhu udhatukku polishLipstick is the polish for the lips,
Lipstick enbadhu udhatukku polishLipstick is the polish for the lips,
Edhukkum eppavum vendum polishPolish is needed for everything, always!
Polish boot polishPolish, boot polish!
Female
Ennidam polish pottu paaruGet a polish from me and see,
Pottadhai veliyae kettu paaruAsk others outside about the quality!
Vayasaai ponadhum pazhasaai ponadhumWhen things get old and worn out,
Pudhusaai maarum paaruSee how they turn brand new!
Polish boot polishPolish, boot polish!
Female
Alavukku melae udambai valarthavanFor one who has grown an oversized body,
Asathikku vendum maalishA massage is needed for fatigue!
Alavukku melae udambai valarthavanFor one who has grown an oversized body,
Asathikku vendum maalishA massage is needed for fatigue!
Aalukku aalu kaalukku kaalPerson to person, leg to leg,
Azhagukku vendum polishPolish is required for beauty!
Polish polish podaadhirundhalIf you do not apply polish,
Manidhan vaazhkai foolishHuman life is foolish!
Polish boot polishPolish, boot polish!
Female
Indha mugathukku polish edhukkuWhy does this face need polish?
Iyarkaiyilaeye azhaga irukkuIt is naturally beautiful as it is!
Indha mugathukku polish edhukkuWhy does this face need polish?
Iyarkaiyilaeye azhaga irukkuIt is naturally beautiful as it is!
Indha udambukku maalish edhukkuWhy does this body need a massage?
Indha udambukku maalish edhukkuWhy does this body need a massage?
Irukuradhellaam elumbha irukkuEverything here is just skin and bones!
Female
Kaalukku seruppu vaanghi poduBuy shoes for your feet and put them on,
Vaanghi pottadhum polish poduOnce put on, polish them,
Polish pottadhum thuttai poduOnce polished, drop the money,
Thuttai pottadhum nadaiyai poduOnce paid, go on your way!
Polish boot polish polish boot polishPolish, boot polish, polish, boot polish!
Female
Coatum sootum maattum pergalPeople who wear coats and suits,
Bootukku podum polish polishApply polish to their boots, polish!
Polish boot polishPolish, boot polish!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Polish Boot Polish is a buoyant street-vendor song from the 1967 Tamil film Sabash Thambi, composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung by L. R. Eswari. The protagonist, a boot polisher, draws clever and humorous parallels between polishing leather boots and modern beauty products like cosmetics, lipstick, and face powder that people use to polish their own appearance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Tanglish Code-Mixing / Rhyme Scheme

Polish polish podaadhirundhal / Manidhan vaazhkai foolish

Lyricist Vaali blends English loanwords seamlessly with Tamil to create catchy rhymes such as 'foolish', 'maalish', and 'polish'.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Powder enbadhu mughathukku polish / Cutex enbadhu nagathukku polish

The word 'polish' is repeated sequentially to mimic the rhythm of a street vendor hawking services.

Chain Rhyme (Anadiplosis / Antanaclasis)

Kaalukku seruppu vaanghi podu / Vaanghi pottadhum polish podu / Polish pottadhum thuttai podu / Thuttai pottadhum nadaiyai podu

The ending word or concept of each clause becomes the starting action of the next line, creating a swift rhythmic flow.

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Trivia

This track showcases lyricist Vaali's mastery in integrating Western loan words (coat, suit, polish, cutex, lipstick, foolish) into mainstream Tamil movie songs, reflecting the cosmopolitan urban culture portrayed in 1960s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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