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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pura Koondu

From Kaadhal · 2004

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Suresh Peters, Tippu
Music director
Joshua Sridhar
Details
Kaadhal2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Mutta sandhuDead-end alley
Male :Maami messuMale: Aunty's mess eatery
Chorus :Motta poochiChorus: Bedbugs
Male :Athula kosuMale: Mosquitoes in that
Chorus :Vaazha mattaChorus: Plantain stem
Cycle rickshawCycle rickshaw
Roatu kadai idli vadaiRoadside stall selling idli and vadai
Chorus
Iyer aathuIyer's house
Hei kaathula thaanHey, floating in the air
HarmoniyumSound of the harmonium
Sa sa sa ri ri riSa sa sa ri ri ri
Ga ga ga ma ma maGa ga ga ma ma ma
Pa dha ne..ee….Pa dha ne..ee….
Chorus
Pillayarai pola vazhumLiving like Lord Ganesha (unmarried)
Bachelors-kku thiruvellikeniTriplicane for the bachelors
Triplicane….Triplicane….
Male
{Puraa koondu pola ingaeHere, like a pigeon coop
Mupaathu roomu….Thirty rooms….
Antha mupathilumAnd in those thirty
Moonu moonu ahThree by three
Thonooru maamu} (2)Ninety bros / guys
Male
Makkachollam pola naangaLike corn on a cob, we
Otti vaaluromStick together and live
Intha maanagarilIn this metropolis
Kanavu kottaA dream castle
Katti vazhuromWe build and live
Chorus
Kathavila kalivaraiku….No door for the bathroom….
Kathavila kalivaraiku….No door for the bathroom….
Bucket kaaval machiA bucket stands guard, my friend
Aachaana…aduthaalu…Done… next person…
Udanae towelImmediately grab the towel
Chorus
Kathavila kalivaraiku….No door for the bathroom….
Bucket kaaval machiBucket stands guard, my friend
Aachaana…aduthaalu…Done… next person…
Udanae towelImmediately grab the towel
Male
Kaiyila pai… kaluthula tieBag in hand… tie on the neck…
Kaiyila pai… kaluthula tie..Bag in hand… tie on the neck..
Vaayula poiLies in the mouth
Sales-u rep-ukellam pepae kaatumFooling everyone, sales reps
Mansion su haiMansion life is high
Male
Kaiyila pai… kaluthula tie..Bag in hand… tie on the neck..
Vaayula poiLies in the mouth
Sales-u rep-ukellam pepae kaatumFooling everyone, sales reps
Mansion su haiMansion life is high
Female
Nee class mate ah…Are you a classmate…
Ila glass mate ah…Or a glass-mate (drinking buddy)…
Nee class mate ahAre you a classmate
Glass mate ahGlass-mate
Voota katudaClear out of the room
Ingu onaam thethiHere on the first of the month
Rent thanthaa room mate daIf you pay rent, you are a roommate, buddy
Haha ha aha ahaHaha ha aha aha
Male
Puraa koondu pola ingaeHere, like a pigeon coop
Mupaathu roomu….Thirty rooms….
Antha mupathilumAnd in those thirty
Moonu moonu ahThree by three
Thonooru maamuNinety bros / guys
Male
Makkachollam pola naangaLike corn on a cob, we
Otti vaaluromStick together and live
Intha maanagarilIn this metropolis
Kanavu kottaA dream castle
Katti vazhuromWe build and live
Male
Pathimoonaam number roomRoom number thirteen
Seetu roomungaIs the card-playing room
Athu panakara ezhainuRich or poor, it's a shared
Kootu roomungaCommon room
Male
Filter kings poga vituBlowing out Filter King cigarette smoke
Dhool kelapungaCreating a grand vibe
Maasa kadaisi ilaAt the end of the month, if not
Kaaja beedi thundu thaanungaSharing pieces of cheap handmade beedis
Male
Paapanaasam aruvi ilaBodies that once bathed in
Kulicha odambungaThe waterfalls of Papanasam
Inga paathi bucket thanni ilaHere, without even half a bucket of water
Mogatha kaluvungaJust wash your face
Male
Barmudas potu varumLook at the old man coming in Bermudas
Perusu paarungaLook at the elderly gent
Ivar dye adichuHe dyes his hair
Daavu adikum bachelorungaHe is a bachelor flirting around
Male
Otta jatti…old monkTorn underwear… Old Monk rum
One by two tea glassA one-by-two tea glass shared
Bacheloroda daily life-ngaThat is the bachelor's daily life
Oru naal aiswaryaOne day Aishwarya Rai
Maru naal sushmitaThe next day Sushmita Sen
Kanavula thaan enga wife-ngaThey are our wives only in our dreams
Male
Intha saeval pannaThis place called 'Saeval' mansion
Pala aala paatha edamungoHas seen many kinds of people
Ada aanaalum othumaiyaAh, but still with unity
Vaazhum idamungo…It is a place where people live…
Male
Pala oor pala baasaiMany towns, many languages
Inga irukum-ngaAre present here
Vayatthu pasi matumOnly the hunger in the stomach
Elaarayum onnu serkungaBrings everyone together
Male
Thala valicha… juram vanthaIf someone gets a headache… or a fever
Nenja negilungaTheir hearts melt with empathy
Udanae thudichu poiImmediately rushing in concern
Mansion ellam maranthu padukum-ngaForgetting the mansion hassle, they attend to them on bed
Male
Petha mugam valatha mogamThe faces of parents who raised us
Maranthu pochungaAre forgotten over time
Paasam money purse photo vulaAffection is hidden
Maranji pochungaInside the photo in the wallet
Male
Attha payan maaman moraThere are no real maternal cousins or uncles
Oravu ilaingaOr family relationships here
Aanaalum naanga elaamYet all of us
Maaman machaan nga…Are uncles and brothers-in-law to each other…
Male
Kaadhaluku Taj mahalShah Jahan built the Taj Mahal
Shah jahan katti vachaanFor love
Naanga kooda katuvongaWe too would build one
Engalathaan nambi vanthaaIf someone comes believing in us
Enga uyir ponaalumEven if we lose our lives
Onaaga serthu vaipongaWe will unite them together
Male
Intha saeval pannaThis mansion place
Othumaiku sirantha idam-ngaIs the best place for unity
Naanga kaadhalar ahWe are the bachelors
Serthu vaikum bachelor-ngaWho unite lovers together
Chorus
Ooooo….ooo….o….oooo..Ooooo….ooo….o….oooo..
Oooo…oo…..ooooo….ooo….Oooo…oo…..ooooo….ooo….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a colorful, lively, and empathetic portrait of bachelor life in the iconic mansions of Triplicane, Chennai. Through vivid urban imagery, the lyrics describe the cramped living conditions, shared amenities, economic struggles, and daily hustles of young men who move from various towns to the metropolis chasing their dreams. Despite the hardships, lack of comfort, and financial strain, the mansion creates a strong bond of brotherhood and unity among strangers from different backgrounds, who share their joy, sorrow, food, and lives like family.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Puraa koondu pola ingae mupaathu roomu….

Compares cramped bachelor rooms to a pigeon coop ('Puraa koondu pola ingae mupaathu roomu') and corn kernels tightly packed on a cob ('Makkachollam pola naanga otti vaalurom').

Rhyme / Wordplay (Edhugai / Monai)

Nee class mate ah… ila glass mate ah…

Clever rhyming pairing of english loan words 'Class mate' and 'Glass mate' to contrast school friends with drinking buddies.

Imagery & Realism

Otta jatti…old monk / One by two tea glass

Uses granular, hyper-realistic details of mid-2000s urban bachelor life in Chennai (Filter Kings, Old Monk, 1-by-2 tea, bucket queue for toilets, photos in wallet) to evoke authentic nostalgia.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song vividly captures the cultural phenomenon of 'Triplicane Mansions' in Chennai, which served as affordable residential hubs for generations of migrant students, job seekers, and aspiring cinema talents. Written by acclaimed lyricist Na. Muthukumar, the song features vibrant musical arrangements by Joshua Sridhar for Balaji Sakthivel's critically acclaimed film 'Kaadhal' (2004).

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