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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raja En Mel

From Macha Rekai · 1950

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
A. P. Komala
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Details
Macha Rekai1950

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Raja en mel kobamaO my King, are you angry with me?
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summaDo not get angry, come on, just come.
Jaalam seiyaadhae nee vaaDo not play tricks, come here.
O raaja ingae odi vaaOh King, run over here.
Female
Raja en mel kobamaO my King, are you angry with me?
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summaDo not get angry, come on, just come.
Female
Maappillai polae modi seiyaadhaeDo not put on arrogance like a bridegroom.
Mann aandhai polae summa muzhikkadhaeDo not stare blankly like a mud owl.
Raja en mel kobamaO my King, are you angry with me?
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summaDo not get angry, come on, just come.
Female
Kattayama sol kaaya nee pazhamaTell me for sure, are you an unripe fruit or a ripe fruit?
Kallu pillaiyaarae sella pillaiyaaraeOh stone idol of Ganesha, my darling beloved!
Raja en mel kobamaO my King, are you angry with me?
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summaDo not get angry, come on, just come.
Jaalam seiyaadhae nee vaaDo not play tricks, come here.
O raaja ingae odi vaaOh King, run over here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil song features a heroine lightheartedly coaxing her lover to drop his sulking attitude and join her. She affectionately teases him, telling him not to act proud like a bridegroom or stand motionless like a mud owl or a stone deity. Through charming folk-style metaphors and persistent cajoling, she tries to bring a smile to his face and draw him back to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Maappillai polae modi seiyaadhae / Mann aandhai polae summa muzhikkadhae

The lyricist compares the partner's stubborn attitude to a bridegroom's pomp ('Maappillai polae') and a motionless mud owl ('Mann aandhai polae') using the comparative marker 'polae'.

Antithesis (Muran)

Kattayama sol kaaya nee pazhama

Contrasting terms 'kaaya' (unripe/sour) and 'pazhama' (ripe/sweet) are juxtaposed to ask whether his mood is sour or sweet.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai) & Metaphor

Kallu pillaiyaarae sella pillaiyaarae

Rhyming pair 'Kallu' and 'Sella' provides melodic harmony while metaphorically comparing him to a quiet stone Pillaiyar (Ganesha idol).

Did you know?

Trivia

Macha Rekai (1950) featured music by the legendary composer C. R. Subbaraman, who was a mentor to famous duo M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was celebrated for incorporating colloquial Tamil idioms and street-play rhythms into early Tamil cinema music.

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