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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Samathana Mappillai

From Maanikka Thottil · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Maanikka Thottil1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Samaththaana mappillai ivaruHe is a well-behaved groom,
Sangathi keladi thangachiListen to the story, my little sister!
Samaththaana mappillai ivaruHe is a well-behaved groom,
Sangathi keladi thangachiListen to the story, my little sister!
Female
Thangam pola chinna ponnukkuFor a little girl pure like gold,
Samamaai intha ammaanjiThis simpleton is an equal match!
Thangam pola chinna ponnukkuFor a little girl pure like gold,
Samamaai intha ammaanjiThis simpleton is an equal match!
Samamaai intha ammaanjiThis simpleton is an equal match!
Chorus
…………….
Female
Vennei vettiya sippaai ivaruHe is a soldier who chopped up soft butter!
Pennai kattukka vanthaaruHe has come here to marry a girl!
Thonnai konduvaa neiyai poduBring a leaf bowl and pour some ghee,
Dosai muppathu thinpaaruHe will easily eat thirty dosa pancakes!
Female
Paarvaikku thaanadi rajaHe looks like a king only to the eyes,
Paththini ponnukku koojaaBut he is just a loyal follower to a virtuous woman!
Paarvaikku thaanadi rajaHe looks like a king only to the eyes,
Paththini ponnukku koojaaBut he is just a loyal follower to a virtuous woman!
Paarkkira paarvai thookkuthu aalaiThe way he looks lifts a person off their feet,
Payila pottukka lesaaPut a knot on him effortlessly!
Female
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Chorus :Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Female
Samaththaana mappillai ivaruHe is a well-behaved groom,
Sangathi keladi thangachiListen to the story, my little sister!
Female
Pottenna poovennaWhat matters the bindi or the flowers?
Ponnenna maniyennaWhat matters gold or precious gems?
Ponnaaga piranthumennaWhat is the use of being born like gold?
Podaatha nagai enna poomaalai azhagennaWhat use are un-worn jewels and the beauty of flower garlands?
Bommai polirunthumennaWhat is the point of sitting still like a doll?
Female
Sappaani mookkayi ivalukkuFor this flat-footed, flat-nosed girl,
Nam veettil sambantham vaaiththathennaHow did a match in our house come about?
Samsaari maappillai sanniyaasiyaai maaraFor a family-man groom to turn into an ascetic,
Idam paarththu vanthathennaWhy did he come searching for this place?
Female
Ammaa ivathaan athirshttakkaariOh mother, she is indeed a lucky woman!
Azhagiya mappillai vachchaaruA handsome groom has been arranged for her!
Arjunan pola enga mappillaiLike Arjuna, our groom,
Aadhi manthiyai pudichchaaruHas caught a wild female monkey!
Female
Paarvaikkuththaan ival alliyadiShe looks like a lily only to the eyes,
Pasapura velaiyil kalliyadiShe is a thief at mischievous tricks!
Paarththaal thangam siriththaal vairamIf you look, she is gold; if she smiles, she is a diamond;
Urasi paarththaal velliyadiIf you rub and test her, she is just silver!
Female
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Chorus :Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Chorus
………………
Female
Arivenna thiramenna azhagennaWhat intellect? What skill? What beauty?
Gunamenna aaraatchi moolai ennaWhat character? What an analytical brain?
Aaraezhu varushangal aaraam vaguppilaeFor six or seven years in the sixth grade,
Aaniyaal AdichchathennaWhy did he stay nailed down firm?
Female
Maharani seedhaikku raman kidaikkaamalWithout Queen Sita getting Lord Rama,
Anumaaru vaaichchathennaHow did she end up with Hanuman instead?
Magarasi ival vanthu vaazhavaippaal endruThinking this fortunate girl will make him thrive,
Manamaalai pottathennaWhy did he place the wedding garland?
Female
Kannam sivantha roja poovukkuFor the rose flower with red cheeks,
Mullaai vaiththaar mappillaiThe groom placed sharp thorns!
Kannanai pola enni kondaaruThinking of her as Lord Krishna,
Aiyyo paavam aan pillaiOh poor thing, this innocent man!
Female
Annaththai pola ponnadiShe has golden feet like a swan,
Azhagiya meen pola kannadiShe has eyes like beautiful fish,
Ennaiththai solla ivalukku vaiththathuWhat can I say, what was destined for her,
Engiruntho vantha kali mannadiIs a lump of clay from who knows where!
Female
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Chorus
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!
Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyaeBeat the rhythm of 'Dakkumukku Dikku', oh girls!
Kottungadi ketti melamBeat the loud wedding drums!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful wedding track composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kannadasan features teasing banter between two sides or women attending a wedding celebration. The song uses humorous hyperbole to playfully mock both the groom and the bride. The groom is teased for his simple nature, massive appetite, and slow academic progress, while the bride is poked fun at for her looks and tricky demeanor, balanced with compliments comparing her to gold and diamonds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thangam pola chinna ponnukku

Compares the girl's preciousness to gold ('Thangam pola chinna ponnukku') and her feet/eyes to a swan and fish ('Annaththai pola ponnadi / Azhagiya meen pola kannadi').

Irony / Sarcasm (Vanjappugazhci)

Vennei vettiya sippaai ivaru

Playfully mocking the groom's 'bravery' by calling him a soldier who cuts butter ('Vennei vettiya sippaai ivaru').

Alliterative Rhythm (Monai & Ethirhai)

Dakkumukku dikku thaalam adiyae

Use of rhythmic folk sound expressions like 'Dakkumukku dikku thaalam' to create a lively dance rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

This playful bridal-teasing song features the energetic duet of L. R. Eswari and S. Janaki, two legendary playback singers who frequently collaborated for expressive, theatrical, and comic duet tracks in 1970s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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