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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sammandhi Veettamma

From Veettukku Vandha Marumagal · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Veettukku Vandha Marumagal1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Female
Thaali katta aallillaattiIf there is no man to tie the sacred wedding thread,
Thavidu thunna pongammaaGo eat rice husk!
Thaali katta aallillaattiIf there is no man to tie the sacred wedding thread,
Thavidu thunna pongammaaGo eat rice husk!
Female
Pillai peththu thaaraenI will give birth to a child,
Thottil katta vaangammaaCome buy and tie a cradle!
Pillai peththu thaaraenI will give birth to a child,
Thottil katta vaangammaaCome buy and tie a cradle!
Adhai paattiyammaa pottuLet grandmother wear it,
Paadanum thaalaattuAnd sing a lullaby!
Female
…………………....................
Female
Adhai paattiyammaa pottuLet grandmother wear it,
Paadanum thaalaattuAnd sing a lullaby!
Female
Kolaththu mettukkaraiyilaeOn the banks of the pond,
Naan meenai kaayappottaenI laid out fish to dry.
Meenu kaaya podayilaeWhile laying fish out to dry,
Saami ivarai paaththaenMy goodness, I saw him!
Female
Kolaththu mettukkaraiyilaeOn the banks of the pond,
Naan meenai kaayappottaenI laid out fish to dry.
Meenu kaaya podayilaeWhile laying fish out to dry,
Saami ivarai paaththaenMy goodness, I saw him!
Female
Maaththinaaru maalaiyaiHe exchanged garlands,
Saaththinaaru selaiyaiHe draped a saree on me.
Maaththinaaru maalaiyaiHe exchanged garlands,
Saaththinaaru selaiyaiHe draped a saree on me.
Female
Adi naaththanaarae kettukkaHey sister-in-law, listen closely,
Un thambi senja velaiyaiTo the deed your younger brother did!
Naaththanaarae kettukkaSister-in-law, listen closely,
Un thambi senja velaiyaiTo the deed your younger brother did!
Female
Thaiyaaththakkaa ullaeDancing rhythmically inside,
Thavazhuthamma pillaiA child is crawling!
Paatti enga paattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother,
Maattikittaa maattiShe got caught, she is trapped!
Female
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Female
Periya manushi aanapothaeAs soon as I came of age,
Piriyam vachchitaaruHe developed an affection for me.
Pesakkooda idamillaiyaeWithout even a place to talk,
Payirai menjuttaaruHe grazed upon the crop!
Yov summaavaa solluraenHey mister, am I saying this casually?
AiyyaeAiyyae!
Female
Periya manushi aanapothaeAs soon as I came of age,
Piriyam vachchitaaruHe developed an affection for me.
Pesakkooda idamillaiyaeWithout even a place to talk,
Payirai menjuttaaruHe grazed upon the crop!
Female
Kaattinaaru maadiyaiHe showed me the upper floor,
Maattinaaru thaaliyaiHe tied the sacred thread!
Kaattinaaru maadiyaiHe showed me the upper floor,
Maattinaaru thaaliyaiHe tied the sacred thread!
Female
Adhai kaattaththaanae vooduthaediJust to prove that, searching for the house,
Koottu vanthaen seriyaiI brought the right crowd along!
Kaattaththaanae vooduthaediJust to prove that, searching for the house,
Koottu vanthaen seriyaiI brought the right crowd along!
Meththai onnu poduSpread out a mattress!
Paatti enga paattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother,
Maattikittaa maattiShe got caught, she is trapped!
Female
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Female
Rappukkaara paattiyinnuThat she is a tough grandmother,
Appave sonnaaruHe told me back then itself.
Rappukkaara paattiyinnuThat she is a tough grandmother,
Appave sonnaaruHe told me back then itself.
Female
Naan aruppukkaara aarumugamI am the daughter born to
Peththa ponnu paaruAarumugam, the harvest man, look!
Aruppukkaara aarumugamLook at the daughter born to
Peththa ponnu paaruAarumugam, the harvest man!
Female
Hai ennaangadiHey, what is this, girls?
Kuthu sandai podvenI will engage in a fist fight,
Paththu perai saaduvaenI will pounce on ten people at once!
Kuthu sandai podvenI will engage in a fist fight,
Paththu perai saaduvaenI will pounce on ten people at once!
Female
Em paattiyammaa kittae iniIn front of my grandmother, from now on,
Aattamellaam kaattuvaenI will show all my tricks!
Paattiyammaa kittae iniIn front of my grandmother, from now on,
Aattamellaam kaattuvaenI will show all my tricks!
Female
Hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi!
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Female
Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaaMother-in-law's house lady is my mother's co-wife.
Female
Thaali katta aallillaattiIf there is no man to tie the sacred wedding thread,
Thavidu thunna pongammaaGo eat rice husk!
Female
Pillai peththu thaaraenI will give birth to a child,
Thottil katta vaangammaaCome buy and tie a cradle!
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Female
Hoi…..Hoi.....
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Paattiyanga paatti maattikitta maattiGrandmother, oh our grandmother, she got caught, trapped!
Aa……aa….aa…aa…aah…ho….hoi…..hoi…..Aa......aa....aa...aa…aah…ho….hoi…..hoi…..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sammanthi Veettammaa is a lively folk song from the 1973 Tamil film Veettukku Vandha Marumagal. Sung with fiery enthusiasm by L. R. Eswari, composed by Shankar-Ganesh, and penned by Kannadasan, the track portrays a bold and unapologetic young woman asserting her rightful place in her husband's household. She playfully mocks the matriarchs, recounts her secret romance and marriage, and warns the family members that she is ready to confront anyone who opposes her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Maaththinaaru maalaiyai / Saaththinaaru selaiyai

The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines ('Maaththinaaru' and 'Saaththinaaru'), creating a rhythmic rhyme pattern.

Metaphor (Uvamai/Uruvagam)

Pesakkooda idamillaiyae / Payirai menjuttaaru

The phrase 'Payirai menjuttaaru' (He grazed upon the crop) is a folk metaphor for consummate romance and intimacy before formal announcements.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Sammanthi veettammaa sakkaalaththi engammaa

Initial consonant sounds 'Sa' repeat across 'Sammanthi' and 'Sakkaalaththi' for poetic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

L. R. Eswari's energetic performance in this song highlights her versatility in high-octane rural folk dance numbers in 1970s Tamil cinema, complemented by Kannadasan's use of authentic village colloquialisms.

Keep listening

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