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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sandhanatha

From Vada Chennai · 2018

Lyricist
Gaana Bala
Singers
Kaka Balachander, Gana Bala
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Vada Chennai2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sandhanatha karachi thaadaMix sandalwood paste and give it to me
Kannathula poosaTo apply on the cheeks
Thattu varusaya pirichu vaidaArrange the ceremonial plates in line
Oorae morachu paakaSo the whole town stares in awe
Male
Thambi annan petha ponnuThe younger and elder brothers' daughter
Periya manushi aayittaaHas come of age and become a woman
Nethu intha roja poovuYesterday this rose flower
Veetukulla poothuthaBloomed inside the house
Male
Thaaimaaman ellaarumAll the maternal uncles
Onnathana aayitomHave come together as one
Dappaanguthu aadikinuDancing to the dappanguthu beats
Oor valama kelambitomWe set off on a procession through the town
Male
Sondha bandham ellathukkumTo all relatives and kin
Seidhi solli anuppudaSend the news and invite them
Sandhu bondhu ella edamumIn every alley and corner
Poster adichu ottudaPrint and paste posters
Male
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Ayiyaiyooo…Oh my goodness…
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Male
Sandhanataha karachi thaadaMix sandalwood paste and give it to me
Kannathula poosaTo apply on the cheeks
Thattu varusaya pirichu vaidaArrange the ceremonial plates in line
Oorae morachu paakaSo the whole town stares in awe
Male
Munnaatti pottaBeat the drum in front
Pinnaatti varenI will follow behind
Munnaatti pottaBeat the drum in front
Pinnaatti varenI will follow behind
Hei hei hei hei…heiHei hei hei hei… hei
Hei hei hei hei…heiHei hei hei hei… hei
Male
Paavada satta pottaThe girl who wore skirts and tops
Pattaampoochi unakkuIs now like a butterfly to you
Thaimaaman kondu vandhaBrought by her maternal uncle
Thanga chain-u parisuA gift of a gold chain
Male
Aalagi vittalaeShe has become so beautiful
Akka ponnu thaan daShe is my sister's daughter
Adha kettu sandhosamHearing that news, happiness
Adanjitten naan daI have attained today
Male
Pazhaya thuni ellaamAll the old clothes
Paraniyila podu daPut them away in the loft
Pattu podava vaangiBuying a silk saree
Kattunathaan joru daWearing it looks grand indeed
Male
Pavalam muthu vairamCoral, pearl, and diamond
Thoothu povum paru daWill fade in comparison, look!
Ivala pola azhagiA beauty like her
Oorukulla yaaru daWho else is in this town?
Male
Vaazha pola valandhuttaShe grew up fast like a banana tree
Chinna vayasula naanHow I saw her in her childhood
Paathatha pol illadaaShe isn't like that anymore
Aalae maarivittaaHer whole persona changed
Pazhasa ellaam maranthutaaShe forgot all childhood things
Pakkuvamma aayittaShe has grown mature
Thenna ola kudisayilaIn the coconut-thatch hut
Enga veettu thinnaiyilaOn the veranda of our house
Pudhusaathaan poranthutta daShe is born anew, my friend!
Male
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Ayiyyaa…Oh yeah…
Sandhanathaa…Sandalwood paste…
Male
Sandhanatha karachi thaadaMix sandalwood paste and give it to me
Kannathula poosaTo apply on the cheeks
Thattu varusaya pirichu vaidaArrange the ceremonial plates in line
Oorae morachu paakaSo the whole town stares in awe
Male
Pottlamittai pottlamittaiPacket sweets, packet sweets
Udathaa…Play the beat!
Goindhamma udatha…Goindhamma, play the beat!
Udathaa…majaapaa…Play the beat… total fun!
Avala udathaa…Play the beat for her!
Male
Thattivudu…Strike the beat!
Thattivudu…Strike the beat!
Male
Kaalula metti kattiToe-ring tied on the foot
Paaduthamma kolusuThe anklet sings, oh my!
Kaathula oonjal kattiSwinging like a cradle on the ears
Aadutha da kammaluThe earrings sway!
Male
Paathaalae minnuthammaJust looking at her, she shines
Akka ponnu azhaguThe beauty of my sister's daughter
Bayanthukkinu ozhinjikichuOut of fear, it hid
Megathula nilavuThe moon behind the clouds
Male
Melaada dhavaniThe half-saree attire
Selaiyaaga achi daHas turned into a full saree, man!
Mittaai kammarakattuCandy and kammarakattu sweet
Aasai ellaam pochu daDesires for those are gone, man!
Male
Raathiri ellaarukkumFor everyone at night
Kozhikari virundhuA feast of chicken curry
Raava thaan oothikuduPour it neat, without diluting
Nattu sarakku marundhuLocal liquor, the real medicine
Male
Raasathi vandhuttaThe princess has arrived
Munnala vandhuComing to the front
Aarathi edungadaPerform the aarathi ritual, folks
Sollama ingaWithout even being told
Oorujanam onupadumTownsfolk will gather here
Ponnumela kannupadumEyes will fall upon the girl
Melathaalam paadivarumPercussion instruments will play
Chinna pasanga aadi varumYoung kids will dance along
Mothathula thirushti padum daOverall, the evil eye will fall on her, man!
Male
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Hey sandhanatha…Hey sandalwood paste…
Male
Sandhanatha karachi thaapaMix sandalwood paste and give it to me
Kannathula poosaTo apply on the cheeks
Thattu varusaya pirichu vaidaArrange the ceremonial plates in line
Oorae morachu paaka…So the whole town stares in awe…
Male
Hei hei hei…Hei hei hei…
Udathaa…Play the beat!
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Sandhanatha…Sandalwood paste…
Male
Dumukkam purappukuthaDumukkam purappukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dummakuruppakku ruppukuthaDummakuruppakku ruppukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dumukkam purappukuthaDumukkam purappukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dummakuruppakku ruppukuthaDummakuruppakku ruppukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dumukkam purappukuthaDumukkam purappukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dummakuruppakku ruppukuthaDummakuruppakku ruppukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Dumukkam purappukuthaDumukkam purappukutha (Rhythmic folk drum syllables)
Podu machi….Play it, my friend!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sandhanatha is an energetic North Chennai Gaana folk track from the movie Vada Chennai (2018), celebrating a girl's puberty and coming-of-age ceremony (Manjal Neerattu Vizha). The song captures the immense pride and grand celebrations hosted by her family, especially her maternal uncles. It highlights traditional festivities such as street processions, dappanguthu dancing, custom posters, gold gifts, silk sarees, grand non-vegetarian feasts, and rituals like performing aarathi to ward off the evil eye.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nethu intha roja poovu / Veetukulla poothutha

Compares the young girl coming of age to a fresh rose blooming inside the house.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Bayanthukkinu ozhinjikichu / Megathula nilavu

Exaggerates the girl's beauty by stating that the moon hid behind clouds in intimidation.

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaazha pola valandhutta

Compares her swift growth to that of a banana tree.

Rhyme & Rhythm (Ethirai / Monai)

Paavada satta potta / Pattaampoochi unakku

Uses end-rhymes and alliteration characteristic of North Chennai street Gaana poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written and sung by Gaana Bala with music by Santhosh Narayanan, 'Sandhanatha' accurately portrays authentic North Chennai street culture and traditional family celebrations, perfectly matching the gritty periodic setting of Vetrimaaran's acclaimed film Vada Chennai.

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