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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhu Pottu

From Village Folk Songs · 2023

Lyricist
Ilankavi
Singers
Anthakudi Ilayaraja, Rajalakshmi
Music director
Henry
Details
Village Folk Songs2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Male
Vaadi konjikalamCome dear, let us cuddle
Vaazha thoppukullaInside the banana grove
Jodi senthukilamLet us join together as a couple
Ethuvum thappillaThere is nothing wrong with it
Male
Vaadi konjikalamCome dear, let us cuddle
Vaazha thoppukullaInside the banana grove
Jodi senthukilamLet us join together as a couple
Ethuvum thappillaThere is nothing wrong with it
Male
Adiyae sandaaliOh you naughty girl
Sarasam pannadhaDo not flirt with me
Aruva kannalaWith your sickle-like eyes
Muzhusa thinnadhaDo not devour me completely
Male
Adiyae sandaaliOh you naughty girl
Sarasam pannadhaDo not flirt with me
Aruva kannalaWith your sickle-like eyes
Muzhusa thinnadhaDo not devour me completely
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Male
Koovdha kozhi renduTwo chickens that do not crow
Koondukulla irukkuAre inside the cage
Nogaama nongu thingaTo eat palm fruit effortlessly
Aasa thaandi enakkuI have immense desire
Female
Pogatha oorukkuTo an unknown town
Nee kooti pora edhukkuWhy are you taking me there?
Ooyaama killadhaDo not pinch me continuously
Un maela thaanae kirukkuI am crazy about you
Male
Kattaaru ennaLike a wild river
Nee kattu paduthuYou restrain me
Un muthaana saelaikullaInside your precious saree
Enna uduthuWrap me up
Female
Pannadha saettai ellaamAll the pranks not done yet
Panna paakkuraYou are trying to do
Ada pallaakku illamaWithout even a palanquin
Enna thookkuraYou lift me up
Male
Ada vellarikka maeniyadiOh, you have a body smooth like a cucumber
Seththu pona seeni vediYou are like an explosive sparkler
Male
Adiyae sandaaliOh you naughty girl
Sarasam pannadhaDo not flirt with me
Aruva kannalaWith your sickle-like eyes
Muzhusa thinnadhaDo not devour me completely
Male
Adiyae sandaaliOh you naughty girl
Sarasam pannadhaDo not flirt with me
Aruva kannalaWith your sickle-like eyes
Muzhusa thinnadhaDo not devour me completely
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Male
YemmaOh girl
Female :YeppaFemale: Oh man
Male :Yemma yemmaMale: Oh girl, oh girl
Female :YeppaFemale: Oh man
Male :YemmaMale: Oh girl
Female :YeppaFemale: Oh man
Female
Vadatha poo unakkuA flower that never withers
Vakkapattu varavaShould I come as your wedded wife?
Thaenaaga nee ennaLike honey, you touch and taste me
Thottu thinnu badavaTouch and consume me, you rascal
Male
Kandaale bodha tharumGiving intoxication just by looking
Kallukada paanaiLike a pot in a toddy shop
Solladha jaadaiyilaIn unsaid gestures
Mayakura machanaYou mesmerize me, cousin
Female
Soodhaana pechellamWhy all this hot talk
Innum edhukkuAny longer?
Ada soosdatha malligaiyaeOh unblemished jasmine
Thottu kasakuTouch and crush it
Male
Yeraalam vithaPlenty of tricks
Innum micham irukkuAre still remaining
Ada thaaralam sollitharenI will generously teach you
Neram odhukkuSet aside some time
Female
Ada mallakattum maamanukkuFor the uncle who wrestles
Macham inga thaan irukkuThe good fortune is right here
Female
En machanaeOh my beloved cousin
Pidichaen kaiyodaI caught you instantly by the hand
Ini on ponjadhiFrom now on, I am your wife
Thaduthen kaiyodaI stopped you right away
Female
Ada en machanaeOh my beloved cousin
Pidichaen kaiyodaI caught you instantly by the hand
Ini on ponjadhiFrom now on, I am your wife
Thaduthen kaiyodaI stopped you right away
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Male
Saanthu pottuWearing a bindi of sandal paste
Sarasarama malli vechiWearing strands of jasmine flowers
SaayankaalathulaIn the evening time
Saada solli pora pullaYou girl, who passes by giving signals
Female
Vaaya konjikalamCome, let us cuddle
Vaazha thoppukullaInside the banana grove
Jodi senthukilamLet us join together as a couple
Ethuvum thappillaThere is nothing wrong with it
Female
Vaaya konjikalamCome, let us cuddle
Vaazha thoppukullaInside the banana grove
Jodi senthukilamLet us join together as a couple
Ethuvum thappillaThere is nothing wrong with it
Male
Adiyae sandaaliOh you naughty girl
Sarasam pannadhaDo not flirt with me
Aruva kannalaWith your sickle-like eyes
Muzhusa thinnadhaDo not devour me completely
Female
Ada en machanaeOh my beloved cousin
Pidichaen kaiyodaI caught you instantly by the hand
Ini on ponjadhiFrom now on, I am your wife
Thaduthen kaiyodaI stopped you right away

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Saanthu Pottu is a playful Tamil village folk song depicting romantic banter between a young man and woman. The male protagonist expresses his fascination with the woman's rural elegance, adorned with sandalwood paste and jasmine garlands. He invites her into a banana grove to share moments of affection while playfully pleading with her not to overpower him with her sharp, captivating gaze. The female protagonist responds with witty flirtation and bold affection, expressing her desire to become his wedded wife. Filled with classic village metaphors—like wild rivers, toddy pots, and fresh blossoms—the song captures the joyful, uninhibited spirit of rural Tamil romance set to energetic folk rhythms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monae (Initial Alliteration)

Saanthu pottu / Sarasarama malli vechi

Repetition of the initial 'S' consonant across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aruva kannala

Comparing the female protagonist's sharp and striking eyes to a sickle ('aruva').

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kandaale bodha tharum Kallukada paanai

Comparing the woman's captivating presence to an intoxicating toddy shop pot ('kallukada paanai').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattaaru enna / Nee kattu paduthu

Rhyming of the second letter 'tti' / 'tti' in adjacent lines ('kat-taaru' and 'kat-tu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Anthakudi Ilayaraja and Rajalakshmi are celebrated folk singers in Tamil Nadu, known for popularizing authentic rural 'Gramiya Paatuggal'. This song uses classic imagery native to Southern Tamil Nadu culture, such as banana plantations, jasmine strands, and sandalwood paste.

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