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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Selai Onnu Suthi

From Pudhiya Poovithu · 1986

Lyricist
N. Vendhan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Kannan Latha
Movie name
Pudhiya Poovithu
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saelai onnu suthivitta
Sekka paarthu kooda kannadippae
Oora maeyum pokka neeyum
Vittu vidanum ippa vittu vidanum
Vittu vidanum ippa vittu vidanum
Ooril ulla pombalainga
En tholil yeri thulluthunga
Odamba nalla naanum ippo
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Ponna kanda odambae pookkudhadi
Female :Aamaam neeyum azhagu manmadhan thaan
Male :Aathu thanni adiye alli kudippen
Female :Jakkirathai saethula maatikiduvae
{Ada vayasana aambala
Male :Vara vara aasaikkoodum
Female :Sollaadhae veliyile
Male :Molla molla thanni oorum} (2)
Maanam kappal yerum munnae
Maathikidanum sonnaa yethukkidanum
Maathikidanum sonnaa yethukkidanum
Saelai onnu suthivitta
Sekka paarthu kooda kannadippae
Male :Odamba nalla naanum ippo
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Female :Haan
Konjam iru veliyae poyi varen
Female :Senji vecha soru aari pogum
Male :Vuttu soru naakku aluthiduchae
Female :Haa hotel soru
Thinnu koluthuduchu
{Adi ennadi pombala
Female :Vandhu kundhi sotha thinnu
Male :Ada sonnaakka keludi
Female :Paaya pottu yedho pannu} (2)
Oodha kaathu veesum neram
Kitta varanum kulira thatti vidanum
Male :Haan…
Female :Kitta varanum kulira thatti vidanum
Saelai onnu suthivitta
Sekka paarthu kooda kannadippae
Oora maeyum pokka neeyum
Vittu vidanum ippa vittu vidanum
Vittu vidanum ippa vittu vidanum
Ooril ulla pombalainga
En tholil yeri thulluthunga
Odamba nalla naanum ippo
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Thaethikiduren saththu yethikkiduren
Even if someone drapes a saree around it,
You would wink even at an oil press!
This habit of wandering around town,
You must give it up, give it up right now!
You must give it up, give it up right now!
All the women in this town,
Are eager to jump onto my shoulders!
That is why I am building up my body now,
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Whenever I see a woman, my whole body blooms!
Female: Oh sure, as if you are the handsome god of love!
Male: Girl, I can scoop and drink fresh river water directly!
Female: Watch out, or you will get stuck in the mud!
Hey, you are an aging old man!
Male: As time goes by, my desire only grows!
Female: Do not go saying that in public!
Male: Slowly, my mouth begins to water!
Before all your respect is completely ruined,
You must change your ways and listen to me!
You must change your ways and listen to me!
Even if someone drapes a saree around it,
You would wink even at an oil press!
Male: That is why I am building up my body now,
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Female: Ah!
Wait a moment, let me go out and come back!
Female: The food I cooked will turn cold!
Male: My tongue has grown bored of home-cooked food!
Female: Ah, eating outside at restaurants
Has made you far too cheeky!
Hey, what kind of woman are you?
Female: Just come sit down and eat your meal!
Male: Hey girl, just listen to what I say!
Female: Spread out a mat and do whatever you want!
When the chilly breeze begins to blow,
You should come close and drive away the cold!
Male: Ah...
Female: You should come close and drive away the cold!
Even if someone drapes a saree around it,
You would wink even at an oil press!
This habit of wandering around town,
You must give it up, give it up right now!
You must give it up, give it up right now!
All the women in this town,
Are eager to jump onto my shoulders!
That is why I am building up my body now,
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Getting in shape and boosting my strength!
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful duet features a humorously tense banter between a wife and her aging, flirty husband. The wife mockingly scolds him for his eye-wandering habits, claiming he would flirt with an oil press if it wore a saree. She urges him to act his age and reform before losing his dignity in the village.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole / Idiomatic Humor

Saelai onnu suthivitta Sekka paarthu kooda kannadippae

Extravagant exaggeration used to criticize flirting habits—claiming he would wink at a inanimate wooden oil press (sekku) if wrapped in a saree.

Metaphor

Vuttu soru naakku aluthiduchae

Comparing domestic routine versus external temptations using the food metaphor 'Vuttu soru' (home rice) and 'Hotel soru' (hotel food).

Monai (Alliteration)

Molla molla thanni oorum

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across adjacent words creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the musical duo Kannan-Latha for the 1986 film Pudhiya Poovithu. The playful vocal dynamics between Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Shailaja reflect a quintessential folk-pop duet style popular in mid-1980s Tamil cinema comedy tracks.

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