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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

September Madham

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Asha Bhosle, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Alaipayuthey
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
10 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thunbam tholaindhadhu..epoo
Inbam tholaindhadhu..epooo..hey
Thunbam tholaindhadhu
Inbam tholaindhadhu..hey…
{September maadham
September maadham
Vaazhvin thunbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom} (2)
October maadham
October maadham
Vaazhvin inbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Female :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appo
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Female :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appo
September maadham
September maadham
Vaazhvin thunbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom
October maadham
October maadham
Vaazhvin inbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom..
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Male :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appo
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Male :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appo
Ohooo…ohoooo…
Hey pennae
Kaadhal enbadhu inikkum virundhu
Kalyaanam enbadhu veppangozhundhu
Hey kannae…
Ohh niraiyai mattumae
Kaadhal paarkkum
Kuraiyai mattumae
Kalyaanam paarkkum en kannaa…
Kaadhal paarppadhu
Paadhi kannil
Kalyaanam paarppadhu
Naalu kanniladi pennae
Kili mookkin nuni mookkil
Kobangal azhagedral
Rasikkum rasikkum kaadhal
Kalyaanam aanaalae
Thurumbellaam thoonaaga
En en en modhal
Pengal illaamal
Aangalukkaarudhal kidaikkaadhu
Male :Pengalae ulagil illaiyendraal
Aarudhalae thevaiyirukkaadhu…
Aaaa..heeeii
Hooo..hooo..
Septembar maadham
Septembar maadham
Female :Ahaa aa ahaa ahaa aa
Ahaa ahaa aa ahaa aa
Male :October maadham
October maadham
Ohoooo…ohooo…
Ohoooo…ohooo…
Naan kanden
Kaadhal enbadhu kazhuththil sangili
Kalyaanam enbadhu kaalil sangili
En seiven
Kalyaanam enbadhai
Thalli podu
Thonnooru varaikkum
Poovai thaadu vaa anbae
Kaadhal pozhudhil
Virumbum kurumbu
Kalyaanak kattilil
Kidaippadhillai en nanbaa
Pirivondru neraadha
Uravondril sugamillai
Kaadhal kaadhal adhudhaan
Uravodu silakaalam
Pirivodu silakaalam
Naam vaazhvom vaa vaa
Aangal illaamal
Pengalukkaarudhal kidaikkaadhu
Female :Aangalae ulagil
Illaiyendraal aarudhalae
Thevaiyirukkaadhu….
September maadham
September maadham
Vaazhvin thunbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom
October maadham
October maadham
Vaazhvin inbaththai
Tholaiththu vittom..
Thunbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Female :Kaadhal pirandhadhae appo
Chorus :Inbam tholaindhadhu eppo
Male :Kalyaanam mudindhadhae appo..ooo…
When was sorrow lost?
When was joy lost? Hey...
Sorrow was lost...
Joy was lost... hey...
In the month of September,
in the month of September,
all the sorrow in life,
we lost it.
In the month of October,
in the month of October,
all the joy in life,
we lost it.
When was sorrow lost?
Female: Right when love was born!
Chorus: When was joy lost?
Female: Right when marriage took place!
In the month of September,
in the month of September,
all the sorrow in life,
we lost it.
In the month of October,
in the month of October,
all the joy in life,
we lost it...
When was sorrow lost?
Male: Right when love was born!
Chorus: When was joy lost?
Male: Right when marriage took place!
Oho... oho...
Hey girl,
love is a sweet feast,
marriage is bitter neem leaves.
Hey darling...
Oh, only the good side
does love see;
only the flaws
does marriage see, my dear...
Love looks
with half-closed eyes,
marriage looks
with four eyes, my girl!
On the tip of a parrot-beak nose,
if anger looks cute,
love cherishes and enjoys it.
But once marriage happens,
every tiny straw turns into a massive pillar—
why, why, why all this fighting?
Without women,
men will find no comfort.
Male: If women did not exist in this world,
comfort wouldn't even be needed!
Aaa... heeeey
Hoo... hoo...
In the month of September,
in the month of September,
Female: Aha aa aha aha aa
Aha aha aa aha aa
Male: In the month of October,
in the month of October,
Oho... oho...
Oho... oho...
I have realized,
love is a chain around the neck,
marriage is a chain around the feet.
What can I do?
Marriage,
keep putting it off,
until age ninety!
Wear your flowers and come, my love!
During the days of romance,
the mischief we loved,
on the wedding bed,
cannot be found, my friend.
Without moments of parting,
there is no sweetness in a relationship.
That is what love is!
Together for some time,
apart for some time,
let us live like that, come on!
Without men,
women will find no comfort.
Female: If men in this world
did not exist, comfort
wouldn't be needed at all!
In the month of September,
in the month of September,
all the sorrow in life,
we lost it.
In the month of October,
in the month of October,
all the joy in life,
we lost it...
When was sorrow lost?
Female: Right when love was born!
Chorus: When was joy lost?
Male: Right when marriage took place... oh...
Male
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
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Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
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Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

September Maadham is a witty debate song from Mani Ratnam's film Alaipayuthey (2000), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song metaphorically uses the consecutive calendar months of September and October to contrast the sweet freedom of romance with the sobering realities of marriage. Falling in love ('September') eliminates life's sorrow, but getting married ('October') ironically steals away life's simple joys and carefree passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kaadhal enbadhu inikkum virundhu / Kalyaanam enbadhu veppangozhundhu

Love is directly compared to a sweet feast ('inikkum virundhu'), whereas marriage is compared to bitter tender neem leaves ('veppangozhundhu').

Antithesis / Parallelism

Ohh niraiyai mattumae Kaadhal paarkkum / Kuraiyai mattumae Kalyaanam paarkkum

Contrasts how love focuses exclusively on virtues ('niraiyai') while marriage fixes itself upon defects/flaws ('kuraiyai').

Hyperbole / Idiomatic Expression

Kalyaanam aanaalae / Thurumbellaam thoonaaga

Uses the Tamil idiom 'thurumbellaam thoonaaga' (making a straw into a giant pillar), representing making a mountain out of a molehill in marriage.

Metaphor

Kaadhal enbadhu kazhuththil sangili / Kalyaanam enbadhu kaalil sangili

Love is metaphorically visualized as a light ornament/chain around the neck, while marriage is described as a heavy chain around the feet restricting movement.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features a memorable cameo dance appearance by Swarnamalya alongside Madhavan and Shalini. Choreographed by Farah Khan, the track was composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Vasundhara Das.

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