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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Signore Signore

From Kannathil Muthamittal · 2002

Lyricist
B. H. Abdul Hameed
Singers
Swarnalatha, Anupama
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kannathil Muthamittal2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yo yaalu venna yenna yaaluooOh friend, what kind of friend are you?
Summa salli thanda ponga malliyaeJust give a small coin and go, Malli!
Yo yaalu venna yenna yaaluooOh friend, what kind of friend are you?
Male
Senyorae senyorae senyoraeSenyora, Senyora, Senyora!
Gaju kamayil kaello paarkalam vaaListen, let us go and see near Gaju Kama!
Senyorae senyorae senyoraeSenyora, Senyora, Senyora!
Pajavu pottu pajavu pottuWearing pajamas, wearing pajamas,
Theadalam vaa vaaCome, let us go search!
Male
Gaju pennae gaju pennaeHey Gaju girl, Gaju girl,
Velaiyenna di (2)What is your work, girl?
Unn pattu viral thottaIf touched by your silk-soft fingers,
Velaiyum serkathae deeNo work or value will ever match it!
Female
Hae hae etti nilluHey hey, stand at a distance!
Un kannai muzhichchuWidening your eyes,
Enga nee paakara paakaraWhere are you looking, where are you looking?
Hae malli malli malliHey Malli, Malli, Malli!
Kello kollo yaaluvenna aatharenga malliListen, girl, why this support, Malli?
Kadhalukum kamaththukum venum idaveliThere needs to be a boundary between love and lust.
Female
{Yo yaalu venna yenna{Oh friend, what kind of...
Male :YaaluooMale: ...friend?
Female :Summa salli thanda pongaFemale: Just give a small coin and go...
Male :Malliyae} (2)Male: ...Malli!}
Female
……………………...
Male
Senyorae senyorae senyoraeSenyora, Senyora, Senyora!
Kolpaes kadaloram pogalam vaaCome, let us go to the Galle Face seashore!
Senyorae senyorae senyoraeSenyora, Senyora, Senyora!
Kudaikku keezhae jodi theadiUnder an umbrella, searching for a partner,
Kulavalaam vaa vaaCome, let us frolic and mingle!
Male
Karukellae karukellae perenna deeHey dark girl, dark girl, what is your name?
Karukellae karukellae perenna deeHey dark girl, dark girl, what is your name?
Kadaloram kaikorthu pogalam vaa diHand-in-hand, come let us go along the seashore, girl!
Female
Hae hae angae nilluHey hey, stand right there!
Ennoda purushanai kootitu vaarenI will go bring my husband!
Male :Ho haiyo nangi nangiMale: Oh my goodness, my girl!
Thavaripochu thavaripochuIt was a mistake, a mistake!
Enn thangachchiMy little sister!
Machchana naan ketadhagaTell your husband
Sollu thangachchiThat I inquired about him, sister!
Female
{Yo yahlu venna yenna yaluoo{Oh friend, what kind of friend are you?
Summa pakadi panni asadu vazhiyidhu} (2)Making fun and standing awkwardly embarrassed!}
Male
{Yo yaalu venna yenna yaaluoo{Oh friend, what kind of friend are you?
Summa salli thanda poanga malliyae} (2)Just give a small coin and go, Malli!}

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song features playful street banter set in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Through rhythmic teasing and localized Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala-influenced slang, young men attempt to flirt with passing women using endearing loanwords like Senyorae and invoking famous landmarks like Galle Face beach. The women respond with witty comebacks, setting firm boundaries and shutting down unwanted advances by threatening to call their husbands, causing the men to retreat in humorous embarrassment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Epizeuxis (Repetition)

Senyorae senyorae senyorae

Repetition of words like 'Senyorae' and 'Karukellae' creates a catchy, playful street-rhyme cadence.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kadhalukum kamaththukum venum idaveli

The second letter harmony in 'Kadhalukum' and 'Kamaththukum' creates internal structural rhythm.

Code-switching / Loanwords

Kolpaes kadaloram pogalam vaa

Incorporation of Portuguese/Spanish ('Senyorae') and local Sri Lankan topography ('Kolpaes' / Galle Face) reflects the multicultural urban Colombo atmosphere.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track captures the distinct Sri Lankan Tamil and Baila-influenced street culture portrayed in Mani Ratnam's 2002 acclaimed film Kannathil Muthamittal. 'Kolpaes' refers to Colombo's iconic Galle Face Green promenade, a popular seaside gathering spot.

Keep listening

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