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Lyrics & meaning

Sokki Kulam Sengamalam

From Machakkaran (1986) · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam, Sundar Rajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Machakkaran (1986)1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Maththiyilae thaavaniyaal moodi vachchaalaeShe covered her waist in between with a half-saree.
Male
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Maththiyilae thaavaniyaal moodi vachchaalaeShe covered her waist in between with a half-saree.
Male
Pottapulla kaaththirunthaa bussukkaagaththaanWhen the young girl was waiting for a bus,
Orunthan pakkaththula vanthu ninnaan kissukkaagaththaanA fellow came and stood near her asking for a kiss.
Pottapulla kaaththirunthaa bussukkaagaththaanWhen the young girl was waiting for a bus,
Orunthan pakkaththula vanthu ninnaan kissukkaagaththaanA fellow came and stood near her asking for a kiss.
Female
Pal ilichchaan sight adichchaan pokkiri pachchaaHe grinned foolishly and checked her out, the brazen rogue,
Ava paleerinnu rendu arai podariyil vachchaaShe gave him two hard slaps right on the back of his neck.
Male :Ava Pattanaththu latchanaththa purinjukkittaalaamMale: Thus, she understood the nature of city life.
Female
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Male :Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeMale: Skirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Maththiyilae thaavaniyaal moodi vachchaalaeShe covered her waist in between with a half-saree.
Female
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Male
Seeppu soap-u saamanellaam vaangi mudichchaaShe finished buying things like a comb and soap,
Adha vaangikkittu Matni show paarththu rasichchaaHaving bought them, she enjoyed watching a matinee movie show.
Seeppu soap-u saamanellaam vaangi mudichchaaShe finished buying things like a comb and soap,
Adha vaangikkittu Matni show paarththu rasichchaaHaving bought them, she enjoyed watching a matinee movie show.
Male
Pakkavaattil iunthavanthaan paiya thottaanaeThe guy sitting beside her slowly touched her bag,
Antha paikkullae ragasiyama kaiyavuttaanaeHe quietly slid his hand inside her bag.
Female :Ava pattanaththu latchanaththa purunjikkittaalaamFemale: Thus, she understood the nature of city life.
Male
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Female :Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeFemale: Skirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melaeSkirt down below, and a sweet fragrance above,
Maththiyilae thaavaniyaal moodi vachchaalaeShe covered her waist in between with a half-saree.
Male
Sokkikkulam sengamalamSengamalam from Sokkikkulam village,
Pattanaththa suthi suthi paakka vanthaalaamCame to tour around the city.
Male
………………...
Male
Paaththaachchu paaththaachchu pattana vaasamWe have seen, we have seen city life!
Saernthu padikkirappo yaerpaduthu palliyil nesamWhen studying together, affection blossoms in school.
Female :Paaththaachchu paaththaachchu pattana vaasamFemale: We have seen, we have seen city life!
Saernthu padikkirappo yaerpaduthu palliyil nesamWhen studying together, affection blossoms in school.
Male
Vaazhum varai paadungadaa anantha paattaaSing a happy song as long as you live,
Varuvathu yaar thunaiyaaga kattaiya pottaaWho will come as your companion when you are carried to the grave?
Intha vedhantham velanguthappaa pattaya pottaa…This deep philosophy becomes clear once you apply it!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Sokkikkulam Sengamalam' tells a lighthearted yet cautionary story about a innocent young rural woman named Sengamalam who visits the big city. Through comical anecdotes—such as a street harasser at a bus stop getting slapped for misbehaving and a pickpocket trying to steal her belongings during a movie show—she quickly learns how to navigate urban life safely and stand up for herself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaibu / Ethirai)

Pottapulla kaaththirunthaa bussukkaagaththaan / Orunthan pakkaththula vanthu ninnaan kissukkaagaththaan

The lyrics use playful internal and end rhymes such as 'bussukkaagaththaan' pairing with 'kissukkaagaththaan', and 'paaththaachchu' pairing with 'vaasam'.

Wordplay / Pun (Shleshai)

Paavadaththaan keezhae ada poovaadaththaan melae

The contrasting words 'paavadaththaan' (skirt) and 'poovaadaththaan' (fragrance of flowers) create a rhythmic, catchy musical duality.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi / Onomatopoeic words)

Ava paleerinnu rendu arai podariyil vachchaa

'Paleerinnu' vividly conveys the sharp sound and effect of a hard slap.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar Ganesh with lyrics by Vaali, the song portrays a typical 1980s Tamil cinema trope where village innocence encounters urban modernism, delivering humorous narrative verses sung rhythmically by Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam.

Keep listening

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