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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sokku Podi Kakkathile

From Maaveeran · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Maaveeran1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….....
Male
Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukkenI hold love magic-powder hidden in my armpit,
Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaenIf you wish, I will keep circling around you.
Female :Sokkuppodi ennaththukku chinna mamaFemale: Why use love-powder, my dear uncle?
Naan sokki sokku pona pinnum podalaamaaShould you use it even after I am already mesmerized and enchanted?
Male
Sokki pona pinnaalumEven after you are captivated,
Vetkkam yaendi pulli maanaeWhy are you still shy, my spotted deer?
Female :Vazhiyae marichchu kodiyaeFemale: Blocking my path like a creeper vine,
Nee vambizhukka vanthirukkaHave you come to pick a playful fight?
Male
Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukkenI hold love magic-powder hidden in my armpit,
Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaenIf you wish, I will keep circling around you.
Chorus
…………….....
Female
Vaazha vayasulathaan vedhanaiAt an age meant for enjoying life, the distress...
Female Chorus :KonjamillaFemale Chorus: Is not small!
Female :Maman padichchuputta saathanaiFemale: The achievements accomplished by my uncle...
Female Chorus :PanjamillaFemale Chorus: Are not scarce!
Male :Ponnu virichcha vala kannilaeMale: In the trap spread by the girl through her eyes...
Male Chorus :Aamaam solluMale Chorus: Say yes!
Male :Innum ezhunthirukka koodalaMale: I still haven't been able to get back up.
Male Chorus :Appadi solluMale Chorus: Say it like that!
Female
Naalaaga en meni noolaaga poyaachchuDay by day, my body has become thin like a thread.
Ennaachchu en mama un pechchu veenaachchuWhat happened, my uncle? Your tall talk went in vain!
Male :Thaenaachchu un pechchu thaenoda paalaachchuMale: Your speech became sweet like honey mixed with milk.
Naan kettu en nenju ippothu paazhaachchuListening to it, my heart is now completely ruined with love.
Female
Mama mama….aa….Uncle, uncle... ah...
Koottikkittu veettukkul poopottuTaking me inside the house decorated with flowers,
Saernthathippo thaalam thattuNow join together and beat the rhythm!
Male :Adhukkum idhukkum edhukkumMale: For this, for that, and for everything,
Oru vela ipo vanthiruchchuA proper time has now arrived.
Male
Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukkenI hold love magic-powder hidden in my armpit,
Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaenIf you wish, I will keep circling around you.
Female :Sokkuppodi ennaththukku chinna mamaFemale: Why use love-powder, my dear uncle?
Naan sokki sokku pona pinnum podalaamaaShould you use it even after I am already mesmerized and enchanted?
Male
Thaniyaa paduththirukken paayilaeI lie down all alone on the mat.
Male Chorus :Aamam pullaeMale Chorus: Yes, my girl!
Male :Thunaiyaa em pakkaththilae vaa pullaeMale: Come to my side as my companion, my girl!
Male Chorus :Aamam pullaeMale Chorus: Yes, my girl!
Female :Oru naal oru pozhuthu thoongalaFemale: Not sleeping for a single day or a single moment,
Female Chorus :ThoongavillaFemale Chorus: Not sleeping!
Female :Paruvam paduththuvathu thaangalaFemale: Unable to bear the pangs of youth,
Female Chorus :ThaangavillaFemale Chorus: Unable to bear!
Male
Sollaama kollaama allaama killaamaWithout telling, without killing, without embracing or pinching,
Vellaama naan pottaen yaen pulla ennaachchuI sowed the harvest; why girl, what happened?
Female :Parththaalum paarththeenga kettaalum keettengaFemale: You kept looking and looking, you kept asking and asking,
Aaththaadi yaedhetho kooththaagi poyaachchuOh my, everything turned into quite a drama!
Male
Maanae maanae….ae….My deer, my deer... ah...
Chinna chittu ennaththaan nee thottuLittle bird, touching whatever you like,
Ishttapattu mallukkattuWith affection, wrestle playfully!
Female :Adhukkum idhukkum edhukkumFemale: For this, for that, and for everything,
Oru vela ippo vanthiruchchuA proper time has now arrived.
Male
Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukkenI hold love magic-powder hidden in my armpit,
Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaenIf you wish, I will keep circling around you.
Female :Sokkuppodi ennaththukku chinna mamaFemale: Why use love-powder, my dear uncle?
Naan sokki sokku pona pinnum podalaamaaShould you use it even after I am already mesmerized and enchanted?
Male
Sokki pona pinnaalumEven after you are captivated,
Vetkkam yaendi pulli maanaeWhy are you still shy, my spotted deer?
Female :Vazhiyae marichchu kodiyaeFemale: Blocking my path like a creeper vine,
Nee vambizhukka vanthirukkaHave you come to pick a playful fight?
Male
Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukkenI hold love magic-powder hidden in my armpit,
Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaen….If you wish, I will keep circling around you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sokkuppodi Kakkaththilae is a vibrant rural folk duet from the 1986 Tamil film Maaveeran, composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song features playful romantic banter between the hero and heroine. The male lead humorously claims he holds 'Sokkuppodi' (a mythical love-charm powder) to entice her, while the female lead affectionately counters that she is already deeply captivated by him, rendering any magic powder unnecessary. Throughout the song, the couple playfully expresses their romantic yearning, sleepless nights, and eagerness for union, accompanied by enthusiastic chorus interludes. Set to an energetic folk rhythm, the lyrics by Gangai Amaran reflect traditional rural Tamil courtship filled with flirtation, humor, and tender affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukken / Ishttaminnaa suththi suthi vanthiruvaen

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a line for rhythmic emphasis.

Hyperbole / Simile

Naalaaga en meni noolaaga poyaachchu

Comparing the body's emaciation due to romantic longing to a thin thread ('noolaaga').

Metaphor

Thaenaachchu un pechchu thaenoda paalaachchu

Describing sweet romantic speech as honey mixed with milk ('thaenoda paalaachchu').

Repetition / Refrain

Sokkuppodi kakkaththilae vatchirukken

Recurring opening lines serving as the hook of the song to establish playful charm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maaveeran (1986) starring Rajinikanth and Ambika was the official Tamil remake of the 1983 Hindi blockbuster 'Mard' starring Amitabh Bachchan. The film was notable for being the first Tamil film shot in 70mm film format. The track features the energetic vocals of Malaysia Vasudevan and K. S. Chithra under Ilaiyaraaja's music direction.

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