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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Soru Thinnu Naalachu

From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Senthil
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaivu Chinnam1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Male
Soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Male
Kannipponnu kaipottuServed by a young maiden's hand,
Kaangaeyam nei pottuAdding pure Kangayam ghee,
Kannipponnu kaipottuServed by a young maiden's hand,
Kaangaeyam nei pottuAdding pure Kangayam ghee,
Manakka manakka rusikka rusikka rasichchu rasichchuFragrant, delicious, enjoying every bite,
Male
Naan ippadi soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice like this.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Male
AppadiyaaIs that so?
Male
Soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Male
Aduppula vadachatti neruppula kodhikkuthuThe frying pan on the stove boils above the fire,
Pasiyila thudikkuthu ennapolaThrobbing in hunger just like me.
Aattuna uzhunthula ottaiya pottuttuMaking a hole in the ground urad dal batter,
Sattiyila vizhunthuttaa ponnaipolaIt fell into the pan like a golden bride.
Male
Ettaatha kilaiyilae thongugira kanigalumEven the fruits hanging on unreachable branches,
Thottaada mudiyala ulla pasi theeralaCannot be reached or touched, nor is inner hunger satisfied.
Saappaadu kettuththaan kooppaadu poduthuDemanding food, people make a loud cry,
Soru vazhi paarththuthaan oorulagam poguthuThe whole world moves around searching for food.
Male
Varuththapaduthu kozhithaanThe chicken is feeling sad,
Male :Aamaannae aamaannae aamaannaeYes brother, yes brother, yes brother!
Male :Adha varuththu thinnaa jollythaanRoasting and eating it is pure joy!
Male :Aiyyo aiyyo aiyyaiyyoOh dear, oh dear, oh my goodness!
Male
Varuththapaduthu kozhithaanThe chicken is feeling sad,
Male :Varuththapaduthu kozhithaanThe chicken is feeling sad,
Male :Varuththu thinna jollythaanRoasting and eating it is pure joy!
Male :Varuththu thinna jollythaanRoasting and eating it is pure joy!
Male
Manakka manakka rusikka rusikka rasichchu rasichchuFragrant, delicious, enjoying every bite,
Naan ippadi soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice like this.
Male
Niruththungannae enna aalu neengaStop it brother, what kind of person are you?
Edhu mukkiyam soraa mukkiyamWhat is important, is rice important?
Kozhi thinnu naalaachchu muzhu kozhi thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate chicken, since I ate a whole chicken.
Annae annaeBrother, brother!
Kozhi thinnu naalaachchu muzhu kozhi thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate chicken, since I ate a whole chicken.
Male
Podaa…..kozhi thinni payalae….Go away, you chicken-eating boy!
Male
Paruppula irukkuthu palavitha ragasiyamThere are many secrets hidden in dal/lentils,
Varuththatha aattinaa rompa rusikkumIf you roast and grind it, it tastes divine.
Mochchakottai kozhambula potta karuvaaduthaanThe dried fish placed in the broad-bean curry,
Ennai dhinam paarththuthaan mella sirikkumLooks at me daily and smiles softly.
Male
Kuththaala karaiyilae kulikkira menellaamAll the fish swimming near the shores of Kourtallam,
Aththamaga veettila sattikkulla veganumMust cook inside the pot at my cousin's house.
Eppothum mookkula antha manam veesanumThat aroma must always waft into the nose,
Istampol podanum namma pasi theeranumWe should eat as much as we desire to satisfy our hunger.
Male
Vanjiram eppothum vanjiramthaanKing fish (Vanjiram) is always supreme,
Male :Engae engae engannaeWhere, where, where brother?
Male :Kenjurom eppothum kenjuromWe beg, we always beg.
Male :Hmm pongannaeHmm, go away brother.
Male
Vanjiram eppothum vanjiramthaanKing fish (Vanjiram) is always supreme,
Male :Vanjiram eppothum vanjiramthaanKing fish (Vanjiram) is always supreme,
Male :Kenjurom eppothum kenjuromWe beg, we always beg.
Male :Kenjurom eppothum kenjuromWe beg, we always beg.
Male
Manakka manakka rusikka rusikka rasichchu rasichchuFragrant, delicious, enjoying every bite,
Naan ippadi soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice like this.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Male
Kozhi thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate chicken,
Muzhu kozhi thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate a whole chicken.
Male
Kanniponnu kaipottuServed by a young maiden's hand,
Kaangaeyam nei pottuAdding pure Kangayam ghee,
Kanniponnu kaipottuServed by a young maiden's hand,
Kaangaeyam nei pottuAdding pure Kangayam ghee,
Manakka manakka rusikka rusikka rasichchu rasichchuFragrant, delicious, enjoying every bite,
Naan ippadi soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate rice like this.
Nalla soru thinnu naalaachchuIt has been days since I ate good rice.
Chorus
…………………...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic comedic song from 'Ninaivu Chinnam' (1989) expresses the deep longing for a wholesome, delicious home-cooked meal using lighthearted food metaphors and humor. The characters humorously lament their state of starvation and reminisce about mouth-watering traditional Tamil dishes cooked with aromatic Kangayam ghee, roasted lentils, dried fish curry, fried chicken, and kingfish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Manakka manakka rusikka rusikka rasichchu rasichchu

Words like 'Manakka manakka' (fragrant) and 'rusikka rusikka' (delicious) are repeated consecutively to intensify sensory imagery.

Uvamai (Simile)

Sattiyila vizhunthuttaa ponnaipola

Compares the vada batter dropping into hot oil to a bride entering her home ('ponnaipola').

Thani Sol / Puns (Double Entendre)

Vanjiram eppothum vanjiramthaan

Wordplay on 'Vanjiram' which refers to Seer Fish as well as 'vanjagam' (deceit/trickery) in a humorous context.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Gangai Amaran, this iconic comedy track was rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan along with actor/comedian Senthil, who added his signature vocal nuances to enhance the theatrical humor of the song.

Keep listening

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