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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Surangani Surangani

From Avar Enakke Sontham · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Renuka
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Avar Enakke Sontham1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
SuraanganiSurangani
Suraangani suraanganiSurangani, Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani
Maalu maalu maaluFish, fish, fish
Suraanganikka maaluFish for Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani
Female
Kootathilae chinna ponnuA young girl in the crowd
MaatikittaalaamGot trapped
Kooda vantha chinna paiyanThe young boy who came along
Idichi paarthaanamNudged her and looked
Maatikitta chinna kuttyThe caught young girl
Morachi paarthaalamGlared back at him
Idichi ninna chinna paiyanThe young boy who bumped into her
Ilichi ninaanaamStood there grinning
Male
Ootiyila maamanukkuFor the uncle in Ooty
Malaiyila veeduA house up on the hill
Veetukulla kulir adichaIf it gets cold inside the house
Whisky a poduHave a drink of whisky
Soodu konjam yerichinnaaWhen the warmth rises a bit
Sudhiyila paaduSing in perfect pitch
Jodikkoru ponnirukkuThere is a girl to match as a pair
Duet paaduSing a duet together
Female
SuraanganiSurangani
Male :SuraanganiMale: Surangani
Male & Female :Male & Female:
Suraangani suraanganiSurangani, Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani
Maalu maalu maaluFish, fish, fish
Suraanganikka maaluFish for Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani
Female
Maadi veettu machaanukkuFor the young man in the upstairs house
Oru maadhiriyaa aasaiA peculiar kind of desire
Madhurai veeran saamipolaLike the deity Madurai Veeran
Aattukkadaa meesaiHe sports a curved handlebar mustache
Vayasu vantha ponna paathuLooking at a girl who has grown up
Yenguraaru pesaHe yearns to talk to her
Vambu seira maamanukkuFor the troublemaking man
Kaaththirukku poosaiA thrashing awaits him
Male
Arisirukku paruppirukkuThere is rice, there are lentils
Aakka mudiyalaeYet unable to cook
Aduppirukku neruppirukkuThere is a stove, there is fire
Serkka mudiyalaeYet unable to light it up
Aasa patta ellaaththaiyumEverything that was desired
Kekka mudiyalaeUnable to ask for
Adutha veettu aththa magalaiThe aunt's daughter next door
Paakka mudiyalaeUnable to even see her
Female
SuraanganiSurangani
Male :SuraanganiMale: Surangani
Male & Female :Male & Female:
Suraangani suraanganiSurangani, Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani
Maalu maalu maaluFish, fish, fish
Suraanganikka maaluFish for Surangani
Suraanganikka maalu gennavaaI brought fish for Surangani

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a joyful, fast-paced dance number built around playful narrative verses and an energetic Sinhala Baila-inspired chorus. The lyrics narrate funny, relatable romantic situations and lighthearted everyday struggles—from a boy teasing a girl in a crowd to a man pining for his neighbor's daughter while having all the ingredients for a meal but no ability to cook it.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Chorus Repetition

Suraanganikka maalu gennavaa

The catchy Sinhala line 'Suranganikka maalu gennavaa' is repeated periodically as a structural chorus, giving the song its iconic energetic rhythm.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Arisirukku paruppirukku / Aduppirukku neruppirukku

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating a bouncy rhythmic cadence typical of folk poetry.

Hyperbole / Simile

Madhurai veeran saamipola / Aattukkadaa meesai

Comparing a ordinary man's facial hair to the imposing mustache of the guardian deity Madurai Veeran for comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track is an official Tamil adaptation of the legendary Sri Lankan Sinhala Baila song 'Surangani', popularised across South Asia by A.E. Manoharan in the 1970s. Panchu Arunachalam adapted the lyrics into Tamil while retaining the original Sinhala hook 'Suranganita mal genava' (adapted phonetically here as fish/malu), making it an instant pop hit across Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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