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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Tea Tea Soodaana Tea

From Devaki (1951) · 1951

Lyricist
Ka. Mu. Sheriff
Singers
Jikki, A. G. Rathnamala, U. R. Chandra
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Devaki (1951)1951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Tea….soodaana teaTea... hot tea
Tea….soodaana teaTea... hot tea
Female
Aiyaa vaanga amma vaanga vaangaSir come, madam come, please come
Vanthu vaangunga rushi paarunga kalai theerungaCome buy, taste it, relieve your tiredness
Oo…oo…aiyaa aanga amma vaanga vaangaOo...oo... sir come, madam come, please come
Female
Kalla saaraayaththai kaaichchi kudichchivittuDon't brew illicit liquor and drink it
Kambiyai enna pogaathingaAnd go count bars in prison
Kallu thanni aasaiyinaalOut of desire for toddy and booze
French polisyaiyum sprit-aiyumFrench polish and methylated spirit
Female
Kudichchu vittu kudal venthuDrinking it, burning your intestines
Kashtapattu saavaathingaDon't die suffering terribly
Saavaathinga saavaathingaDon't die, don't die
Saavaathinga saavaathinga…oo….Don't die, don't die...oo...
Female
Aiyaa vaanga amma vaanga vaangaSir come, madam come, please come
Vanthu vaangunga rushi paarunga kalai theerungaCome buy, taste it, relieve your tiredness
Oo…oo…aiyaa aanga amma vaanga vaangaOo...oo... sir come, madam come, please come
Female
Tea….soodaana tea…Tea... hot tea...
Female
Aasai machchaanae innaikku embuttuBeloved husband, today how much
Kaasu sampaathichingaMoney did you earn?
Aasai machchaanae innaikku embuttuBeloved husband, today how much
Kaasu sampaathichingaMoney did you earn?
Female
Athai yeathukkammaa neenga kekkureengaWhy are you asking that, woman?
Paarkkathaanunga chumma kaattungaJust to see, show me please
Paarkkathaanunga chumma kaattungaJust to see, show me please
Female
Aanavam minji pochaHas your arrogance crossed limits?
Ennai yaarinnu ennikkittaeThinking who do you think I am?
Aanavam minji pochaHas your arrogance crossed limits?
Ennai yaarinnu ennikkittaeThinking who do you think I am?
Kanakkaa kekkurae engittaDemanding accounts from me
Female
Yaeng ketkkakoodaathaa…Why, shouldn't I ask?
Female
Aduppu oodhum pottachchi ongittaA stove-blowing woman like you asking me?
Adhaiyum sollamaattaenAdi podi udhaikkaporaenI won't even tell you that, move away or I'll kick you
Female
Aduppangarai kaakkumProtecting the kitchen
Pombalai illaattiIf a woman is not there
Aduppangarai kaakkumProtecting the kitchen
Pombalai illaattiIf a woman is not there
Appo theriyum saedhiThen you will know the news
Appo theriyum saedhiThen you will know the news
En thangaiyum illaattiAnd if my sister is not there too
Appo theriyum saedhiThen you will know the news
Female
Ennaadi poochchaandi kaatturaeWhy are you threatening me like a boogeyman?
Ennaadi poochchaandi kaatturaeWhy are you threatening me like a boogeyman?
Naan illaatti ponaaIf I am not here
Nee oottaandiyaaguvaeYou will become a destitute beggar
Naan illaatti ponaaIf I am not here
Nee oottaandiyaaguvaeYou will become a destitute beggar
Female
Ang ennaa sonna neeyillainnaaWhat did you say there, if you are not there
Naan pozhaikkamaattaenaa…yaendeeWon't I survive... hey girl?
Female
On pozhaippum en pozhaippumYour livelihood and my livelihood
Innum konja naalilaeIn a few more days
Purinji povum paaraenWill be understood, just watch
Naan poraen…sarithaan podiI am leaving... alright then, go
Female
Tea….soodaana tea…Tea... hot tea...
Female
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk
Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaarThose who buy and eat will desire it
Aahaa rompa jore manam inikkumAha, it is very grand, mind feels sweet
Vaai manakkum ice morMouth gets fragrant with iced buttermilk
Female
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk
Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaarThose who buy and eat will desire it
Aahaa rompa jore manam inikkumAha, it is very grand, mind feels sweet
Vaai manakkum ice morMouth gets fragrant with iced buttermilk
Female
Veyyil kaalaththukeththathuPerfect for the summer season
Vaangidunga kalai neengidungaBuy it and remove your fatigue
Velaiyumae malivunga oo…The price is also very cheap, oo...
Idhai vaangi ponga neengaBuy this and go, all of you
Female
Veyyil kaalaththukeththathuPerfect for the summer season
Vaangidunga kalai neengidungaBuy it and remove your fatigue
Velaiyumae malivunga oo…The price is also very cheap, oo...
Idhai vaangi ponga neengaBuy this and go, all of you
Female
Sir jil jil jil ice cream you wantSir, cool cool ice cream you want
Licence…ice fruitLicence... ice fruit
Yaemandi icemor-u meeru thaagandiSir, drink iced buttermilk
Yaemandi icemor-u meeru thaagandiSir, drink iced buttermilk
Vegu jorandi nee paarandiIt is very grand sir, just see
Female
Thooru thesake jaanae vaalaePeople traveling to far-off lands
Thooru thesake jaanae vaalaePeople traveling to far-off lands
Thum ko ice cream honaaDo you want ice cream?
Nahitho ice mor honaa…poloOr do you want iced buttermilk? Tell me
Ice cream…paisa…laelo….achchaajeeIce cream... take the money... okay sir
Female
Enthaa sirae ninjnlguWhat sir, for you
Ice cream venumaaDo you want ice cream?
Pache ice mor venumaaOr fresh iced buttermilk?
Paraiyu ennidaththulaeTell me
Asalaayittu oru ice cream tharuI will give you genuine ice cream
Enthaa siraeWhat sir
Female
Elumichchnj saaru ooththiPouring lemon juice
Injiyodu minjaamalaeWithout missing ginger
Elumichchnj saaru ooththiPouring lemon juice
Injiyodu minjaamalaeWithout missing ginger
Konjamaaga uppum pottuAdding a little salt
Ranjithamaa thaalichchathu mor-uSplendidly tempered buttermilk
Velai athigamillaiPrice is not high
Vaangi kudichchupaaruBuy and drink it
Female
Oo…annanmaaraeOo... brothers
Konjamthaan irukkuthungaOnly a little bit is left
AnnanmaaraeBrothers
Konjamthaan irukkuthungaOnly a little bit is left
Ice mor-um thaanunga thaaraenaeI will give iced buttermilk too
Naanum joraaga vaangaCheerfully come buy it
Oo….vaangi kudingaOo... buy and drink
Illaiyaanaal yaemaaruveengaOtherwise you will miss out
Female
Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaarThose who buy and eat will desire it
Aahaa rompa jore manam inikkumAha, it is very grand, mind feels sweet
Vaai makkum ice morMouth gets fragrant with iced buttermilk
Female
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk
Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaarThose who buy and eat will desire it
Aahaa rompa jore manam inikkumAha, it is very grand, mind feels sweet
Vaai manakkum ice morMouth gets fragrant with iced buttermilk
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk
Female
Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaarThose who buy and eat will desire it
Aahaa rompa jore manam inikkumAha, it is very grand, mind feels sweet
Vaai manakkum ice morMouth gets fragrant with iced buttermilk
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk
Ice cream ice morIce cream, iced buttermilk

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively multi-part novelty song from Devaki (1951) captures the vibrant street life and domestic banter of 1950s Tamil Nadu. The track begins with a tea vendor promoting hot tea while humorously cautioning people against illicit alcohol and toxic adulterants (like French polish or methylated spirit), urging them to lead safe lives. The middle section shifts to a spousal argument between a husband and wife over daily earnings and household duties, featuring playful threats, pride, and domestic squabbles. The final movement turns into an energetic hawking medley where vendors sell ice cream and ice buttermilk (ice mor) using a blend of Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English, and Malayalam to attract diverse customers during hot summer days.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Code-Switching / Multilingual Rhyme

Yaemandi icemor-u meeru thaagandi / Thum ko ice cream honaa

The track incorporates phrases in English ('you want'), Telugu ('meer thaagandi'), Hindi ('polo', 'achchaajee'), and Malayalam ('enthaa sirae') to simulate realistic multi-ethnic street vending in urban centers.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Vaangi thinnuvor aasai kolluvaar

Repetition of the initial 'V' consonant sound across consecutive words creates a bouncy cadence for hawking goods.

Refrain and Onomatopoeia

Sir jil jil jil ice cream you want

Use of repetitive catchy chants like 'jil jil jil' and rhythmic calls of 'Tea... soodaana tea' to capture street cries.

Did you know?

Trivia

Devaki (1951) featured legendary music composer G. Ramanathan. This track is notable for Ka. Mu. Sheriff's witty lyrics addressing social themes like prohibition, while using multi-lingual street cries to depict mid-century cosmopolitan Madras.

Keep listening

More from Devaki (1951)