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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayaramma Thaayaaru

From Seval · 2008

Lyricist
Hari
Singers
Karthik, Vadivelu
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Seval2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaruShe passed away as a married, blessed woman
Chorus
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaruShe passed away as a married, blessed woman
Male
Sittaathu thanni yeduthuTaking water from the Chittaar river...
Chorus :Thaayaramma thaayaaruChorus: Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Male :Neenda sirappudanae vaazhndhavaruMale: She lived with long-lasting distinction
Chorus :Thaayaramma thaayaaruChorus: Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Male :Thaamira barani thanni kudichuMale: Drinking water from the Thamirabarani river
Chorus :Thaayaramma thaayaaruChorus: Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Male :Inga thangamaaga vaazhndhavaruMale: She lived here like pure gold
Chorus :Thaayaramma thaayaaruChorus: Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Male
Neththu paduthu thoongunathuSlept yesterday night
Tirunelveli townulaIn Tirunelveli town
Bodhai thelinju elumbunadhuWoke up once the intoxication cleared
Aalwarkuruchi theruvulaOn the streets of Alwarkurichi
Male
Pumpu setta thirudinadhuStole the pump set
Meesa kaaran vayalilaIn the moustached man's field
Paarthavan thaan saatchi sonnaanThe witness who saw it gave testimony
Paalayankottai jailulaaIn Palayamkottai jail
Chorus
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaruShe passed away as a married, blessed woman
Male
Kolaaraiyaa kolaaruTrouble, sir, trouble
Un kannu rendum kolaaruBoth your eyes are causing trouble
Ushaar aiyaa ushaaruBe alert, sir, be alert
Ungappan angu nikkaaruYour father is standing over there
Chorus
……………………………....
Male
Kaalaiyila elumbunathumAs soon as we wake up in the morning
Kavundhu paduthu thoonghuvomWe sleep lying face down again
Appan thittum vaarthai ellaamAll the scolding words from father
Panju vechu mooduvomWe plug our ears with cotton
Paththu manikku pakkuvomaCarefully at ten o'clock
Palaiya sorththa uruttuvomWe roll up balls of leftover fermented rice
Pallu vilakka aaththaa sonnaWhen mother asks us to brush our teeth
Saambalathaan theduvomWe look for charcoal ash
Male
Maadu kaluvum kolathulaIn the pond where cattle are washed
Mathiyaanam munguvomWe take a dip in the afternoon
Marupadiyum bodhai yeraTo get intoxicated again
Monda kalla nakkuvomWe lick toddy from the pot
Male
Hey saayangaalam neram varaHey, when evening time arrives
Moonu seetu aaduvomWe play three-card poker
Raathiriyil nariya polaAt night, like jackals
Oolaiyittu kaththuvomWe howl and shout aloud
Male
Aathaavoda aasaikku….For mother's desire...
Oooo..ooo aathavoda aasaikkuOooo..ooo for mother's desire
Veettai thaane nenaikkanumShould think of home
Ungoppanoda thollaikkuBecause of your father's nuisance
Veedhiyila padukanumWe have to sleep on the street
Chorus
{Thaayaramma thaayaaru{Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaru} (2)She passed away as a married, blessed woman} (x2)
Male
Seval kozhi polaLike roosters
Naanga poruppu ilaama suththuvomWe roam around without any responsibility
Potta kozhi pogum podhuWhen a hen walks by
Onnaa serndhu koovuvomWe all crow together
Male
Jallikattu kaala polaLike Jallikattu bulls
Thullikittu oduvomWe run and prance around
Mallukatta yaarum vandhaIf anyone comes to fight us
Gundukatta thakkuvomWe pin them down and attack
Male
Karagattam paakka ponomWe went to watch Karagattam dance
Kadaiya nalloor roatulaOn the Kadayanallur road
Aattam potta amsavodaWith Amsa who danced
Iduppu madippu marakkalaWe couldn't forget the folds of her waist
Male
Villu patta ketkaponomWe went to listen to Villu Paattu
VeeravanalloorilaeIn Veeravanallur
Paattu mudinji elumbum bodhuWhen getting up after the performance ended
Iduppu vetti kaanalaOur waist dhoti was missing
Male
Aattukari kozhikariMutton meat, chicken meat
Innaikku onnum kidaikkalaToday we got nothing
Aattukari kozhikariMutton meat, chicken meat
Innaikku onnum kidaikkalaToday we got nothing
Elikariya suttu thinnumWe roast and eat rat meat
Yeththam innum adangalaOur high still hasn't subsided
Male
IppoNow
{Thaayaramma thaayaaru{Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaru} (2)She passed away as a married, blessed woman} (x2)
Chorus
{Thaayaramma thaayaaru{Mother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Thannanthaniya ponaaruShe departed all alone
Thaayaramma thaayaaruMother Thaayaramma, oh mother
Sumangaliya ponaaru} (2)She passed away as a married, blessed woman} (x2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk track from the movie 'Seval' juxtaposes a traditional southern Tamil mourning chant refrain ('Thaayaramma') with humorously candid verses describing the reckless, irresponsible lifestyle of young men in rural Tirunelveli. The singers lightheartedly describe waking up hungover in different towns, stealing farm equipment, getting caught by police, avoiding chores, gambling, drinking toddy, and chasing girls at village cultural events like Karagattam and Villu Paattu.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Seval kozhi pola

Comparing the youth to wild roosters ('Seval kozhi pola') and aggressive bulls ('Jallikattu kaala pola') to emphasize their unbridled, irresponsible behavior.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monnai and Ethirhai)

Kaalaiyila elumbunathum / Kavundhu paduthu thoonghuvom

Extensive use of second-letter rhyming across lines, typical of Tamil folk ballad structures (e.g., Kaalaiyila / Kavundhu, Paththu / Palaiya).

Irony / Contrast

Sumangaliya ponaaru

Contrasting solemn, ritualistic mourning vocals ('Sumangaliya ponaaru') with upbeat, comedic, and rebellious lyrical content.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Seval' (2008) features music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar and was directed by Hari. The song heavily incorporates traditional southern Tamil Nadu folk rhythms and local dialect specific to the Tirunelveli district, referencing prominent towns such as Alwarkurichi, Kadayanallur, Veeravanallur, and Palayamkottai.

Keep listening

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