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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayatthu Thaayatthu

From Mahadevi · 1957

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Mahadevi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaayathu thaayathuAmulet, amulet!
Thaayathu thaayathuAmulet, amulet!
Thaayathu thaayathuAmulet, amulet!
Palar sandhegam therthu vidaTo clear many people's doubts,
Santhosamaana oru sanagdhiyaiA joyful piece of news,
Solla varum thaayathuHere comes the amulet to tell!
Sila sandalar velaigalaiThe misdeeds of some scoundrels,
Janangalin mathiyilaeRight in the middle of the public,
Thandora poda varum thaayathuHere comes the amulet to announce loudly!
Aiyaa thaayathu thaayathuSir, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Ammaa thaayathu thaayathuMadam, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Male
Thillilla manushan kiFor a cowardly, heartless man,
Pallellam nellaarukkiWho shows his teeth like rice grains,
Sollellaam vishamirukki kelunghoBut whose words are filled with poison—listen closely!
Thillilla manushan kiFor a cowardly, heartless man,
Pallellam nellaarukkiWho shows his teeth like rice grains,
Sollellaam vishamirukki kelunghoBut whose words are filled with poison—listen closely!
Idha nellaaaki pollaakkiMaking good into evil,
Alla naduvaerakkiDriving a wedge right in the middle,
Ellam velakki podum paarunghoThis amulet will expose everything, watch out!
Laeloo thaayathu thaayathuTake it, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Aavoo thaayathu thaayathuCome close, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Male
Pombalainga pithu konda pudavai bhakthargalukkuFor those obsessed devotees of women crazy about sarees,
Puthiyai pugatta vandha thaayathuHere comes the amulet to teach some sense!
Oru sembhu thagattai pirichaIf you unroll this copper sheet,
Thiraiyil maranjirukkumHidden behind the curtain,
Saedhigalai sollum indha thaayathuThis amulet will reveal secret news!
Oru sembhu thagattai pirichaIf you unroll this copper sheet,
Thiraiyil maranjirukkumHidden behind the curtain,
Saedhigalai sollum indha thaayathuThis amulet will reveal secret news!
Aiyaa thaayathu thaayathuSir, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Ammaa thaayathu thaayathuMadam, buy an amulet, an amulet!
Male
Aiyaa… idhilae vasiyam panra velai irukkaSir... does this have hypnotism or black magic?
Male
Mandhiram vasiyamillaiThere is no spell or attraction here,
Maayajaal velai illaiNor any magical tricks!
Vaazhkaikku rombha rombha avasiyamIt is very, very essential for life,
Idhil maranjirukku ariya periya ragasiyamHidden within it is a rare and great secret!
Male
Yen paa.. panam varumaanathukuSay buddy... how to earn money?
Male
Udambai valaichu nalla uzhaichu paaruBend your body and work hard, see!
Male
Ye yaa..Oh sir...
Idhaalae pombalaigalai mayakka mudiyumaCan we charm women using this?
Male :HeheheheMale: Hehehehe
Kannum karuthumae pennai kavarnthidumOnly true attention and care win a woman,
Kaadhalum vaazhvum thodarndhidumThen love and life will flourish!
Kanda kanda pakkam thirinjaIf you wander aimlessly everywhere,
Kaiyum kaalum vaazhvumYour hands, legs, and life
Thundu thunda thongum padi nerndhidumWill end up hanging in broken pieces!
Thambhi.. adhellaam seiyaadhu idhu veraBrother... it won't do those bad things; this is different!
Thaayathu thaayathuAmulet, amulet!
Ammaa thaayathu thaayathuMadam, buy an amulet, an amulet!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thaayathu Thaayathu is a satirical street-vendor song from the 1957 Tamil film Mahadevi, sung by T. M. Soundararajan with lyrics by Kannadasan. The performer poses as a seller of magic amulets ('thaayathu') in a public square. However, instead of offering superstitious charms or black magic, he uses the pretense to deliver hard-hitting social commentary and moral advice. Through lively folk rhythm and humorous dialogue, the lyricist exposes treacherous people, critiques lazy men seeking shortcuts to wealth or love, and teaches that true success comes from honest labor, care, and integrity. The song cleverly subverts the concept of an amulet into a symbol of truth and wisdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thillilla manushan ki / Pallellam nellaarukki / Sollellaam vishamirukki kelungho

Matching second consonants across successive lines to create rhythmic flow ('Thillilla', 'Pallellam', 'Sollellaam').

Iyaibhu (End Rhyme)

Mandhiram vasiyamillai / Maayajaal velai illai

Rhyming endings in the dialogue section ('vasiyamillai' and 'velai illai').

Satire and Irony

Mandhiram vasiyamillai / Maayajaal velai illai / Vaazhkaikku rombha rombha avasiyam

Using a street vendor selling superstitious magic items as a mouthpiece to promote hard work, reality, and sound moral judgment.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from Mahadevi (1957) highlights Kannadasan's flair for street-lore poetry and social satire, combining Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy's folk-infused rhythm with T. M. Soundararajan's theatrical vocal delivery.

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