- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Mazhalai Pattalam
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 5 Jun 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Thallu Model Vandi from the 1980 film Mazhalai Pattalam is a humorous, energetic song depicting a father and his group of children trying to push an ancient, broken-down cart along the road. Rising fuel prices prompt the father to joke that hitching his children to the cart like bullocks is the only economical option left. Throughout the journey, the children keep asking where they are heading, while the father whimsically dodges the question, praising his domestic 'army' of children and poking fun at the antiquity of their vehicle. Penned by Kannadasan with music by M. S. Viswanathan, the song captures playful family banter, satirical commentary on contemporary inflation, and tongue-in-cheek historical exaggeration. The vibrant vocal performance by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside a children's chorus gives the song an enduring comedic appeal.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emoni / Second Letter Rhyming (Ethirukai)
“Idha santhaiyil viththaakkaa / Idha panthayam vittaakkaa”
In lines 22 and 23, 'viththaakkaa' and 'vittaakkaa' share second letter rhyming patterns typical of Tamil poetic composition.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Ada en pola appan undo / Ada un pola pillai undo / Ada idhupola thappum undo”
In lines 29, 30, and 31, 'undo' repeats at the end of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic comedic cadence.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Ada saraboji maharaja vilaiyaattu paruvaththil idhilethaan ponaangalaam”
The lyrics humorously claim that Maharaja Serfoji himself rode this very dilapidated cart in his youth, exaggerating its age and historical legacy.
Metaphor
“Entha pattaalam vanthaalum en veettu pattaalam munnaalae nikkattumae”
The father refers to his large brood of children as a 'household army' (en veettu pattaalam), framing their chaotic push-cart effort as a grand military battalion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Mazhalai Pattalam (1980) was directed by Lakshmi, with story and screenplay by K. Balachander. The movie heavily features child actors, making this playful track sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam one of the most memorable kid-centric comedy anthems in Tamil cinema history.
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