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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanjavooru Seemaiyile

From Ther Thiruvizha · 1968

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Ther Thiruvizha1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thanjavooru Seemaiyile…In the region of Thanjavur...
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female :Thaalam pottu thirinjadho…Did you wander around keeping beat?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Manjak kuppam pakkatthileNear Manjakuppam...
Maadu meachi alainjadho…Did you roam around grazing cattle?
Female
Jaadhagatthai edukattumaShall I take out your horoscope?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female :Aadhiyandham padikkattumaShall I read it from start to finish?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Sarithirattha sollattumaShall I recite your entire history?
Jagaa vaanga seiyattuma…Shall I make you turn back and run?
Jagaa vaanga seiyattuma…Shall I make you turn back and run?
Female
Ada ye appu ada ennaappuHey man, oh hey man,
Ye appu ennaappuHey man, what's up man?
Edhuku indha veeraapuWhy display this false bravado?
Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakkaUttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakka
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Indhaapu irrumaappuHold on to this arrogance,
Egiripogum toppuYour hat is going to fly off!
Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakkaUttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakka
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Kaalaiinna kaalaiyadiIf you talk about a bull, this is a real bull!
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female :Idhu Kattuppadaa kaalayadiThis is an untamed, wild bull!
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Sealaiyai kandaaleThe moment it catches sight of a saree,
Idhu seerip paayum kaalayadiIt is a bull that charges forward snorting!
Female
Kaalaiyai madakkattumaaShall I rein in this wild bull?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female : Kannaalee adakkattumaShall I subdue it with just a glance?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Saayatthai yerakkattumaShall I wipe away its false coat of pride?
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female :Savvaal vittu thurathattumaShall I throw a challenge and chase it away?
Savvaal vittu thurathattumaShall I throw a challenge and chase it away?
Female
Ada ye Appu ada ennaappuHey man, oh hey man,
Ye appu ennaappuHey man, what's up man?
Edhuku indha veeraapuWhy display this false bravado?
Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakkaUttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakka
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Female
Indhaapu irrumaappuHold on to this arrogance,
Egiripogum toppuYour hat is going to fly off!
Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakkaUttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakka
Female Chorus :Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Ye..jumthalakkadi jumthalakkadiHey..jumthalakkadi jumthalakkadi
Jumthalakkadi jumthalakkadiJumthalakkadi jumthalakkadi
Huu..kum.. huu..kum.. huu..kum..Huu..kum.. huu..kum.. huu..kum..
Male
Ada ye kutti enna kuttiHey girl, what girl?
Ada ye kutti ennaak kuttiHey girl, what girl?
Enge pochu gunddu chattiWhere did the round cooking pot go?
Uttaalakkadi JumthalakkaUttaalakkadi Jumthalakka
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Usilambatti vayasuk kuttiYoung lass from Usilampatti,
Oyilaathi kannu kuttiGraceful girl with beautiful eyes,
Uttaalakkadi JumthalakkaUttaalakkadi Jumthalakka
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Paathaalum paathirukkean….Though I have seen many...
Naan pala perai paathirukkean…I have seen a lot of people...
Unnai pola naattukkattaA stunning rustic beauty like you,
Oruthiyai naan kandathilleI have never encountered anyone like you!
Male
Keattaalum keatirrukeanThough I have heard many...
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Pala paatta keatirrukeanI have listened to many songs...
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Uttaalakkadi paatu ippadiA gibberish folk song like this,
Eppodhum naan keatadhilleI have never ever heard before!
Eppodhum naan keatadhilleI have never ever heard before!
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Ada ye kutti enna kuttiHey girl, what girl?
Ada ye kutti ennaak kuttiHey girl, what girl?
Enge pochu gunddu chattiWhere did the round cooking pot go?
Uttaalakkadi JumthalakkaUttaalakkadi Jumthalakka
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Usilambatti vayasuk kuttiYoung lass from Usilampatti,
Oyilaathi kannu kuttiGraceful girl with beautiful eyes,
Uttaalakkadi JumthalakkaUttaalakkadi Jumthalakka
Huu..kum..Huu..kum..
Male
Jumthalakka JumthalakkaJumthalakka Jumthalakka
Jumthalakka huu..kum..Jumthalakka huu..kum..
Huu..kum.. huu..kum.. hmm..Huu..kum.. huu..kum.. hmm..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk duet from Ther Thiruvizha (1968) is framed as a playful battle of wits ('Sawaal Paattu') between a man and a woman in a rural setting. The female lead starts off by poking fun at the male lead's background, threatening to read his horoscope, reveal his history, and subdue his arrogant 'wild bull' demeanor using just her sharp wit and beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Manjak kuppam pakkatthile

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Thanjavooru' and 'Manjak kuppam', or 'Paathaalum' and 'Keattaalum'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Idhu Kattuppadaa kaalayadi

Comparing the male lead's headstrong attitude to an untamed bull ('Kattuppadaa kaalayadi') that charges upon seeing a saree.

Onomatopoeia & Rhythmic Gibberish (Santham)

Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka jumthalakka

Use of folk rhythmic phrases like 'Uttaalakkadi jumthalakka' and chorus grunts 'Huu..kum..' to build high energy and comedic tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ther Thiruvizha (1968) stars M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa with music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan. This song highlights the traditional Tamil folk format of rhythmic banter songs where opposing leads trade humorous insults and boasts.

Keep listening

More from Ther Thiruvizha