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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaththa Thaththa

From Magale Un Samathu · 1964

Lyricist
Clown Sundaram
Singers
S. Janaki, L. R. Eswari, Manorama
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Magale Un Samathu1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thatha thatha podi koduGrandpa, grandpa, give me some snuff,
Indha thalladha vayadhila saduguduPlaying sadugudu (Kabaddi) at this old age,
Kizha thathaOld grandpa!
Valiba thatha thatha podi kodu indhaYouthful grandpa, grandpa, give me some snuff,
Thalladha vayadhila saduguduPlaying sadugudu at this old age,
Kizha thathaOld grandpa!
Female
Adi aathadi balae kudukuduOh my goodness, bravo for your rattle-like energy!
Adi aathadi balae kudukuduOh my goodness, bravo for your rattle-like energy!
Kaiyalaagatha aasaiyai vidu viduGive up desires that are beyond your capability,
Kizha thathaOld grandpa!
Valiba thatha thatha podi kodu indhaYouthful grandpa, grandpa, give me some snuff,
Thalladha vayadhila saduguduPlaying sadugudu at this old age,
Kizha thathaOld grandpa!
Male
Aiyahoo aandavaOh Lord God!
Female
Paarvaiyil ilasu polae pazhasai maraichuHiding old age by appearing like a youngster in look,
Nooru panjangathai muzhungina vengurajaOh boastful king who swallowed a hundred almanacs,
Nooru panjangathai muzhungina vengurajaOh boastful king who swallowed a hundred almanacs,
Male :Naan ilasuMale: I am young,
Female :Sutha pazhasuFemale: Purely old,
Female
Paarvaiyil ilasu polae pazhasai maraichuHiding old age by appearing like a youngster in look,
Nooru panjangathai muzhungina vengurajaOh boastful king who swallowed a hundred almanacs,
Vaaliba poorvaiya aninju kittuWearing a cloak of youthfulness,
Kaayakalpan thinnukittuConsuming rejuvenation medicines,
Ponnugala kanni vaikka vandha rajaOh king who came to lay a trap for young girls,
Female
Athi pazhtha parichuIf you pluck a fig fruit,
Aasaiyodu puttu paarthaAnd open it with desire to see,
Athanaiyum sothaiyaagum mangu rajaIt will all turn out to be rotten, oh foolish king!
Athi pazhtha parichuIf you pluck a fig fruit,
Aasaiyodu puttu paarthaAnd open it with desire to see,
Athanaiyum sothaiyaagum mangu rajaIt will all turn out to be rotten, oh foolish king!
Paruva pathiram kedu mudinjiSince your youthfulness document has expired,
Pattavum tholanjadhalaeAnd your title is lost as well,
Sathiram savadi poyi thangu rajaGo and stay in an inn or rest house, king!
Male
Akkiri pikkiri bakkiri rajaGibberish king, erratic and nonsensical!
Female
Sotta vaala kutti pola thudikathaDon't squirm around like a puppy with a cut tail,
Summa sondharanga thaalam pottu nadikathaeDon't pretend and put on a show without reason,
Sotta vaala kutti pola thudikathaDon't squirm around like a puppy with a cut tail,
Summa sondharanga thaalam pottu nadikathaeDon't pretend and put on a show without reason,
Female
Thattukattu ninnukittu thavikadhaeDon't hesitate and suffer in anxiety while standing,
Thattukattu ninnukittu thavikadhaeDon't hesitate and suffer in anxiety while standing,
Ennai jambamaaga thaali katta ninaikadhaeDon't dream of pompously tying the wedding thread to me,
Both :Ennai jambamaaga thaali katta ninaikadhaeBoth: Don't dream of pompously tying the wedding thread to me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This comic song from the 1964 film 'Magale Un Samathu' features a humorous teasing of an elderly man trying to act young and pursue marriage with a young woman. The singers mock his desperate attempts at retaining youthfulness—comparing his efforts to consuming rejuvenation medicines or wearing a cloak of youth—and warn him that his age is far too advanced for such desires. Through witty metaphors like a rotten fig fruit and an expired youth permit, the song playfully advises him to give up his unrealistic romantic ambitions and accept his old age gracefully.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ezhugai (Rhyme / Rhythm)

Thatha thatha podi kodu / Indha thalladha vayadhila sadugudu

Rhythmic repetition of words and matching syllable endings like 'thatha', 'sadugudu', and 'podi kodu'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Athi pazhtha parichu / Aasaiyodu puttu paartha / Athanaiyum sothaiyaagum mangu raja

Comparing an old man trying to look appealing to a fig fruit ('Athi pazham') that appears fine outside but is rotten inside.

Simile (Uvamai)

Sotta vaala kutti pola thudikatha

Comparing the restless, futile attempts of the old man to a puppy wriggling its cut tail ('Sotta vaala kutti pola').

Onomatopoeia / Rhyming Nonsense (Irattai Kilaavi style)

Akkiri pikkiri bakkiri raja

Use of rhyming gibberish words like 'Akkiri pikkiri bakkiri' for comical effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Magale Un Samathu' (1964) featured music composed by G. K. Venkatesh, a prominent music director who mentored legendary maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics were written by 'Clown' Sundaram, a renowned comic lyricist and actor of early Tamil cinema known for his witty numbers.

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