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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenna Marathula Thelu

From Saatchi · 1983

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Suseela, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Saatchi1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thenna maraththula thelu kottaIf a scorpion stings on a coconut tree,
Panamaraththula nerikkattumLet a swollen gland form on a palmyra tree!
Veettukullae kobam vendamThere should be no anger inside the home,
Kottukullae irukattumLet it stay within the court premises!
Female
Thenna maraththula thelu kottaIf a scorpion stings on a coconut tree,
Panamaraththula nerikkattumLet a swollen gland form on a palmyra tree!
Veettukullae kobam vendamThere should be no anger inside the home,
Kottukullae irukattumLet it stay within the court premises!
Female
Kitta vanthu pesa vanthaaWhen I come closer to talk to you,
Romba seeruringaYou fume and hiss so much.
Kitta vanthu pesa vanthaaWhen I come closer to talk to you,
Romba seeruringaYou fume and hiss so much.
Unga kattalaikku kaiya kattaTo bind our hands to your orders,
Kaithi illa naangaWe are not prisoners here.
Female
Thenna maraththula thelu kottaIf a scorpion stings on a coconut tree,
Panamaraththula nerikkattumLet a swollen gland form on a palmyra tree!
Veettukullae kobam vendamThere should be no anger inside the home,
Kottukullae irukattumLet it stay within the court premises!
Female
Gangaiyodu kobam vanthaalEven if he gets angry with Goddess Ganga,
Nandhiyodu vazhakku aanaalOr gets into a dispute with Nandi,
Intha sivan manasukkullaeInside the heart of this Lord Shiva,
Anbum romba irukkuThere is also an abundance of love.
Female
Gangaiyodu kobam vanthaalEven if he gets angry with Goddess Ganga,
Nandhiyodu vazhakku aanaalOr gets into a dispute with Nandi,
Intha sivan manasukkullaeInside the heart of this Lord Shiva,
Anbum romba irukkuThere is also an abundance of love.
Female
Peththa pulla muththam thanthaaIf the child you bore gives a kiss,
Paadhi kobam theerumHalf of your anger will vanish.
Peththa pulla muththam thanthaaIf the child you bore gives a kiss,
Paadhi kobam theerumHalf of your anger will vanish.
Michcham sochcham naanum thanthaaIf I give you a kiss with whatever remains,
Meedhi kobam theerumThe rest of your anger will disappear.
Female
Thenna maraththula thelu kottaIf a scorpion stings on a coconut tree,
Panamaraththula nerikkattumLet a swollen gland form on a palmyra tree!
Veettukullae kobam vendamThere should be no anger inside the home,
Kottukullae irukattumLet it stay within the court premises!
Male
Pongal paanai pongi vanthaaWhen the Pongal pot boils over,
Aduppilthaanae vazhiyumIt spills onto the stove itself.
Knnae purushanukku kobam vanthaalMy dear, if a husband gets angry,
Engu kaatta mudiyumWhere else can he vent it?
Male
Kobam onnum kutramillaAnger is not a crime at all,
Manithanthaanae naanumAfter all, I am human too.
Kobam onnum kutramillaAnger is not a crime at all,
Manithanthaanae naanumAfter all, I am human too.
Naan varuvatharkul magalaiBefore I arrive home today,
Indru uranga vaikka vaenumYou must put our daughter to sleep.
Male
Thenna maraththula thelu kottaIf a scorpion stings on a coconut tree,
Panamaraththula nerikkattumLet a swollen gland form on a palmyra tree!
Veettukullae kobam vendamThere should be no anger inside the home,
Kottukullae irukattumLet it stay within the court premises!
Male
Kitta vanthu pesa vanthaaWhen I come closer to talk to you,
Romba seeruringaYou fume and hiss so much.
Unga kattalaikku kaiya kattaTo bind our hands to your orders,
Kaithi illa naangaWe are not prisoners here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful yet tender folk-style song portrays a domestic dispute between a husband and wife. The wife admonishes her husband for bringing his courtroom temper and professional frustration home, lightheartedly reminding him that domestic life requires peace rather than harsh commands. The husband defends his outbursts by explaining that anger is natural to human beings and compares his frustration to a pot boiling over, which naturally spills onto the stove closest to it. He reassures her that beneath his stern exterior lies immense affection, drawing an analogy to Lord Shiva who harbors love despite his fiery temper. Through gentle teasing about affection from their child and spouse, the song highlights reconciliation, domestic warmth, and mutual understanding in married life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Thenna maraththula thelu kotta / Panamaraththula nerikkattum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines or words ('Thenna' and 'Panamaraththula').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Veettukullae kobam vendam / Kottukullae irukattum

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines ('Veettukullae' and 'Kottukullae').

Metaphor

Intha sivan manasukkullae / Anbum romba irukku

Comparing the husband's fierce persona and capacity for deep love to Lord Shiva and his celestial companions.

Analogy / Folk Metaphor

Pongal paanai pongi vanthaa / Aduppilthaanae vazhiyum

Using the image of a Pongal pot boiling over onto its stove to illustrate venting emotions on those nearest to oneself.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Saatchi' (1983) is an early action drama film starring Vijayakanth and S. A. Chandrasekhar, featuring music composed by Shankar-Ganesh. The song uses traditional Tamil colloquial proverbs ('Thenna maraththula thelu kotta...') to ground the domestic debate in authentic rural folk rhythm.

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