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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillu Mullu

From Gethu · 2016

Lyricist
V Padmavathy
Singers
Naresh Iyer, Ranina Reddy
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Gethu2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
ahhh… ummm..Hey thillu mullu pannalaAh... Ummm... Hey, I didn't engage in any trickery.
Gethu kithu kaatalaI didn't show off any attitude or high status.
Scenu keenu podalaI didn't create a scene or act dramatic.
Bulbu Gilbu vangalaI didn't get embarrassed or fooled.
Male
Kannum kannum paakalaI didn't make romantic eye contact with anyone.
Naan unna vittu pogalaI didn't leave your side.
Thottu kittu pesalaI didn't touch you while talking.
Nee thotta yen nu kekalaI didn't even ask why when you touched me.
Male
Azhagu ponnunga naatulaIn a country full of beautiful girls,
Nadandhu pogudhu roadu laWalking down the road,
Edhaiyum naanum paakalaI didn't stare at any of them.
Adhu yeno unakku puriyalaWhy don't you seem to understand that?
Male
Party keerty pogalaI didn't go to any parties.
Aatam keetam podalaI didn't dance or mess around.
Friendu gindu-nu suthalaI didn't roam around with friends.
Mabbula kibbula kedakalaI didn't lie around wasted drunk.
Male
Unna paatha jorulaIn the excitement of seeing you,
En appan pechum yeralaEven my father's words don't get into my head.
Nerula pesa dhil illaI don't have the guts to speak in person,
En kooda pesu cellulaSo speak to me on the cell phone.
Male
Simple aana aalu naanI am a very simple guy,
My babyMy baby,
Enna single aave irukka sonnaYou told me to just stay single,
Why babyWhy, baby?
Male
Idhu thingal kezhamaIt is a Monday today,
Sariyilla nelamaThe situation is not looking good,
Naan solla pona bakkungudheMy heart thumps nervously when I try to tell you,
Enna kodumaWhat a tragedy!
Female
{Aiyyah yah yah yah yah yah My Baby..} (2)Oh my baby...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a humorous and earnest expression of love from a simple young man to his beloved. He lists all the typical vices and distractions he avoids—such as partying, drinking, showing off, or looking at other girls—to convince her of his loyalty and purity of heart. Despite being completely smitten to the point of ignoring his father's advice, he admits to being too shy to talk to her face-to-face, preferring phone conversations. He laments his bad luck and asks her why she insists on him remaining single when he is so devoted to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Reduplication / Echo Words (எதிர் ஒலிச் சொற்கள்)

Gethu kithu kaatala

Extensive use of colloquial echo-word pairings like 'thillu mullu', 'gethu kithu', 'scenu keenu', 'bulbu gilbu', 'party keerty', 'aatam keetam', 'friendu gindu', and 'mabbula kibbula' to create a rhythmic urban slang style.

End Rhyme (இயைபு தொடை - Iyaibu)

Hey thillu mullu pannala / Gethu kithu kaatala

Consistently ending lines with the negative verbal suffix '-ala' (pannala, kaatala, podala, vangala, paakala, pogala, pesala) to create a continuous, repetitive rhythm.

Onomatopoeia (ஒலிக்குறிப்பு)

Naan solla pona bakkungudhe

The word 'Bakkungudhe' is an onomatopoeic representation of the sudden thumping or fluttering feeling in the heart caused by nervousness.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features playful urban Tamil slang (Madras Baashai elements blended with English) composed for the 2016 action thriller film 'Gethu', starring Udhayanidhi Stalin and Amy Jackson. Though the prompt marks the composer as unknown, the soundtrack for Gethu was actually composed by Harris Jayaraj.

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