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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thoothukudi Santhaiyile

From Arthangal Aayiram · 1981

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Arthangal Aayiram1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilaeIn the Tuticorin market
Thuttukkoru pondaatiA wife for a small coin
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilaeIn the Tuticorin market
Thuttukkoru pondaatiA wife for a small coin
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Male
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilaeIn the Tuticorin market
Thuttukkoru pondaatiA wife for a small coin
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Male
Aasapattu thavala onnuA frog, out of desire
Eliyai kanduSaw a rat
Noolilae katti konduTied it with a string
Angumingum izhuthu konduDragging it here and there
Irundha thanniyum illa tharaiyum illaHas neither water nor dry land to stay in
Kelendi kannamaaaListen to this, my dear Kannamma
Thanniyum illa tharaiyum illaHas neither water nor dry land to stay in
Kelendi kannamaaaListen to this, my dear Kannamma
Male
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilaeIn the Tuticorin market
Thuttukkoru pondaatiA wife for a small coin
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Male
Velachalu thevaiyinnaIf you want a good harvest
Veyilum venumSunshine is necessary
Nalla mazhaiyum venumGood rain is also necessary
Edhaiyum thaangikka venum ingaeOne must endure everything here
Nalladhum venum kettadhum venumBoth good and bad are necessary
Theriyaadhooo kannamaaDon't you know this, Kannamma?
Nalladhum venum kettadhum venumBoth good and bad are necessary
Theriyaadhooo kannamaaDon't you know this, Kannamma?
Male
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilaeIn the Tuticorin market
Thuttukkoru pondaatiA wife for a small coin
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Male
Vavaalukku vaazhkkapattaIf you are married to a bat
Thongathaan venumYou must hang upside down
Vazhiya maathikka venumYou must adapt your ways
Idhathaan kathukka venumThis is what you must learn
Adiyae veettukku veedu vaasapadithaanOh woman, every house has a threshold
Vaayendi kannammaCome along, Kannamma
Veettukku veedu vaasapadithaanEvery house has a threshold
Vaayendi kannammaCome along, Kannamma
Male
Thoothukudi sandhaiyilae…ae….ae…In the Tuticorin market...
Thuttukkoru pondaati…aamaA wife for a small coin... yes
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Kaathirundhu vaangi vandhenI waited patiently and brought her home
Kavalai ellaam theeruminnuThinking all my worries would end
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnumEven after bringing her and keeping her here
Yengudhadi en manasuMy heart still yearns, oh dear
Adi yengudhadi en manasuOh, my heart still yearns!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thoothukudi Sandhaiyilae is a folk-inspired satirical song from the 1981 film Arthangal Aayiram. Written by lyricist Muthulingam, the song uses humorous hyperboles, folk allegories, and local proverbs to comment on domestic life, marriage, and human expectations. Through playful storytelling—such as buying a wife at a market or a frog getting entangled with a rat—it conveys deeper life wisdom about adjusting to circumstances and accepting both good and bad times.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thoothukudi sandhaiyilae / Thuttukkoru pondaati

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across consecutive words creates a catchy folk rhythm.

Folk Metaphor / Allegory

Vavaalukku vaazhkkapatta / Thongathaan venum

Uses the proverb of marrying a bat to convey the necessity of adapting to one's spouse and circumstances.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaangi vandhu vacha pinnum / Yengudhadi en manasu

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across paired lines enhances the musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Muthulingam, the song blends traditional Tamil folk proverbs like 'Veettukku veedu vaasapadi' (Every house has a threshold/problem) with humorous rural storytelling.

Keep listening

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