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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Kan Theduthe

From Va Quarter Cutting · 2010

Lyricist
Kumararaja
Singers
G. V. Prakash Kumar, Gana Ulaganathan
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Va Quarter Cutting2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
PodeyyyGo man!
Unnai kan thedudhaeMy eyes are searching for you,
Ullam naadudhaeMy heart longs for you,
Unnai kan kaanamalWithout seeing you,
ParathoduthaeMy mind strays away endlessly.
Male
Kudi kudiyai kedukkum theriyumadiiI know that drinking ruins generations/families,
Aanalum kudika pudikkumadi ..Even so, girl, I love to drink..
Mabbu kicku boostu takkaruThe intoxication, the kick, the boost—it is top-notch!
Quarteru matter kidakalayae..Yet I haven't found that quarter bottle affair..
Female
Ahre haai…Ahre haai…
Male
Kalyaani raagam illaThis isn't the classical Kalyani ragam,
Male
Aiyaiyo pichu pichu otharurayaeOh no, you are tearing it apart and blabbering!
Male
Samiyaarthan yaagamillaThis isn't a holy sacrifice performed by a sage,
Male
Pinni poo vachi ribbon kooda suthurayaeYet you braid it, adorn it with flowers, and tie a ribbon around it!
Male
Kalyaani raagam illaThis isn't the Kalyani ragam,
Samiyaarthan yaagamillaThis isn't a holy sacrifice performed by a sage,
Male
Maanidar thaan ethayum kandukalaHumans don't seem to care about anything at all.
Male
Keele thatti melae thirugiTap at the bottom and twist open at the top,
Athuthan sorgam pogum vazhiThat right there is the highway to heaven!
Kunijaa porandhu niminthaan manushanMan was born stooped, but he stood tall,
Pudicha gnyana purusanadiiOnce he grabs hold of it, he becomes an enlightened soul, girl!
Male
Mabbu kicku boostu takkaruThe intoxication, the kick, the boost—it is top-notch!
Quarteru matter kidakalaye ..Yet I haven't found that quarter bottle affair..
Female
Ahre haai…Ahre haai…
Male
Unnai ..unnaiYou.. you..
Unnai kan thedudhaeMy eyes are searching for you,
Ullam naadudhaeMy heart longs for you,
Unnai kan kaanamalWithout seeing you,
ParathoduthaeMy mind strays away endlessly.
Kudi kudiyai kedukkum theriyumadiiI know that drinking ruins families,
Aanalum kudika pudikumadi..Even so, girl, I love to drink..
Male
Ye quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..Hey quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..
Quarter quarterQuarter quarter
Ye quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..Hey quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..
Quarter quarterQuarter quarter
Male
Unnai kan thedudhaeMy eyes are searching for you,
Ullam naadudhaeMy heart longs for you,
Male :Ye quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..Male: Hey quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..
Quarter quarterQuarter quarter
Male :Unnai kan kaanamalMale: Without seeing you,
ParathoduthaeMy mind strays away endlessly.
Male :Ye quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..Male: Hey quarter quarter quarter quarter quarter..
Quarter quarterQuarter quarter
Male
Quarter quarterQuarter quarter

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Unnai Kan Thedudhae' from the film 'Va Quarter Cutting' is a humorous parody of classic Tamil romantic tracks. Instead of expressing poetic longing for a female lover, the protagonist expresses an ardent, desperate craving for a quarter bottle of liquor during a night out in Chennai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Parody

Unnai kan thedudhae / Ullam naadudhae

Uses high-flown romantic poetic tropes ('Unnai kan thedudhae', 'Ullam naadudhae') traditionally reserved for beloved women to address a bottle of alcohol.

Iyaibu (Rhyming Couplets)

Unnai kan thedudhae / Ullam naadudhae / Parathoduthae

End rhymes such as 'thedudhae', 'naadudhae', and 'parathoduthae' create a rhythmic, melodic flow typical of Tamil lyricism.

Pun / Double Entendre (Sleshhai)

Kudi kudiyai kedukkum theriyumadii

The phrase 'Kudi kudiyai kedukkum' plays on the double meaning of 'Kudi' (drinking alcohol vs. family lineage/generations).

Metaphor

Keele thatti melae thirugi / Athuthan sorgam pogum vazhi

Opening a liquor bottle ('Keele thatti melae thirugi') is exaggeratedly framed as opening the gateway to heaven ('sorgam pogum vazhi').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was penned by acclaimed filmmaker-writer Thiagarajan Kumararaja, who contributed lyrics to the movie directed by duo Pushkar-Gayathri. The track cleverly blends Gaana aesthetics with classical parody music composed and performed by G. V. Prakash Kumar alongside iconic Gaana singer Ulaganathan.

Keep listening

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