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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uttalakadi Pattanakodi

From My Dear Marthandan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Gangai Amaran, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
My Dear Marthandan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Male
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Male
Chittaan chittu idhu thottaa suttathuThis tiny little bird burns if you touch it
Viththaara kili ippothuThis stylish parrot now
Chittaan chittu idhu thottaa suttathuThis tiny little bird burns if you touch it
Viththaara kili ippothuThis stylish parrot now
Suththaa suththuthu vechchaa pathuthuIt spins around and catches fire when kindled
Yammaa sokkuthu ippothuOh my, it mesmerizes me now
Chorus
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Male
Oththai vazhi paadhaiyilaeOn the narrow single-track pathway
Aththai magan pogaiyilaeWhen the aunt's son (cousin) walked by
Puththam pudhu jaadaiyilaeWith brand new subtle signals
Ponnu pala odaiyilaeThe girl flowed along like a stream
Male
Oththai vazhi paadhaiyilaeOn the narrow single-track pathway
Aththai magan pogaiyilaeWhen the aunt's son (cousin) walked by
Puththam pudhu jaadaiyilaeWith brand new subtle signals
Ponnu pala odaiyilaeThe girl flowed along like a stream
Male
Veththalai madichchu kuduththaaShe folded and offered a betel leaf
Ava kattilil inainu paduththaaShe lay down together on the bed
Appa niththira moththamum thaduththaaShe completely prevented all my sleep then
En nenjila nimmathi koduththaaShe gave peace to my heart
Male
Sikkaatha idaiyae un singaara nadaiyaeOh elusive waist and your glamorous gait
Ennai mullaa kuththuthuIt pricks me like a sharp thorn
Pinaal suththuthu summaa nikkiriyaeIt makes me wander behind you while you just stand there
Chorus
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Male
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Chorus
……………..[Instrumental / Musical Interlude]
Male
Kettathadi em manasuMy heart has been stolen and ruined, my girl
Killuthadi un vayasuYour youthful age teases and pinches me
Meththaiyil poo virichchuSpreading flowers over the bed mattress
Thottu kolla naal kurichchuFixing an auspicious date to embrace
Male
Kettathadi em manasuMy heart has been stolen and ruined, my girl
Killuthadi un vayasuYour youthful age teases and pinches me
Meththaiyil poo virichchuSpreading flowers over the bed mattress
Thottu kolla naal kurichchuFixing an auspicious date to embrace
Male
Minnuthu minnuthu iduppuThe waist gleams and shines brightly
Antha mettula eththanai madippuHow many curves and folds in that high waist
Sikkuthu sikkuthu uduppuThe dress gets caught and entangled
Ulla paththuthu paththuthu aduppuThe stove inside catches fire
Male
Melaakku nazhuvaAs the upper garment slips down
En melaaga thazhuvaTo embrace warmly over me
Adi emmaa sangathuOh my dear, what a blissful union
Sonna nimmathi summaa nikkiriyaeExpressing it brings relief, yet you just stand quietly
Male
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Male
Chittaan chittu idhu thottaa suttathuThis tiny little bird burns if you touch it
Viththaara kili ippothuThis stylish parrot now
Chittaan chittu idhu thottaa suttathuThis tiny little bird burns if you touch it
Viththaara kili ippothuThis stylish parrot now
Suththaa suththuthu vechchaa pathuthuIt spins around and catches fire when kindled
Yammaa sokkuthu ippothuOh my, it mesmerizes me now
Chorus
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyaeOh clever city-bound parrot-like girl
Machchaanai thoda achchaaram thara summaa nikkiriyaeWhy are you standing quietly without giving an advance token to let your cousin touch you?
Chorus
……………..[Instrumental / Musical Interlude]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively folk-style dance song from 'My Dear Marthandan' (1990) features a passionate romance filled with teasing and playfulness. The protagonist sings alluringly to his beloved, comparing her to a stylish, energetic city bird whose charm both captivates and burns like fire. He reminisces about intimate moments, her graceful demeanor, and the fiery desire she kindles in his heart. The lyrics employ vibrant local idioms and rhythmic folk phrases to portray the playful romantic tension between the lovers. Composed with an upbeat tempo and sung with rustic flair, the song highlights the protagonist's yearning to overcome her shy hesitations and embrace her completely.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Uttaalakkadi pattaanakodi mottaana kiliyae

Compares the heroine to a 'mottaana kili' (budding/stylish parrot) and 'chittaan chittu' (a tiny swift bird) to emphasize her beauty and quick charm.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai / Monaai)

Kettathadi em manasu / Killuthadi un vayasu

Uses internal rhyming and rhythmic sound play across lines like 'Kettathadi', 'Killuthadi', 'Meththaiyil', and 'Thottu kolla'.

Imagery

Minnuthu minnuthu iduppu / Antha mettula eththanai madippu

Creates vivid sensory imagery of heat, fire, and glowing waists ('Minnuthu minnuthu iduppu', 'paththuthu aduppu') to depict intense passion.

Did you know?

Trivia

'My Dear Marthandan' (1990) was produced by Prabhu and directed by Manobala, starring Prabhu and Gautami. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring dynamic folk-pop orchestrations typical of early 1990s Tamil commercial cinema.

Keep listening

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