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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada Mannaru

From Vadagai Veedu · 1981

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vadagai Veedu
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
7 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joru
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joru
Saayangaalam neram jambajaar oram
Saayangaalam neram jambajaar oram
Side vaangi ponaa paiyan
Size ah paaththu pudichen
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice -ah lakkadi joru
Thookkaththukku marunthu thara aalirukkaanga
Inga thukkathukku marunthu thara yaarumilladaa
Velli panamthaandaa dheivam
Adhu velaiyaadum varaithaanda dheivam
Velli panamthaandaa dheivam
Adhu velaiyaadum varaithaanda dheivam
Manushanukku thaagam vanthaa
Thanni kudikkiraan
Antha thannirukkae thaagam vanthaa
Kudiya kodukkiraan
Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthu
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthu
Kukulunguthu silusilunguthu
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joru
……………..
Aadhiyilae manusanellaam koranguthanadaa
Unga anavaththa vuttu konjam erangi vaangadaa
Aasai vellottamthaandaa
Adhil aalae thallaaduraandaa
Aahn aasai ellottamthaandaa
Adhil aalae thallaaduraandaa
Chinnavanum periyavanum onnuthaanadaa
Moochchu ninnavudan inthavudal mannuthanadaa
Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthu
Kuththaalaththula manam kulikkuthu
Silusilunguthu kulukulunguthu
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joru
Saayankgakaalam neram jambajaar oram
Saayankgakaalam neram jambajaar oram
Side vaangi ponaa paiyan
Size ah paththu pudichen
Vaada mannaaru sodaa panneeru
Saeththukkittaa ice-ah lakkadi joru
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
In the evening, near Zam Bazaar,
In the evening, near Zam Bazaar,
As the boy stepped aside,
I sized him up and caught him!
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
There are people to give medicine for sleep,
But there is no one here to give medicine for sorrow, man!
Silver money is God, man!
It is God only as long as it stays in play!
Silver money is God, man!
It is God only as long as it stays in play!
When a man gets thirsty,
He drinks water.
If that water itself gets thirsty,
He sacrifices his household to drink!
It shakes coolly, it chills softly,
The mind bathes in Courtallam falls,
The mind bathes in Courtallam falls,
It shakes coolly, it chills softly,
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
...
In the beginning, all humans were just monkeys, man!
Leave your pride and come down a bit, man!
Desire is just a trial run, man,
And in it, a person stumbles and sways!
Ah, desire is just a trial run, man,
And in it, a person stumbles and sways!
The humble and the grand are all equal, man!
Once breath stops, this body is just dust, man!
It shakes coolly, it chills softly,
The mind bathes in Courtallam falls,
The mind bathes in Courtallam falls,
It chills softly, it shakes coolly,
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
In the evening, near Zam Bazaar,
In the evening, near Zam Bazaar,
As the boy stepped aside,
I sized him up and caught him!
Come on, Mannaru! Soda, rosewater,
If you add ice, it's a super combination!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from Vadagai Veedu (1981) uses local Madras slang (Gaana style) combined with philosophical reflections on human existence, materialism, and alcohol addiction. Wrapped in a catchy, upbeat tune, the protagonist addresses 'Mannaru' over drinks, offering lighthearted banter while delivering profound observations about human nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Velli panamthaandaa dheivam”

Comparing money to a deity ('Velli panamthaandaa dheivam') and body to dust after death ('inthavudal mannuthanadaa').

Onomatopoeia

“Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu”

Use of rhythmic sensory words 'Kulukulunguthu silusilunguthu' to evoke the sensation of chilling drinks and refreshing water.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thookkaththukku marunthu thara aalirukkaanga”

Tamil rhyme scheme where the second letter matches across lines, seen in 'Thookkaththukku' and 'thukkathukku'.

Wordplay / Pun

“Inga thukkathukku marunthu thara yaarumilladaa”

Contrasting 'thookkam' (sleep) with 'thukkam' (grief/sorrow) to show societal indifference to emotional suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Alangudi Somu and composed by Shankar-Ganesh, this song highlights early Madras Gaana influence in Tamil mainstream film music, showcasing S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's versatility in rendering local folk dialect and slang effortlessly.

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