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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanthaan Aaiyah

From Kumari Kottam · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kumari Kottam1971

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Padhinaalu muzhanthanilaeIn a fourteen-cubit saree,
Ippa padhiya thaan kaanaliyaeNow half of it is nowhere to be seen!
Male
Aaradi koondhalilae ippaIn six-foot long hair, now
Araiyadi thaan michamadiOnly half a foot remains, my dear!
Male
Udhattu melae sivappadichuApplying red color on the lips,
Kannu ullae veliyae karuppadichuApplying black makeup around and inside the eyes,
Male
Pothaanae pinnae vaichuPlacing the dress buttons on the back,
Adhai poda solli kooppiduraaShe calls out asking someone to button it up!
Pothaanae pinnae vaichuPlacing the dress buttons on the back,
Adhai poda solli kooppiduraaShe calls out asking someone to button it up!
Enna kooppiduraa naisaa kooppuduraaHow she calls, so slyly she calls,
Aiyo kooppuduraalae…Oh my, she is calling!
Male
Vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaaHe has arrived, he has arrived,
Raajaanga komaaliThe royal jester!
Vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaaHe has arrived, he has arrived,
Raajaanga komaaliThe royal jester!
Ohho hohoho… ooo…Ohho hohoho… ooo…
Ohho hohohoho… ooo…Ohho hohohoho… ooo…
Male
Technik coloril makeup pottuWearing makeup in Technicolor,
Sattai pol oru jacket pottuWearing a jacket just like a shirt,
Technik coloril makeup pottuWearing makeup in Technicolor,
Sattai pol oru jacket pottuWearing a jacket just like a shirt,
Shaeikku beettil naattiyamaadaTo dance to the shake beat,
Vandhaanaiyaa…He has arrived...
Vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaaHe has arrived, he has arrived, he has arrived,
Shaeikku veettil naattiyamaadaTo dance in the Sheikh's house,
Male
Shaeik shaeik shaeik shaeikShake shake shake shake
Shaeik shaeik shaeik shaeikShake shake shake shake
Shaeik shaeik shaeik shaeikShake shake shake shake
Aamaa aamaa aamaa aamaaYes yes yes yes
Illai illai illai illaiNo no no no
Nallaarukkaa nallaarukkaa nallaarukkaaIs it good, is it good, is it good?
Male
Ennaiyaa idhuWhat is this, sir?
Male
Idhu thaan shaekkuThis is the shake dance!
Male
Idhu thaan shaekkaaIs this the shake dance?
Male
Aamaa thalaiyai aatti paaru…Yes, try nodding and shaking your head...
Chorus
Aamaa aamaa aamaa aamaaaamaaYes yes yes yes yes
Illai illai illai illai illaiNo no no no no
Nallaarukkaa nallaarukkaa nallaarukkaaIs it good, is it good, is it good?
Male
Kaiyinilae oru dappiA small box in his hand,
Thalaiyinilae oru thoppiA hat upon his head,
Adikkadi echiyai thuppiSpitting saliva every now and then,
Aiyaa paer thaan hippiGentleman's name is Hippie!
Male
Vandhaanaiyaa…He has arrived...
Vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaaHe has arrived, he has arrived,
Raajaangak komaaliThe royal jester!
Ohho hohoho… ooo…Ohho hohoho… ooo…
Ohho hohohoho… ooo…Ohho hohohoho… ooo…
Chorus
O beautiful beautyO beautiful beauty
Very good very goodVery good very good

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and satirical song from the 1971 MGR-starrer 'Kumari Kottam' pokes fun at modern, westernized fashion trends and subcultures gaining popularity in the 1970s. Kannadasan's humorous lyrics mock shorter hemlines, modern haircuts, revealing backs on dresses, heavy cosmetics, and the rise of western dance styles like the 'Shake' as well as the hippie movement. By framing the modern fashion-conscious youth as 'Raajaanga Komaali' (the royal jester), the song contrasts traditional Tamil attire and sensibilities with contemporary Western influences in a lighthearted, comedic manner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kaiyinilae oru dappi / Thalaiyinilae oru thoppi”

Matching second consonants across lines: 'dappi', 'thoppi', 'thuppi', and 'hippi'.

Epizeuxis (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Vandhaanaiyaa vandhaanaiyaa”

Immediate repetition of words such as 'Vandhaanaiyaa', 'Shaeik', and 'Aamaa' to heighten rhythm and comedic effect.

Satire and Imagery

“Padhinaalu muzhanthanilae / Ippa padhiya thaan kaanaliyae”

Exaggerated contrast between traditional standards (14-cubit sarees, 6-foot hair) and modern styles (half-foot hair, shortened sarees) to paint a vivid humorous picture.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kumari Kottam' (1971), starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) with lyrics by Kannadasan. This song serves as a classic example of 1970s Tamil cinema using song-and-dance sequences to satirize westernization, particularly hippie culture and modern fashion.

Keep listening

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