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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vara Vara Mamiyar

From Unga Veettu Pillai · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Unga Veettu Pillai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthaiyaanaalaamGradually, the mother-in-law turned into a donkey,
Oorukku therinjathungoThe entire town came to know of it.
Female :Veluththathu mookku valarnthathu kaadhuFemale: The nose turned white, the ears grew long,
Yaarukku purinjathungoWho really understood why?
Male :Adhu oru athisayam idhu oru ragasiyamMale: That is a wonder, this is a secret.
Female :Hae….athu enna idhu enna vilakkattumaaFemale: Hey... shall I explain what that is and what this is?
Male
Haei vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthaiyaanaalaamHey, gradually, the mother-in-law turned into a donkey,
Oorukku therinjathungoThe entire town came to know of it.
Female :Veluththathu mookku valarnthathu kaadhuFemale: The nose turned white, the ears grew long,
Yaarukku purinjathungoWho really understood why?
Male :Adhu oru athisayam idhu oru ragasiyamMale: That is a wonder, this is a secret.
Female :Hae….athu enna idhu enna vilakkattumaaFemale: Hey... shall I explain what that is and what this is?
Female
Thatti ketka aalillaamaWith no one around to question or correct,
Thattu kettu pochchungaThings have gone completely out of hand.
Thappu thaalam pottu pottuBy playing the wrong beats over and over,
Ippa enna aachchungaLook at what has happened now!
Male
Odhachchaa kaala murichchaaIf you kick them and break their legs,
Odungum kottam adangumTheir arrogance will be subdued and curbed.
Odhachchaa kaala murichchaaIf you kick them and break their legs,
Odungum kottam adangumTheir arrogance will be subdued and curbed.
Male
Ponnaana samayam ippothu namakkuNow is the golden opportunity for us,
Female :Ennaalum ingae thappaathu kanakkuFemale: The calculations here will never go wrong on any day.
Male :Ponnaana samayam ippothu namakkuMale: Now is the golden opportunity for us,
Female :Ennaalum ingae thappaathu kanakkuFemale: The calculations here will never go wrong on any day.
Male :Hae….iruttaiyum purattaiyum virattattumaaMale: Hey... shall I chase away the darkness and the deceit?
Female
Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthaiyaanaalaamGradually, the mother-in-law turned into a donkey,
Oorukku therinjathungoThe entire town came to know of it.
Male :Veluththathu mookku valarnthathu kaadhuMale: The nose turned white, the ears grew long,
Yaarukku purinjathungoWho really understood why?
Female :Adhu oru athisayam idhu oru ragasiyamFemale: That is a wonder, this is a secret.
Male :Hae….athu enna idhu enna vilakkattumaaMale: Hey... shall I explain what that is and what this is?
Male
Thulli thulli aattam podumJumping and prancing around in energy,
Jallikkattu kaalai naanI am a Jallikattu bull!
Alli alli konjumpothu naanWhen embraced with affection,
Unga veettu pillaithaanI am the beloved child of your home!
Female
Nadippaen sindhu padippaenI will act, I will sing a Sindhu song,
Naanthaan ingu jeyippaenI am the one who will emerge victorious here!
Nadippaen sindhu padippaenI will act, I will sing a Sindhu song,
Naanthaan ingu jeyippaenI am the one who will emerge victorious here!
Male
Ennaalum edhukkum anjaathu singamA lion that fears nothing at any time,
Female :Annaatchi naanthaan mangaatha thangamFemale: Brother, I am an unfading piece of gold!
Male :Ennaalum edhukkum anjaathu singamMale: A lion that fears nothing at any time,
Female :Annaatchi naanthaan mangaatha thangamFemale: Brother, I am an unfading piece of gold!
Male :Hae….irukkura sarakkellaam kaattattumaaMale: Hey... shall I show all the capability I hold?
Male
Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthaiyaanaalaamGradually, the mother-in-law turned into a donkey,
Oorukku therinjathungoThe entire town came to know of it.
Female :Veluththathu mookku valarnthathu kaadhuFemale: The nose turned white, the ears grew long,
Yaarukku purinjathungoWho really understood why?
Male :Adhu oru athisayam idhu oru ragasiyamMale: That is a wonder, this is a secret.
Female :Hae….athu enna idhu enna vilakkattumaaFemale: Hey... shall I explain what that is and what this is?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vara Vara Maamiyaar Kazhuthaiyaanaalaam is a high-energy folk duet from the 1984 film Unga Veettu Pillai, scored by Shankar-Ganesh and written by lyricist Vaali. The track relies heavily on classic Tamil proverbs, rural humor, and spirited banter between the lead singers. By referencing traditional sayings—such as a mother-in-law gradually turning into a donkey—the song playfully critiques dishonesty, arrogance, and situations that have spun out of control. In the verses, the male lead asserts his courage by comparing himself to an untamed Jallikattu bull that melts with love and a fearless lion. Meanwhile, the female lead matches his energy with clever counter-arguments, portraying herself as unfading gold. Together, they celebrate their camaraderie, righteousness, and determination to restore order over deceit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthaiyaanaalaam

Uses the famous Tamil proverb 'Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthai aanaalaam' to satirize continuous degeneration or foolish behavior.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagatu)

Jallikkattu kaalai naan

The male character compares himself to a fierce Jallikattu bull that can only be pacified through love.

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)

Thatti ketka aalillaama / Thattu kettu pochchunga

The repetition of the 'tt' sound in the second character of consecutive lines (Thatti / Thattu) creates rhythmic symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

The title hook 'Vara vara maamiyaar kazhuthai aana kathaiya' is an iconic Tamil folk idiom often used colloquially to describe situations that regress rather than improve over time. Lyricist Vaali seamlessly integrated this popular idiom into a theatrical duet for the Shankar-Ganesh musical album.

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