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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Veliyila Pona Onaana

From Thozhar Venkatesan · 2019

Lyricist
Mahashivan
Singer
V. M. Mahalingam
Music director
Sagishna
Details
Thozhar Venkatesan2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Veliyila pona onaanaThe garden lizard that was passing outside,
Vettikkulla vittu kittaanHe let it inside his own clothes (invited trouble).
Bus standil ninna saththaanaThe trouble/devil standing at the bus stand,
Vettu munna niruthikittaanHe made it stand right in front of his home.
Male
Yaanaiya katti theeni poduraanHe ties an elephant and feeds it,
Vadaiya paathu valaiyil maattinaan…Seeing a vada (lure), he got caught in a net...
Male :AaamaMale: Yes!
Male :Yaanaiya katti theeni poduraan…Male: He ties an elephant and feeds it...
Male :AaamaMale: Yes!
Male :Vadaiya paathu valaiyil maattinaanMale: Seeing a vada, he got caught in a net.
Male
Veliyila pona onaanaThe garden lizard that was passing outside,
Vettikkulla vittu kittaanHe let it inside his own clothes.
Bus standil ninna saththaanaThe trouble/devil standing at the bus stand,
Vettu munna niruthikittaanHe made it stand right in front of his home.
Male
Koduma kodumannu courtukku ponaGoing to court complaining about cruelty,
Anga oru koduma thalai virichaaduthuAnother cruelty dances wild and free there.
Motta thalaikkum mozhangalukkumConnecting a bald head to a knee,
Mudichi pottu bussu kodukkuthuIt ties a nonsensical knot and offers a bus.
Male
YeiHey!
Male
Mazhaiya kettaa veiyilu adikkuthuWhen asking for rain, scorching sun blazes,
Veiyila kettaa paniya pozhiyithuWhen asking for sun, cold dew/snow falls.
Kenaru vetta bootham kelambuthuWhen digging a well, a ghost wakes up,
Pullaiyar puddika koranga poguthuTrying to shape Lord Ganesha ends up turning into a monkey.
Male
Ooma kuthu romba valikkuthuA silent punch hurts terribly,
Male :AiyooMale: Oh no!
Male :Oorae ivana paathu sirikkithuMale: The whole town laughs looking at him,
Male :HahahahaMale: Hahahaha!
Male
Veliyila pona onaanaThe garden lizard that was passing outside,
Vettikkulla vittu kittaanHe let it inside his own clothes.
Bus standil ninna saththaanaThe trouble/devil standing at the bus stand,
Vettu munna niruthikittaanHe made it stand right in front of his home.
Male
Yaanaiya katti theeni poduraanHe ties an elephant and feeds it,
Vadaiya paathu valaiyil maattinaan…Seeing a vada, he got caught in a net...
Yaanaiya katti theeni poduraan…He ties an elephant and feeds it...
Vadaiya paathu valaiyil maattinaanSeeing a vada, he got caught in a net.
Male
Veliyila pona onaanaThe garden lizard that was passing outside,
Vettikkulla vittu kittaanHe let it inside his own clothes.
Bus standil ninna saththaanaThe trouble/devil standing at the bus stand,
Vettu munna niruthikittaanHe made it stand right in front of his home.
Male
Nananan nana nananan nana naaNananan nana nananan nana naa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical and light-hearted take on a protagonist who continually brings misfortune upon himself due to poor decisions and bad luck. Through a series of famous Tamil proverbs and metaphors—such as inviting a passing lizard into one's waistline or summoning a ghost while digging a well—the lyrics convey how every attempt to solve a problem only leads to comedic disaster. Even when approaching institutions like the court for justice, the situation turns absurdly counterproductive. The song captures the irony of a man whose life is a comedy of errors, earning the laughter and pity of the entire village.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pazhamozhi (Proverbial Metaphor)

Veliyila pona onaana Vettikkulla vittu kittaan

Uses the famous Tamil proverb 'Veliyila pona onaana vettikkulla vittukittaan' to signify bringing unnecessary trouble upon oneself.

Ethirpaadhu (Irony / Antithesis)

Mazhaiya kettaa veiyilu adikkuthu Veiyila kettaa paniya pozhiyithu

Contrasts opposing natural forces (rain vs. sun, heat vs. frost) to highlight ironic bad luck.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Motta thalaikkum mozhangalukkum Mudichi pottu bussu kodukkuthu

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'll' in 'Motta' and 'Mudichi' (or 'rr' in 'Koranga' / 'Kenaru') for rhythmic folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thozhar Venkatesan' (2019) was directed by Mahashivan, who also penned the lyrics for this song. The track utilizes popular Tamil folk idioms and proverbs to reflect the social and personal struggles of the protagonist in a humorously cynical tone.

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