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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vilakkethi Vaikkavumille

From Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Jikki
Music director
Master Venu
Details
Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vilakethi veikkavum illaeThe lamp has not even been lit yet,
Vennilavu mulaikkavum illaeThe full white moon has not even risen yet,
Veed eri vandhu vittingha neengaYet you have stepped right into my house,
Balae aalunghaBravo, what a clever person you are!
Machaan engae vandheengaMy lover, where did you come from?
Female
Vilakethi veikkavum illaeThe lamp has not even been lit yet,
Vennilavu mulaikkavum illaeThe full white moon has not even risen yet,
Veed eri vandhu vittingha neengaYet you have stepped right into my house,
Balae aalunghaBravo, what a clever person you are!
Machaan engae vandheengaMy lover, where did you come from?
Female
Velicham pottu thiriyum ungalaiYou who roam around throwing bright light everywhere,
Azhaichathu yaarunghaWho invited you here?
Ullae azhaichathu yaarungaWho called you inside?
Vera yaarum illadha samayamAt a time when no one else is around,
Vandhadhu sariyaangaIs it proper for you to come?
Neenga vandhathu sariyaangaIs it proper for you to have arrived like this?
Thalukka pesi thaaja panniTalking coyly and trying to coax me,
Mayakkum ennam yengaWhy do you intend to enchant me?
Balae aalunghaBravo, what a clever person you are!
Machaan engae vandhinghaMy lover, where did you come from?
Female
Vaayalae alli eraikkumYou shower grand promises with just your mouth,
Vallal thaanungha neengaYou are indeed a philanthropist of words,
Kodai vallal thanunga neengaYou act like a magnificent patron,
Vaayalae alli eraikkumYou shower grand promises with just your mouth,
Vallal thaanungha neengaYou are indeed a philanthropist of words,
Kodai vallal thanunga neengaYou act like a magnificent patron,
Female
Kaiyaalae kaakai kuruviyai koodaEven towards a crow or a sparrow, with your hand,
Echal kaiyaalae kaakaikuruviyai koodaEven with an unwashed hand after eating, towards a crow or sparrow,
Virattavum maatingha neengaYou would not even shoo them away!
Mai velaiyaalae karumi thanathaiThrough clever trickery, your extreme stinginess,
Maraikka mudiyathu pongaCannot be hidden, go away!
Balae aalunghaBravo, what a clever person you are!
Machaan engae vandhinghaMy lover, where did you come from?
Female
Ponnum porulum kaiyil irundhaIf you have gold and wealth in your hand,
Munnalae varalanghaYou may step forward before me,
Neenga munnalae varalanghaYou may come forward,
Ennaasai kaadhal venuminnaIf you want my desirable love,
En ki mele tharalanghaYou can place it right in my palm,
Adhai en kai mele tharalanghaYou can hand it over into my hands,
Female
Kannaalae pesi kaanikkai koduthaIf you speak with your eyes and give me a sweet token,
Marakkavum maatten vaangaI will never forget it, come to me!
Balae aalungha neengaBravo, what a clever person you are,
Ennai aalunghaCome and rule over me!
Machaan ennai aalunghaMy lover, rule over me!
Machaan ennai aalunghaMy lover, rule over me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful, romantic folk-style banter between a young woman and her suitor. She playfully chides him for sneaking into her home uninvited under the cover of dusk before any lamps are lit or the moon has risen. She affectionately teases his stinginess, pointing out how lavish he is with grandiose verbal promises while remaining tight-fisted with actual wealth, evoking the famous Tamil idiom about not even waving an unwashed hand to scare away a crow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Vilakethi veikkavum illae / Vennilavu mulaikkavum illae

Repetition of the initial 'V' sound in 'Vilakethi' and 'Vennilavu' creates a rhythmic cadence in the opening lines.

Irony / Sarcasm (Ninthi Stuthi)

Vaayalae alli eraikkum / Vallal thaanungha neenga

The heroine sarcastically calls her lover a 'Vallal' (bountiful philanthropist) only to reveal that his generosity exists solely in his empty verbal promises ('Vaayalae').

Idiomatic Folk Imagery (Pazhamozhi)

Echal kaiyaalae kaakaikuruviyai kooda Virattavum maatingha neenga

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb about a miser who refuses to shoo away birds even with an unwashed hand, fearing a single grain of food might fall.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1957 film 'Enga Veettu Mahalaskhmi' composed by Master Venu with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, this track stands out for Jikki's spirited vocal delivery. Lyricist Maruthakasi masterfully integrated the traditional Tamil idiom about misers into a popular lighthearted romantic duet structure.

Keep listening

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