Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yeandiyamma Ithukku

From Manipayal · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Latha, Pushpalatha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manipayal1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaendiyammaa idhukku peru naagareegamaaHey girl, is this what you call civilization?
Naalu ezhuthu padichchu vanthaalae intha kolamaaJust because you got educated, should you look like this?
Yaendiyammaa idhukku peru naagareegamaaHey girl, is this what you call civilization?
Naalu ezhuthu padichchu vanthaalae intha kolamaaJust because you got educated, should you look like this?
Female
Kudumpa ponnaa latchanamaa irukkakoodaathaaShouldn't a traditional girl behave with dignity and grace?
Kudumpa ponnaa latchanamaa irukkakoodaathaaShouldn't a traditional girl behave with dignity and grace?
Mugaththil kungumamum manjalittaal azhagu varaathaaDoesn't true beauty come from applying vermilion and turmeric on the face?
Female
Thalai niraiya poova vachchuAdorning her head full of flowers,
Thazhaiya thazhaiya podava kattiWearing a saree that flows down elegantly,
Kovil silaiyai polaLike a temple statue,
Ponnu nadakka venumaeA young woman ought to walk with grace.
Nalla kula vilakku endra perai edukka venumaeShe must earn the reputation of being the guiding light of a good family.
Female
Yaendiyammaa idhukku peru naagareegamaaHey girl, is this what you call civilization?
Naalu ezhuthu padichchu vanthaalae intha kolamaaJust because you got educated, should you look like this?
Female
Ettu kajam pudavaiyellaam waste wasteEight-yard sarees are completely a waste, a waste!
Ettu kajam pudavaiyellaam waste wasteEight-yard sarees are completely a waste, a waste!
Intha naagareegam thaanae ippa taste tasteThis modern culture is today's taste, taste!
Ulagam pogum vegam rompa fast fastThe world is moving forward very fast, fast!
Unara vendum neegal adhai sweet sweetYou ought to understand this sweetly, sweetly!
Unara vendum neegal adhai sweet sweetYou ought to understand this sweetly, sweetly!
Female
Dosa kalla pola oru mookku kannaadiWhat kind of spectacles are these on the nose, round like a dosa pan?
Thodaiyai irukki kaattum vidhaththil thunigal ennaadiWhat kind of tight clothes are these, showing off the thighs?
Paasimaniyai pottu kuraththi vesam ennaadiWhat is this gypsy disguise, wearing glass bead necklaces?
Ada paiyan yaaru ponnu yaaru theriyalla podiHey girl, one cannot even distinguish who is a boy and who is a girl, go away!
Ada paiyan yaaru ponnu yaaru theriyalla podiHey girl, one cannot even distinguish who is a boy and who is a girl, go away!
Female
Azhagai kaattaththaanae pennai aanadavan padachchaanGod created woman specifically to showcase beauty!
Aadipaadi rasikkavendrae vaazhkkaiyai koduththaanHe blessed us with life to dance, sing, and enjoy!
Azhagai kaattaththaanae pennai aanadavan padachchaanGod created woman specifically to showcase beauty!
Aadipaadi rasikkavendrae vaazhkkaiyai koduththaanHe blessed us with life to dance, sing, and enjoy!
Female
Irukkum varaiyil anupaviththu naam vaazha vendumaeAs long as we live, we must experience and enjoy life.
Idhanai unarumpothu ulagam nammai mathikkumaeWhen you realize this truth, the world will respect us.
Female
Aaththukkaarar mattumthaandi azhagai rasikkanumOnly her husband has the right to admire a woman's beauty!
Aduththavaalin kannukkellaam deivamaaganumTo the eyes of everyone else, she should appear like a goddess.
Naalu peru paarkkumpothu penmai vaazhanumWomanhood should shine with honor in public view.
Tamizh naattu pennai ulagam paarththu vaazhththu paadanumThe world should look at the Tamil woman and sing her praises!
Female
Hai please company with meHey, please give me company!
Matni cinima marina hotelA matinee movie, Marina beach, a hotel stay,
Cobere dance-yum kirukiru drink-umCabaret dance and dizzying alcoholic drinks,
Ellaam paarththu iravai suvaiththuExperiencing it all and relishing the night,
Poe varuvom vaa pulpulthaaraaLet us go and come back, my sweet bird!
Female
Haei what do you meanHey, what do you mean?
Kanniyar meedhu anniyan neeyumYou, a stranger, laying hands on young maidens,
Kaigalai pottu kanavanai polaeAnd speaking as if you were a husband,
Pesuthaal muraiyaa poevidu po poIs this proper? Go away, just leave!
Female
Aaththukkaarar mattumthaandi azhagai rasikkanumOnly her husband has the right to admire a woman's beauty!
Aduththavaalin kannukkellaam deivamaaganumTo the eyes of everyone else, she should appear like a goddess.
Naalu peru paarkkumpothu penmai vaazhanumWomanhood should shine with honor in public view.
Tamizh naattu pennai ulagam paarththu vaazhththu paadanumThe world should look at the Tamil woman and sing her praises!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song presents a debate between traditional Tamil cultural values and modern, Westernized lifestyles. One perspective critiques modern attire and behavior, advocating for modesty, traditional adornments like turmeric and flowers, and maintaining domestic dignity as the ideal Tamil woman. In contrast, the modern viewpoint defends westernized clothing, night life, and freedom as signs of progress and enjoyment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kovil silaiyai pola ponnu nadakka venumae

Compares a woman's graceful walk to the regal stature of a temple idol.

Simile (Uvamai)

Dosa kalla pola oru mookku kannaadi

Humorously compares oversized round spectacles to a circular dosa pan.

Rhyme / English Repetition

Ettu kajam pudavaiyellaam waste waste... ippa taste taste... fast fast

Uses English loan words in repetitive rhyming pairs (waste, taste, fast, sweet) to depict modern influence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Manipayal (1973) featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Vaali, capturing the contemporary social debate of 1970s Tamil society surrounding Western modernization versus traditional Tamil womanhood.

Keep listening

More from Manipayal