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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yela Azhagamma

From Thirunelveli · 2000

Lyricist
Bharathi Kannan
Singers
Arun Mozhi, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thirunelveli2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Edhuththa veettu jodiya polLike the couple next door,
Inbamaaga irupomunnuThat we would live happily,
Nenaichchirunthaen pon mayilaeI thought so, my golden peacock.
Naan ishtappattu pakkam varaWhen I fondly try to come close to you,
Male
Edam ponaa valam poraIf I go left, you go right,
Valam ponaa edam poraIf I go right, you go left.
Vekkaththa vittu solluraenSetting aside my shy modesty, I tell you,
Makkaro makkar pannuraeYou keep playing stubborn and frustrating me!
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Male
Paaththaalum paaththaen aaththaadi aaththaaOh my, among all the sights I have seen,
Saththiyamaa unna pola paaththathillaiyadiHonestly, I have never seen anyone like you, girl!
Kaaththaadum rosa koththodu mulluA rose swaying in the wind comes with a cluster of thorns,
Kuththaama poo edukka mudiyavillaiyadiI cannot pick the flower without getting pricked, girl!
Mudiyavillaiyadi haeiI just cannot, hey!
Female
Ponnunnaaa ungalukkuIf it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!
Female
Ponnunnaaa ungalukkuIf it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!
Male
Karuththirunthaalum rompaEven if I look dark-complexioned,
Uruththu ullavan naanI am a man of strong character and determination.
Enn veruthodhukkuriyaeWhy do you hate and shun me?
Rompa murukku kaatturiyaeWhy do you show so much stubborn attitude?
Female
A aaha aaha aahaaAh, aha, aha, aha!
Edhukeduththaalum kanna vettiWhatever happens, you roll your eyes,
Muzhikkiriyae etti kaiya pudikkiriyaeStare wide-eyed, reach out and grab my hand!
Thottu katti izhukkiriyaeYou touch and pull me close!
Male
Izhuththaraikkura manjala polLike grinding turmeric paste on a stone,
Nee manasa vekkuriyaeYou rub and wear out my heart!
Iduppil kattina kosuva selaiyilIn the pleats of the saree tied at your waist,
Pinni mudikkiriyaeYou entangle and tie me up!
Female
Murukki nikkira karuppu meesaiyilWith your twirled black mustache,
Kannaththa kuththuriyaeYou prick my cheeks!
Arisi kuththura saakkulaOn the pretext of pounding rice,
Thullura iduppodikkiraiyaeYou jump around and break my waist!
Male
Venuminnae usuppi vittuIntentionally stoking my desires,
Vedikka paakkura raasaaththiYou watch the fun, my princess!
Ullukkulla onnuHaving one thing on the inside,
Veliyila onnu venaandiAnd displaying another on the outside—don't do that, girl!
Female
Hei ponnunnaaa ungalukkuHey, if it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!
Female
: Ponnunnaaa ungalukkuIf it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!
Female
Paaththaalum paaththu aaththaadi aaththaaOh my, looking at all things,
Saththiyamaa unna pola paarththathu undaaHonestly, have I ever seen anyone like you?
Kaaththaadu rosaa kooththaadumpothuWhen the rose swaying in the wind dances,
Thothaaga nee enakku sorugunathu undaaHave you ever conveniently tucked it in my hair for me?
Sorugunathu undaaHave you ever tucked it?
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Female
Veettil irunthaalumEven when staying inside the house,
Adhu vittu veliyilathaanOutside beyond its confines,
Intha kanni ponnu manasumThis young girl's heart,
Ada kanda padi suththuthuAh, wanders wherever it pleases!
Male
Aahaa aahaa oho ohoAha, aha, oho, oho!
Kaattil irunthaalumEven if I am out in the forest or fields,
Namma veettukkulla unnaththaanInside our home, around you alone,
Suththi suththi varuguthadi intha songi paya manasuThis lazy guy's heart keeps orbiting around, girl!
Female
Satti kazhuvuraen saatham vadikkiraenI wash the pots, I drain cooked rice,
Vela nadakkaliyaeYet work doesn't get completed properly!
Kozhi adikkiraen kozhambu vaikkiraenI slaughter a chicken, I make gravy,
Vaasam adikkaliyaeYet the aroma doesn't waft out!
Male
Samanju nikkira thangam irukkaiyilWhen a mature golden beauty is standing right here,
SamanjathennathukkuWhat was the point of coming of age?
Valipa pasikku vattiyil soruthaanFor an energetic appetite, serving rice in a bowl—
KaattuvathennathukkuWhy just show it off without feeding?
Female
Saadaiyaa naan purinjukkittaenI understood it through subtle hints,
Therinjikkittaen paarvaiyilaI realized it through your gaze,
Angum ingum killuriyae rasavaeYou pinch me here and there, my king!
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Female
Aahaan…..ponnunnaaa ungalukkuAhaan... if it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!
Male
Paaththaalum paaththaen aaththaadi aaththaaOh my, among all the sights I have seen,
Saththiyamaa unna pola paaththathillaiyadiHonestly, I have never seen anyone like you, girl!
Female :Kaaththaadu rosaa kooththaadumpothuFemale: When the rose swaying in the wind dances,
Thothaaga nee enakku sorugunathu undaaHave you ever conveniently tucked it in my hair for me?
Sorugunathu undaaHave you ever tucked it?
Male
Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaaHey, beautiful girl Azhagamma, do I look cheap to you?
Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaaYou dress up and sway, why all this style and attitude?
Female
Ponnunnaaa ungalukkuIf it is a woman, to you men,
Rompa rompa elappammaaShe is taken very lightly!
Pombalainga pozhappellaamA woman's entire life,
Neenga pannura kozhappamthaanIs ruined by the confusion created by you men!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful, romantic duet featuring dynamic banter between a man and a woman in a rural Tamil context. The male protagonist playfully complains about his beloved Azhagamma's evasive and teasing behavior, expressing his genuine affection while accusing her of playing hard to get despite his honest intentions and strong character. In response, the female protagonist banteringly challenges men's perceptions of women, arguing that men tend to take women for granted and create confusion in their lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Edam ponaa valam pora / Valam ponaa edam pora

Repetition or complementary pairing of initial sounds across directional movements.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Yaelaa azhagammaa enna paaththaa elappamaa / Minukki kulukkura ennaththukku thalukkammaa

Rhyming endings using '-ammaa' across rhyming couplets to create a rhythmic folk beat.

Simile (Upama Ani)

Izhuththaraikkura manjala pol / Nee manasa vekkuriyae

Compares the wearing down of his heart by her teasing to turmeric being ground repeatedly against a stone.

Metaphor (Rupaka Ani)

Kaaththaadum rosa koththodu mullu

Metaphorically compares the attractive woman to a delicate rose accompanied by sharp thorns.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Thirunelveli (2000) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Prabhu and Karan. The lyrics written by Bharathi Kannan heavily incorporate Southern Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli region) rural folk diction and idioms, capturing authentic local courtship traditions.

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