The Ultimate Naughty Song: Decoding Ilaiyaraaja's 'Ada Machchamulla Machaan' 🤯

In Tamil cinema, we have countless songs spanning every possible mood—love, affection, joy, sorrow, anger, disillusionment, and we could keep going on and on. But there's one particularly interesting genre we can call Naughty Songs. By 'naughty,' I mean those tracks filled with playful mischief rooted in desire. When you think of that category, one line instantly comes to mind - Nadhirdhinna from the song "Ada Machchamulla Machaan"

Just like how Vadivelu's jokes became memes that integrated into our everyday vocabulary, this 'Naadhiradhaana' hook has become a viral meme, practically branding the song. But the track, "Ada Machchamulla Machaan," is far more than just this catchy piece of vocalization.

Today, we're diving deep into the musical magic Raja Sir wove into this track, revealing who the mysterious singer behind the 'Naadhiradhaana' is, his connection to Ilaiyaraaja, and the surprisingly profound philosophical and general knowledge embedded in this playful masterpiece. Welcome to Oru Naal Podhuma.

The Genesis: Fantasy, Frustration, and Film

This high-energy song is from the 1985 film Chinna Veedu, written, directed, and starring Bhagyaraj. With music by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Muthulingam, the song was brought to life by the powerhouse trio of SPB, S. Janaki, and S.P. Sailaja.

The movie's plot revolves around a man who dreams of marrying a great beauty. When his wife doesn't meet his expectations, the resulting frustration leads him down a path of fantasy. This song is the vivid depiction of his internal world—his elaborate romantic desires.

The song begins with SPB's mesmerizing chant:

ஓம் காமசூத்ராய நமஹ

ஓம் வாத்சாயனாய நமஹ

ஓம் அதிவீர ராமபாண்டியாய நமஹ

From Kamasutra to Pandian: The Hidden Knowledge 📜

Right at the start, there's a huge clue hidden in the lyrics. Following the "Kamasutraya namaha" line, the chant continues with "Adhiveerarama Pandiyaaya namaha." Who is this?

This is where the general knowledge drops! Adhiveerarama Pandiyan was a Pandian king who ruled the Southern region in the 16th century, and he was also a noted Tamil scholar. He's famous for translating the Sanskrit work 'Ratirahasyam' by Kokkoka into Tamil as 'Koganamam.'

And it's from this ancient text that we get the reference to the four types of women mentioned in the song (or similar classical literature):

• Padmini: A woman full of beauty and attraction (The Lotus Woman).

• Chitrini: An artistic and graceful woman (The Art Woman).

• Shankini: An intellectual and knowledgeable woman (The Conch Woman).

• Hastini: A powerful and strong woman (The Elephant Woman).

This shows us the song is about much more than just a typical fantasy—it’s rooted in classical Indian texts on desire and pleasure. After SPB's chant, these four types are invoked as Athini, Sithini, Padmini entering the scene:

The Master Behind the Meme: T.V. Gopalakrishnan (TVG)

Once the introduction is complete, the song takes off on another level! The drums lay down a solid beat, and the brass section instantly transports us into a vibrant party mood.

But even with the electrifying brass and the strings that follow, making our hearts beat faster, the highlight remains the background vocalizations, the "Naadhir dhinna nadhir dhinna dhirana" that acts as a gap filler during the Pallavi.

The singer behind this viral hook is none other than Thiru T.V. Gopalakrishnan (TVG)!

TVG is not just any singer; he is a musical colossus:

• Maestro: Proficient in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music.

• Guru: He has served as a Carnatic guru to masters like Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman.

• Awards: Recipient of Sangeetha Kalanidhi and the Padma Bhushan.

• Raja Sir Connection: He also sang the beautiful humming portions in Raja Sir's "Andhi Mazhai pozhigiradhu" and the Nagirthana bit in "Idhu Oru Nila Kaalam."

So, why would a musician of such high stature lend his voice to a 'naughty' film song?

The Philosophy of Music

Ilayaraaja and TVG addressed this very topic in a joint interview. They concluded that music is a vast, ever-evolving form that cannot be confined to one single genre (Carnatic, Western, Hindustani, or Film).

Their mutual belief is that the ultimate aim of music is Iraivanai Unarvadhu (God realization). This realization, or inner peace, is attained through Anandam (Joy/Bliss). If listening to this high-energy song fills you with Urchaagam (enthusiasm) and joy, then it is indeed a path to that realization. This broad, non-judgmental view perfectly explains why a classical genius like TVG happily participated in every piece of music Raja Sir created.

Vocal Energy and Orchestral Brilliance of Ada Machchamulla Machaan

The vocal performances are electrifying! Both Janaki Amma and S.P. Sailaja absolutely killed it with their high-energy delivery and playful expressions.

Though the genre is like eating dessert for SPB—easy and enjoyable, delivered with his trademark smile...the ladies often dominate the track, especially in the later stanzas, thanks to some brilliant sound engineering that makes their voices sound incredibly bright and powerful:

The orchestration itself is a masterclass in party music:

• The Brass Section provides that grand, high-energy opening.

• The Strings Section keeps the excitement mounting.

• A surprise Flute has a lovely cameo.

• And giving the song its crucial structure and weight is the thumping Bass Guitar.

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Lyricist Muthulingam deserves credit for using witty metaphors like Poonai (Cat) and Vengai Meen (Tiger Fish) to convey the theme without being crude.

"Ada Machchamulla Machaan" is, all in all, an extremely enjoyable song, packed with high energy and fun—a true testament to the expansive vision of Ilaiyaraaja's music.

We've gathered some extremely important knowledge from this one track! Now, final question: Adhiveerarama Pandiyan introduced us to the four types of women (Athini, Sithini, etc.). Do you remember the A.R. Rahman song that also features these four types of women? Let us know in the comments! 👇