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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aaduthadi Aaduthadi

From Malaiyoor Mambattiyan · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Malaiyoor Mambattiyan1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thannaanaa naanaanaaThannaanaa naanaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa naa naanaa naa….Thannaanaa naa naanaa naa… (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa naanaanaaThannaanaa naanaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa naa naanaa naa….Thannaanaa naa naanaa naa… (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa thaanaanaaThannaanaa thaanaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaaThannaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa thaanaanaaThannaanaa thaanaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Thannaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaaThannaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaa (Rhythmic folk vocalization)
Aaa….aaa…..aa….Aaa….aaa…..aa…. (Vocalizing)
Male
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Paaduthadi paaduthadiIt sings, oh it sings!
Thoothukkudi muththucharamLike a pearl string from Thoothukudi!
Male
Aaduthaiyaa aaduthaiyaaIt dances, sir, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Paaduthaiyaa paaduthaiyaaIt sings, sir, oh it sings!
Thoothukkudi muththucharamLike a pearl string from Thoothukudi!
Male
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Chorus
Thananaa thaana nanaa thaananaaThananaa thaana nanaa thaananaa (Rhythmic vocalization)
Thananaa thaana nanaa thaananaaThananaa thaana nanaa thaananaa (Rhythmic vocalization)
Female
Kaalum kaiyumthaan vaazhaththanduHer legs and arms are smooth like banana stems,
Kannu rendumthaan kozhikkunduHer two eyes are sharp like glass marbles!
Male :Dhegam pooraavum theenoorum oothaappooMale: The entire body is like a purple flower oozing honey,
Vandu vaai vechchu oothaatha oothaappooA purple flower untouched by any bee's mouth!
Female
Sirikkum rosaa chediA smiling rose plant,
Idhu jolikkum minnal kodiThis is a shining creeper of lightning!
Ada yaaru naan yaaru peru poontheruHey, who am I? My name is like a flower chariot!
Paaru nee paaru karakaattamthaanLook, you just look at this Karakaattam folk dance!
Male
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Female :Paaduthaiyaa paaduthaiyaaFemale: It sings, sir, oh it sings!
Thoothukkudi muththucharamLike a pearl string from Thoothukudi!
Male :Aaduthadi aaduthadiMale: It dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Female
Yaeru uzhuvaatha manjakaaniA turmeric field unploughed by a tiller,
Yaeththam eraikkaatha chinna kaeniA small water well untouched by a water-picottah,
Naanum thaniyaga koiyaatha kaniyaagaI am all alone like an unpicked fruit,
Neeyum thunaiyaaga nenjodu iniyaagaWith you as my companion, sweet inside my heart,
Male
Porakkum santhosamthaan kaiHappiness will be born,
Kalakkum sallaapamthaanIntimate romance will blend together!
Ada maasam thai maasam vaasam poo vaasamHey, the month of Thai brings the fragrance of flowers,
Pesum kann pesum ennodathaanHer eyes speak, they speak directly to me!
Female
Aaduthaiyaa aaduthaiyaaIt dances, sir, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Paaduthaiyaa paaduthaiyaaIt sings, sir, oh it sings!
Thoothukkudi muththucharamLike a pearl string from Thoothukudi!
Male
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!
Paaduthadi paaduthadiIt sings, oh it sings!
Thoothukkudi muththucharamLike a pearl string from Thoothukudi!
Male
Aaduthadi aaduthadiIt dances, oh it dances!
Uchchaththilae vechcha kudamThe pot placed right on top of the head!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a high-energy Tamil folk dance performance (Karakaattam) celebrating love, dance, and rural romance. The lyrics describe the precision and joy of balancing a decorated pot on top of the head while dancing to lively traditional folk rhythms. Through vivid rural imagery, the song praises the dancer's beauty, comparing her grace to smooth banana stems, bright marbles, and untouched flowers full of nectar.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Kaalum kaiyumthaan vaazhaththandu / Kannu rendumthaan kozhikkundu

Comparing limbs to smooth banana stems (vaazhaththandu) and eyes to glass marbles (kozhikkundu).

Metaphor

Naanum thaniyaga koiyaatha kaniyaaga

Describing the beloved as an unpicked fruit (koiyaatha kani) and untouched turmeric field (manjakaani).

Ethirukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aaduthadi aaduthadi / Paaduthadi paaduthadi

Rhyming 'Aaduthadi' with 'Paaduthadi' across structural lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Malaiyoor Mambattiyan' (1983) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Thiagarajan and Saritha. This song showcases authentic Tamil folk art forms like Karakaattam, blending theatrical street-dance energy with romantic courtship.

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