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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathoram Koovudhu

From Inimai Idho Idho · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Inimai Idho Idho
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
23 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa…..aa…..aaa…..aa….
Aaa…..aa…..aa….aa….aa…aa…
Aaththoram koovuthu….
Aaththoram koovuthu….
Oru poonguruvi oru thaenaruvi
Maraththil irunthu pazhaththai kadiththu
Kookookookoo
Aaththoram koovuthu….
Kuk kuk koo koo koo kooh….
Thappi thappi thuniya thuvaichchaa
Adhula undu kadhakali thaalam
Vaaikkaal thanni vayalla paainchu
Istam pola paattum paadum
Yaeththathilum erakkaththilum
Raagamundu nee kelu
Enna vittaa aththanaiyum
Eduththu solla aalaethu
Nadhiyum intha vayalum dhinam
Pudhiya nadanamidum aamaam
Aahaa intha azhag thenam
Rasikka maranthu vidalaamaa
Engum undu raagam
Engum undu thaalam
Pongi pala paavam
Nenjukulla mothu
Aaththoram koovuthu….
Oru poonguruvi oru thaenaruvi
Maraththil irunthu pazhaththai kadiththu
Kookookookoo
………………..
Kaama kaama paadhaa nisaa
Male :Kadaisila neesaa neesaa
Kaama kaama paadhaa nisaa
Kadaisila neesaa neesaa
Porakkirathu satjamamthaan
Porathula panjamamthaan
Maamanukku surangal irukkaa
Maamaamaamaamaamaa
Saappaattukku surangal irukaa
Kamakamakamakamakamakamga
Kaamadikku oru raagam irukkaa
Male :Ae….ae….ma….ae….a….
Kaamadikku oru raagam irukkaa
Male :Thanthaana thanthaana thaanaa
Rigagari rigagari rigagarigarisaa
Male :Pasikkidhudaa vearkadalaiya thaa
Male :Kamakamakamakama rigariga sagarinisaa
Male :Kamakamakamakama manakkura kadalaiya thaa
Male :Kamakamaka nipanipa kamakarisaa
Male :Kadaiyiala irukku kaasaiyum nee thaa
Male :Somaari paamari pamanisaa
Male :Thathinginathom thathinginathom
Thathinginathom thathinginathom
Paadaathae paiththiyam
Unna naan adippaen vasamaa kadippaen
Madaiyaa thadiyaa ennaiyaa odhaippae
Nee enna brusleeyaa
Paadaathae paiththiyam
Male :Paiththiyam
Aah... aah... aah... aah...
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
By the riverbank, it calls out...
By the riverbank, it calls out...
A sweet little bird, a stream of honey,
Biting into a fruit from the tree,
Koo-koo-koo-koo!
By the riverbank, it calls out...
Cook cook koo koo koo kooh...
When clothes are beaten and washed in rhythm,
There is a Kathakali beat in it!
As canal water flows into the field,
It sings a song just as it pleases!
In every rise and fall,
There is a melody, just listen!
Except for me, who is there
To explain all of this?
Every day, the river and this field
Dance a brand new dance, yes!
Ah, can we ever forget
To enjoy this daily beauty?
Everywhere, there is melody,
Everywhere, there is rhythm!
Many emotions overflow
And surge inside the heart!
By the riverbank, it calls out...
A sweet little bird, a stream of honey,
Biting into a fruit from the tree,
Koo-koo-koo-koo!
...............
Ga Ma Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
Male: In the end, you're a lowlife, a lowlife!
Ga Ma Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
In the end, you're a lowlife, a lowlife!
What is born is the Shadjam note,
On the back, it is the Panchamam note!
Are there musical notes for an uncle?
Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma!
Are there musical notes for food?
Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga!
Is there a raga for comedy?
Male: Eh... eh... ma... eh... ah...
Is there a raga for comedy?
Male: Thandhaana thandhaana thaanaa
Ri Ga Ga Ri, Ri Ga Ga Ri, Ri Ga Ga Ri Ga Ri Sa
Male: I am hungry, give me some peanuts!
Male: Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga Ma, Ri Ga Ri Ga, Sa Ga Ri Ni Sa
Male: Give me those peanuts that smell so good!
Male: Ga Ma Ga Ma Ga, Ni Pa Ni Pa, Ga Ma Ga Ri Sa
Male: It is in the shop, you give the money too!
Male: You lazy bum! Pa Ma Ri, Pa Ma Ni Sa!
Male: Thadhinginathom thadhinginathom!
Thadhinginathom thadhinginathom!
Stop singing, you lunatic!
I will thrash you and bite you hard!
You fool, you brute, will you dare kick me?
Who do you think you are, Bruce Lee?
Stop singing, you lunatic!
Male: Lunatic!
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a lighthearted, comedic, and musical exchange centered around finding music in everyday sounds and nature. The initial section poetically describes how everyday sounds—such as birds calling by the riverbank, water flowing into fields, or even the rhythmic slapping of clothes being washed—contain inherent raga, rhythm, and artistic expression. Nature itself performs a daily dance of joy and beauty that demands appreciation. The song then shifts into a humorous dialogue interweaving Carnatic swaras (solfege notes) with playful puns on words like 'Maama' (uncle) and 'Kama-kama' (aroma of food/peanuts). One singer tries to maintain formal musical structure, while the other interrupts with demands for snacks, money, and comedic antics, culminating in comical threats and banter about 'Bruce Lee' and call-outs of madness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oliyakkuppu)

“Kookookookoo”

Use of bird sound imitations 'Kookookookoo' and rhythm syllables 'Thathinginathom' to replicate natural auditory experiences.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

“Adhula undu kadhakali thaalam”

Comparing the stream of honey to a natural spring and washing clothes to the rhythmic beats of 'Kathakali'.

Wordplay / Pun (Sledai)

“Saappaattukku surangal irukaa”

Playing on Carnatic notes (Maa, Sa) to sound like familial terms ('Maama') and food aromas ('Kama kama').

Anaphora / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

“Engum undu raagam”

Rhyming words across lines such as 'Engum undu raagam' and 'Engum undu thaalam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track demonstrates how classic Tamil cinematic songwriting fuses traditional Carnatic musical elements (swara patterns) with slapstick comedic dialogue and nature imagery, a signature touch often featured in film compositions where lyricists like Gangai Amaran weave humor directly into formal rhythmic structures.

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