- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Srinivas, Suresh Peters
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Thiruda Thiruda
- Movie release year
- 1993
- Lyrics added on
- 24 Aug 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful folk song snippet captures the rural excitement and camaraderie of fishing in riverbanks and muddy streams. The singer enthusiastically points out various local fish varieties—like loach (ayira), carp (kenda), and ribbon fish (vaala)—getting caught in the nets, accompanied by traditional rowing/fishing chants ('Ailasa'). Beyond the literal fishing, the lyrics express a lighthearted celebration of village life and culinary anticipation, calling out to family members like the mother-in-law to wait on the shore and the sister-in-law to grind spices for cooking the fresh catch.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edugai (Second letter rhyme)
“Aathukkulla ayira meenu / Ada sethukulla sevappu kenda”
The second letter ''th'' (th/thuu) in 'Aathukkulla' and 'Sethukulla' creates an Edugai rhyme pattern common in Tamil folk poetry.
Mondai / Addukuthodai (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Maathi maathi madaki pudi”
The repetition of 'Maathi maathi' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing continuous alternating action.
Folk Refrain (Amba Paattu)
“Chorus :Ailasa ailasa”
'Ailasa' is a classic Tamil sea-shanty and river-boatman refrain used historically by fishermen to sync physical effort while rowing or pulling nets.
Visual and Sensory Imagery
“Male :Machiniya manja thoola / Araika sollu”
Specific names of fish (Ayira, Sevappu Kenda, Vaala) paired with ingredients like 'manja thool' (turmeric powder) invoke strong visual and culinary imagery of Tamil village life.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track snippet belongs to the iconic 1993 film 'Thiruda Thiruda', directed by Mani Ratnam. The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song infuses traditional Tamil 'Amba' folk rhythmic structures into modern world-music soundscapes.
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