Antha Kanji Kalaiyatha
From Muthu Kaalai · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Muthu Kaalai1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Mm….mmm….mmm….mmm….mmmm | Mmm... (Humming sound) |
| Mm….mmm….mmm….mmm….mmmm | Mmm... (Humming sound) |
| Male | |
| Antha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae…ae… | When the young woman carries the pot of rice water... |
| Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae | Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little! |
| Velli minji aninjava konji nadakkaiyilae | When the woman wearing silver toe-rings walks playfully... |
| Antha anna nadaya naan enna solla mayilae | Oh peacock, what can I say about her swan-like stride! |
| Male | |
| Thongum mani kattum thaeraa | Is she a temple chariot decorated with hanging bells? |
| Pongum manimuththu aaraa | Is she an overflowing river of precious pearls? |
| Machchaan manasalli joraa | She sits grandly in this man's heart! |
| Minnal idai vetti poraa | She walks past, her lightning-like waist cutting through! |
| Male | |
| Kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae… | When the young woman carries the pot of rice water... |
| Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae | Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little! |
| Male | |
| Pudhu vellam vaththi pogum | A fresh flood may dry up in time, |
| Nenjil konda paasam vaththaathamma | But the love held in the heart will never dry up, my dear! |
| Pozhuthellaam kaiya pottu | Holding hands all through the day, |
| Anbu kadha pesu vishthaaramma | Talk sweet stories of love in detail, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Kadhaiyellaam solla solla | As you keep telling all those stories, |
| Thakkapadi kooli thanthidanum | You must give a suitable reward! |
| Adhai naanum alli kodukka | For me to gather and give that reward, |
| Neram kaalm koodi vanthidanum | The right time and opportune moment must arrive! |
| Male | |
| Ulaiyum vachchi ilaiyum vachchi | Setting up the cooking pot and laying out the leaf, |
| Vaayaththaan katturiyae | You are tying up my mouth! |
| Valaiyal kaiya valachchi poda | Bending your hands clad in bangles to serve, |
| Vaai aalam kaatturiyae | You show the depth of your heart! |
| Male | |
| Nenja thurui thurui thulaiya pottu | Probing and making holes in my heart, |
| Paruva pasiya ootturiyae | You feed the hunger of youth! |
| Female | |
| Intha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkayilae…ae… | When the young woman carries the pot of rice water... |
| Unthan nenjam thavippatha kandathu intha mayilae…ae…. | This peacock has seen your heart yearning... |
| Chorus | |
| Man veedu katti vilaiyaadum paruvam | The age of building mud houses and playing around, |
| Ponathu ponthu ponathadi | Is gone, completely gone, my dear! |
| Adhu ponathu ponathu ponathadi | It is gone, completely gone, my dear! |
| Nija veedu katti kudiyearum tharunam | The time to build a real house and move in, |
| Vanthathu vanthathu vanthathadi | Has arrived, arrived, my dear! |
| Adhu vanthathu vanthathu vanthathadi | It has arrived, arrived, my dear! |
| Idhu sariyaana odi | This is the right match, |
| Vilagaathu koodi iniyum….oo….oo….oo….ooo…. | We shall never part from now on... |
| Male | |
| Manasukkul unnaththaanae | Inside my heart, it is only you |
| Chiththiramaa maatti vachchirukkaen | Whom I have framed and hung like a painting! |
| Female :Usurukkul unnaththaanae | Female: Inside my soul, it is only you |
| Paththiramaa pootti vachchirukkaen | Whom I have safely locked away! |
| Male | |
| Iravellaam saethi solla | To convey my message all through the night, |
| Vennilava thoodhu vitturukkaen | I have sent the full moon as a messenger! |
| Female :Unthan saethi ellaam arinji | Female: Knowing all the news about you, |
| Naanum romba paadupatturukkaen | I too have struggled a lot! |
| Male | |
| Kaaththirukkaen saethi sollu | I am waiting, tell me the message, |
| Pesaatha aasai manam | Speak up, oh longing heart! |
| Female :Kazhuththil moonu mudiya pottaa | Female: Once three knots are tied around my neck, |
| Pesaathu saathisanam | Society and relatives won't talk ill! |
| Male :Intha ulagam ariya uravum puriya | Male: For this world to know and understand our bond, |
| Viragam thaniya velai varum | The time will come for our longing to subside! |
| Female | |
| Intha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkayilae…ae… | When the young woman carries the pot of rice water... |
| Unthan nenjam thavippatha kandathu intha mayilae…ae…. | This peacock has seen your heart yearning... |
| Female | |
| Thongum mani katti thaeru | A chariot decorated with dangling bells, |
| Pongum manimuththu aaru | A river of overflowing pearls, |
| Padhiyam pottaalae maadhu | She has planted herself firmly in my heart, |
| Ingae unnai vittaa yaaru | Who else is there for me besides you here? |
| Male | |
| Kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae…ae | When the young woman carries the pot of rice water... |
| Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae…..ae…. | Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little! |
ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்ம்
Mmm... (Humming sound)
Mmm... (Humming sound)
அந்த கஞ்சி கலயத்த வஞ்சி சுமக்கயிலே...ஏ....
இந்த நெஞ்சம் தவிப்பது கொஞ்சமல்ல மயிலே
வெள்ளி மிஞ்சி அணிஞ்சவ கொஞ்சி நடக்கையிலே
அந்த அன்ன நடய நான் என்ன சொல்ல மயிலே
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
When the woman wearing silver toe-rings walks playfully...
Oh peacock, what can I say about her swan-like stride!
தொங்கும் மணி கட்டும் தேரா
பொங்கும் மணிமுத்து ஆறா
மச்சான் மனசள்ளி ஜோரா
மின்னல் இடை வெட்டி போறா
Is she a temple chariot decorated with hanging bells?
Is she an overflowing river of precious pearls?
She sits grandly in this man's heart!
She walks past, her lightning-like waist cutting through!
கஞ்சி கலயத்த வஞ்சி சுமக்கயிலே.....
இந்த நெஞ்சம் தவிப்பது கொஞ்சமல்ல மயிலே......
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
புது வெள்ளம் வத்தி போகும்
நெஞ்சில் கொண்ட பாசம் வத்தாதம்மா
பொழுதெல்லாம் கைய போட்டு
அன்பு கத பேசு விஸ்தாரமா
A fresh flood may dry up in time,
But the love held in the heart will never dry up, my dear!
Holding hands all through the day,
Talk sweet stories of love in detail, my dear!
கதையெல்லாம் சொல்ல சொல்ல
தக்கப்படி கூலி தந்திடணும்
அதை நானும் அள்ளி கொடுக்க
நேரம் காலம் கூடி வந்திடனும்
As you keep telling all those stories,
You must give a suitable reward!
For me to gather and give that reward,
The right time and opportune moment must arrive!
உலையும் வச்சி இலையும் வச்சி
வாயத்தான் கட்டுறியே
வளையல் கைய வளச்சி போட
வாய் ஜாலம் காட்டுறியே
Setting up the cooking pot and laying out the leaf,
You are tying up my mouth!
Bending your hands clad in bangles to serve,
You show the depth of your heart!
நெஞ்ச துருவி துருவி துளையப் போட்டு
பருவ பசிய ஊட்டுறியே
Probing and making holes in my heart,
You feed the hunger of youth!
இந்த கஞ்சி கலயத்த வஞ்சி சுமக்கயிலே...ஏ....
உந்தன் நெஞ்சம் தவிப்பத கண்டது இந்த மயிலே...ஏ....
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
This peacock has seen your heart yearning...
மண் வீடு கட்டி விளையாடும் பருவம்
போனது போனது போனதடி
அது போனது போனது போனதடி
நிஜ வீடு கட்டி குடியேறும் தருணம்
வந்தது வந்தது வந்ததடி
அது வந்தது வந்தது வந்ததடி
இது சரியான ஜோடி
விலகாது கூடி இனியும்.......ஓ......ஓ.....ஓ...ஓஓ....
The age of building mud houses and playing around,
Is gone, completely gone, my dear!
It is gone, completely gone, my dear!
The time to build a real house and move in,
Has arrived, arrived, my dear!
It has arrived, arrived, my dear!
This is the right match,
We shall never part from now on...
மனசுக்குள் உன்னத்தானே
சித்திரமா மாட்டி வச்சிருக்கேன்
உசுருக்குள் உன்னத்தானே
பத்திரமா பூட்டி வச்சிருகேன்
Inside my heart, it is only you
Whom I have framed and hung like a painting!
Female: Inside my soul, it is only you
Whom I have safely locked away!
இரவெல்லாம் சேதி சொல்ல
வெண்ணிலவ தூது விட்டுருக்கேன்
உந்தன் சேதியெல்லாம் அறிஞ்சி
நானும் ரொம்ப பாடுபட்டுருக்கேன்
To convey my message all through the night,
I have sent the full moon as a messenger!
Female: Knowing all the news about you,
I too have struggled a lot!
காத்திருக்கேன் சேதி சொல்லு
பேசாத ஆசை மனம்
கழுத்தில் மூணு முடிய போட்டா
பேசாது சாதிசனம்
இந்த உலகம் அறிய உறவும் புரிய
விரகம் தணிய வேளை வரும்
I am waiting, tell me the message,
Speak up, oh longing heart!
Female: Once three knots are tied around my neck,
Society and relatives won't talk ill!
Male: For this world to know and understand our bond,
The time will come for our longing to subside!
இந்த கஞ்சி கலயத்த வஞ்சி சுமக்கயிலே...ஏ....
உந்தன் நெஞ்சம் தவிப்பத கண்டது இந்த மயிலே...ஏ....
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
This peacock has seen your heart yearning...
தொங்கும் மணி கட்டும் தேரு
பொங்கும் மணிமுத்து ஆறு
பதியம் போட்டாலே மாது
இங்கே உன்னை விட்டா யாரு......
A chariot decorated with dangling bells,
A river of overflowing pearls,
She has planted herself firmly in my heart,
Who else is there for me besides you here?
கஞ்சி கலயத்த வஞ்சி சுமக்கயிலே...ஏ....
இந்த நெஞ்சம் தவிப்பது கொஞ்சமல்ல மயிலே...ஏ....
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
Mm….mmm….mmm….mmm….mmmm
Mmm... (Humming sound)
Mm….mmm….mmm….mmm….mmmm
Mmm... (Humming sound)
Antha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae…ae…
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
Velli minji aninjava konji nadakkaiyilae
When the woman wearing silver toe-rings walks playfully...
Antha anna nadaya naan enna solla mayilae
Oh peacock, what can I say about her swan-like stride!
Thongum mani kattum thaeraa
Is she a temple chariot decorated with hanging bells?
Pongum manimuththu aaraa
Is she an overflowing river of precious pearls?
Machchaan manasalli joraa
She sits grandly in this man's heart!
Minnal idai vetti poraa
She walks past, her lightning-like waist cutting through!
Kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae…
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
Pudhu vellam vaththi pogum
A fresh flood may dry up in time,
Nenjil konda paasam vaththaathamma
But the love held in the heart will never dry up, my dear!
Pozhuthellaam kaiya pottu
Holding hands all through the day,
Anbu kadha pesu vishthaaramma
Talk sweet stories of love in detail, my dear!
Kadhaiyellaam solla solla
As you keep telling all those stories,
Thakkapadi kooli thanthidanum
You must give a suitable reward!
Adhai naanum alli kodukka
For me to gather and give that reward,
Neram kaalm koodi vanthidanum
The right time and opportune moment must arrive!
Ulaiyum vachchi ilaiyum vachchi
Setting up the cooking pot and laying out the leaf,
Vaayaththaan katturiyae
You are tying up my mouth!
Valaiyal kaiya valachchi poda
Bending your hands clad in bangles to serve,
Vaai aalam kaatturiyae
You show the depth of your heart!
Nenja thurui thurui thulaiya pottu
Probing and making holes in my heart,
Paruva pasiya ootturiyae
You feed the hunger of youth!
Intha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkayilae…ae…
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Unthan nenjam thavippatha kandathu intha mayilae…ae….
This peacock has seen your heart yearning...
Man veedu katti vilaiyaadum paruvam
The age of building mud houses and playing around,
Ponathu ponthu ponathadi
Is gone, completely gone, my dear!
Adhu ponathu ponathu ponathadi
It is gone, completely gone, my dear!
Nija veedu katti kudiyearum tharunam
The time to build a real house and move in,
Vanthathu vanthathu vanthathadi
Has arrived, arrived, my dear!
Adhu vanthathu vanthathu vanthathadi
It has arrived, arrived, my dear!
Idhu sariyaana odi
This is the right match,
Vilagaathu koodi iniyum….oo….oo….oo….ooo….
We shall never part from now on...
Manasukkul unnaththaanae
Inside my heart, it is only you
Chiththiramaa maatti vachchirukkaen
Whom I have framed and hung like a painting!
Female :Usurukkul unnaththaanae
Female: Inside my soul, it is only you
Paththiramaa pootti vachchirukkaen
Whom I have safely locked away!
Iravellaam saethi solla
To convey my message all through the night,
Vennilava thoodhu vitturukkaen
I have sent the full moon as a messenger!
Female :Unthan saethi ellaam arinji
Female: Knowing all the news about you,
Naanum romba paadupatturukkaen
I too have struggled a lot!
Kaaththirukkaen saethi sollu
I am waiting, tell me the message,
Pesaatha aasai manam
Speak up, oh longing heart!
Female :Kazhuththil moonu mudiya pottaa
Female: Once three knots are tied around my neck,
Pesaathu saathisanam
Society and relatives won't talk ill!
Male :Intha ulagam ariya uravum puriya
Male: For this world to know and understand our bond,
Viragam thaniya velai varum
The time will come for our longing to subside!
Intha kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkayilae…ae…
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Unthan nenjam thavippatha kandathu intha mayilae…ae….
This peacock has seen your heart yearning...
Thongum mani katti thaeru
A chariot decorated with dangling bells,
Pongum manimuththu aaru
A river of overflowing pearls,
Padhiyam pottaalae maadhu
She has planted herself firmly in my heart,
Ingae unnai vittaa yaaru
Who else is there for me besides you here?
Kanji kalayaththa vanji sumakkaiyilae…ae
When the young woman carries the pot of rice water...
Intha nenjam thavippathu konjamalla mayilae…..ae….
Oh peacock, my heart's yearning is not just a little!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a rural romantic duet set against the backdrop of village life. The hero admires his beloved as she carries a pot of rice water, praising her beauty, graceful walk, and charming presence. The song explores their growing intimacy as they move away from childhood games toward marital commitment. Through lyrical exchanges filled with affection, playful teasing, and anticipation of marriage, both lovers express their deep emotional bond and commitment to a shared future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Minnal idai vetti poraa”
Compares the beloved's slender waist to a flash of lightning cutting through.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Ponathu ponthu ponathadi”
Emphatic repetition of 'ponathu' (gone) to stress that childhood playfulness is irrevocably in the past.
Imagery / Personification
“Vennilava thoodhu vitturukkaen”
Personifies the full moon as an emissary sent to carry romantic messages through the night.
Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)
“Thongum mani kattum thaeraa / Pongum manimuththu aaraa”
Internal and initial rhyming pairs ('Thongum mani' / 'Pongum manimuththu') creating a musical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Muthu Kaalai' (1995) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Vijayakanth and Soundarya. Lyricist Vaali effectively uses authentic rural Tamil folk metaphors such as carrying 'kanji kalayam' (rice water pots) to depict rustic romantic intimacy.
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