Arisi Kuthum
From Mann Vasanai · 1983
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Mann Vasanai1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Vangadi vangadi vangigalae | Come on girls, come on, you lively ones, |
| Velanja vellari pinjugalae | You tender, fully grown cucumbers! |
| Vangadi vangadi vangigalae | Come on girls, come on, you lively ones, |
| Velanja vellari pinjugalae | You tender, fully grown cucumbers! |
| Valanji kuninji olaka eduthu | Bending down and reaching out to pick up the wooden pestle, |
| Kuthu semba nellu kuthungadi | Pound the red paddy rice, pound it, girls! |
| Valayal singunga kangati kulunga | With your bangles jingling and waist ornaments swaying, |
| Thanthanathom solli paadungadi | Sing 'Thanthanathom' rhythmically and sing along, girls! |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki | Holding with hands and moving the hands aside, |
| Olakayathaan kaiya maathi kuththumbodhu | When switching hands on the pestle while pounding, |
| Male | |
| Kuththumbodhu | While pounding, |
| Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice? |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki | Holding with hands and moving the hands aside, |
| Olakayathaan kaiya maathi kuththumbodhu | When switching hands on the pestle while pounding, |
| Kuththumbodhu | While pounding, |
| Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice? |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Female | |
| Vakkanaiya soththa pongi | When tasty rice is cooked, |
| Aakki vachakka | And prepared so well, |
| Dhinam mukkuviyae mooku mutta | Every day you stuff your face to the brim, |
| Micham vaikaama | Without leaving any leftovers, |
| Female | |
| Mookkalae moonu vela | Eating three meals a day till your snout fills up, |
| Thinnu kozhuththu | Eating and growing plump, |
| Unga aakava thinnae yeppam vitta | Burping greedily sitting on your verandah, |
| Olakka kozhundhae | O tender pestle-like girl! |
| Male | |
| Kaalangaaththaalae yedhirae vandhae | Coming right in front of me early in the morning, |
| Kazhani paanayilae eliya polae | Like a rat trapped in a pot of rice water, |
| Aalaana naalu thottae halwa viththu | Ever since you came of age, acting sweet and sly, |
| Ada alanjaalae potta pulla | Hey girl who wandered around endlessly, |
| Kottam theerkka naanaachu | I have arrived to break your pride! |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Female :Immm…mmm | Female: Mmm... mmm |
| Male :Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki | Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside, |
| Olakayathaan kaiya maathi | Switching hands on the pestle, |
| Kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't it hurt while pounding? |
| Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice? |
| Female | |
| Thananae thana nanae | Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae) |
| Thananae thana nanae | Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae) |
| Thananae nananae | Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae) |
| Thananae nananae…. | Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae....) |
| Male | |
| Mundhanaalu veyilil kaanja | You tender cucumber dried up in the sun the day before yesterday, |
| Vellaripinjae | O tender cucumber, |
| Pudhu mundhaana pottukittu | Draping a brand new saree pallu, |
| Yenna nenachae | What did you think of yourself? |
| Female | |
| Adichaalum pudichaalum | Whether you hit me or hold me tight, |
| Neethaan machaan | You alone are my groom, dear cousin! |
| Ada teriyathaa unna kattikka | Don't you know that to marry you, |
| Enna vitta yaaru machaan | Who else is there for me besides you, cousin? |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Female :Immm…mmm | Female: Mmm... mmm |
| Male :Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki | Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside, |
| Olakayathaan kaiya maathi | Switching hands on the pestle, |
| Kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't it hurt while pounding? |
| Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya | Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice? |
| Male | |
| Arisi kuththum akka magalae | O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice, |
| Female :Immm…mmm | Female: Mmm... mmm |
வாங்கடி வாங்கடி
வஞ்சிகளே வெளஞ்ச வெள்ளரி
பிஞ்சுகளே வாங்கடி வாங்கடி
வஞ்சிகளே வெளஞ்ச வெள்ளரி
பிஞ்சுகளே வளைஞ்சி குனிஞ்சி
உலக்கை எடுத்து குத்து செம்பா
நெல்லு குத்துங்கடி வளையல்
சினுங்க கண்கட்டி குலுங்க
தந்தனத்தோம் சொல்லி
பாடுங்கடி
Come on girls, come on, you lively ones,
You tender, fully grown cucumbers!
Come on girls, come on, you lively ones,
You tender, fully grown cucumbers!
Bending down and reaching out to pick up the wooden pestle,
Pound the red paddy rice, pound it, girls!
With your bangles jingling and waist ornaments swaying,
Sing 'Thanthanathom' rhythmically and sing along, girls!
அரிசி குத்தும் அக்கா
மகளே நீ கை புடிச்சு கை
விலக்கி ஒலக்கய தான்
கைய மாத்தி குத்தும்
போது
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
When switching hands on the pestle while pounding,
குத்தும் போது
அரிசி குத்தும் போது
வலிக்க வில்லையா
While pounding,
Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice?
அரிசி குத்தும் அக்கா
மகளே நீ கை புடிச்சு கை
விலக்கி ஒலக்கய தான்
கைய மாத்தி குத்தும் போது
குத்தும் போது அரிசி குத்தும்
போது வலிக்க வில்லையா
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
When switching hands on the pestle while pounding,
While pounding,
Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice?
அரிசி குத்தும்
அக்கா மகளே
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
வக்கணையா சோத்த
பொங்கி ஆக்கி வச்சாக்கா
தினம் முக்கிவியே மூக்கு
முட்ட மிச்சம் வைக்காம
When tasty rice is cooked,
And prepared so well,
Every day you stuff your face to the brim,
Without leaving any leftovers,
மூக்காலே மூணு
வேல தின்னு கொழுத்து
உங்க அக்காவ தின்னே
ஏப்பம் விட்ட உலக்கை
கொழுந்தே
Eating three meals a day till your snout fills up,
Eating and growing plump,
Burping greedily sitting on your verandah,
O tender pestle-like girl!
காலங்காத்தாலே
எதிரே வந்த கழனி பானையிலே
எலிய போலே ஆளான நாளு
தொட்டே ஹல்வா வித்து அட
அலஞ்சாலே பொட்ட புள்ள
கொட்டம் தீர்க்க நானாச்சு
Coming right in front of me early in the morning,
Like a rat trapped in a pot of rice water,
Ever since you came of age, acting sweet and sly,
Hey girl who wandered around endlessly,
I have arrived to break your pride!
அரிசி குத்தும்
அக்கா மகளே
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
நீ கை புடிச்சு கை
விலக்கி ஒலக்கய தான்
கைய மாத்தி குத்தும் போது
வலிக்க வில்லையா அரிசி
குத்தும் போது வலிக்க
வில்லையா
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female: Mmm... mmm
Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Switching hands on the pestle,
Didn't it hurt while pounding?
Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice?
தானானே தான
நானே தானானே தான
நானே தானானே நானானே
தானானே நானானே
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae)
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae)
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae)
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae....)
முந்தா நாளு
வெயிலில் காஞ்ச
வெள்ளரி பிஞ்சே புது
முந்தானை போட்டு
கிட்டு என்ன நெனச்ச
You tender cucumber dried up in the sun the day before yesterday,
O tender cucumber,
Draping a brand new saree pallu,
What did you think of yourself?
அடிச்சாலும்
புடிச்சாலும் நீதான் மச்சான்
அட தெரியாதா உன்ன
கட்டிக்க என்ன விட்டா
யாரு மச்சான்
Whether you hit me or hold me tight,
You alone are my groom, dear cousin!
Don't you know that to marry you,
Who else is there for me besides you, cousin?
அரிசி குத்தும்
அக்கா மகளே
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
நீ கை புடிச்சு கை
விலக்கி ஒலக்கய தான்
கைய மாத்தி குத்தும் போது
வலிக்க வில்லையா அரிசி
குத்தும் போது வலிக்க
வில்லையா
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female: Mmm... mmm
Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Switching hands on the pestle,
Didn't it hurt while pounding?
Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice?
அரிசி குத்தும்
அக்கா மகளே
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female: Mmm... mmm
Vangadi vangadi vangigalae
Come on girls, come on, you lively ones,
Velanja vellari pinjugalae
You tender, fully grown cucumbers!
Vangadi vangadi vangigalae
Come on girls, come on, you lively ones,
Velanja vellari pinjugalae
You tender, fully grown cucumbers!
Valanji kuninji olaka eduthu
Bending down and reaching out to pick up the wooden pestle,
Kuthu semba nellu kuthungadi
Pound the red paddy rice, pound it, girls!
Valayal singunga kangati kulunga
With your bangles jingling and waist ornaments swaying,
Thanthanathom solli paadungadi
Sing 'Thanthanathom' rhythmically and sing along, girls!
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki
Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Olakayathaan kaiya maathi kuththumbodhu
When switching hands on the pestle while pounding,
Kuththumbodhu
While pounding,
Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice?
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki
Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Olakayathaan kaiya maathi kuththumbodhu
When switching hands on the pestle while pounding,
Kuththumbodhu
While pounding,
Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't your hands hurt while pounding the rice?
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Vakkanaiya soththa pongi
When tasty rice is cooked,
Aakki vachakka
And prepared so well,
Dhinam mukkuviyae mooku mutta
Every day you stuff your face to the brim,
Micham vaikaama
Without leaving any leftovers,
Mookkalae moonu vela
Eating three meals a day till your snout fills up,
Thinnu kozhuththu
Eating and growing plump,
Unga aakava thinnae yeppam vitta
Burping greedily sitting on your verandah,
Olakka kozhundhae
O tender pestle-like girl!
Kaalangaaththaalae yedhirae vandhae
Coming right in front of me early in the morning,
Kazhani paanayilae eliya polae
Like a rat trapped in a pot of rice water,
Aalaana naalu thottae halwa viththu
Ever since you came of age, acting sweet and sly,
Ada alanjaalae potta pulla
Hey girl who wandered around endlessly,
Kottam theerkka naanaachu
I have arrived to break your pride!
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female :Immm…mmm
Female: Mmm... mmm
Male :Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki
Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Olakayathaan kaiya maathi
Switching hands on the pestle,
Kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't it hurt while pounding?
Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice?
Thananae thana nanae
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae)
Thananae thana nanae
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae thana nanae)
Thananae nananae
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae)
Thananae nananae….
Rhythmic vocal chorus (Thananae nananae....)
Mundhanaalu veyilil kaanja
You tender cucumber dried up in the sun the day before yesterday,
Vellaripinjae
O tender cucumber,
Pudhu mundhaana pottukittu
Draping a brand new saree pallu,
Yenna nenachae
What did you think of yourself?
Adichaalum pudichaalum
Whether you hit me or hold me tight,
Neethaan machaan
You alone are my groom, dear cousin!
Ada teriyathaa unna kattikka
Don't you know that to marry you,
Enna vitta yaaru machaan
Who else is there for me besides you, cousin?
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female :Immm…mmm
Female: Mmm... mmm
Male :Nee kai puduchu kai vilakki
Male: Holding with hands and moving the hands aside,
Olakayathaan kaiya maathi
Switching hands on the pestle,
Kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't it hurt while pounding?
Arisi kuththumbodhu valikka villaya
Didn't it hurt while pounding the rice?
Arisi kuththum akka magalae
O daughter of my elder sister pounding the rice,
Female :Immm…mmm
Female: Mmm... mmm
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Vangadi Vangadi' is a vibrant, authentic Tamil folk song set against a rural village backdrop where women gather to pound rice using traditional wooden pestles. The song captures a playful, affectionate banter between a young man and his maternal cousin (akka magal). He playfully teases her about her appetite, vanity, and mischievous behavior, questioning if her hands hurt from the heavy rhythmic labor of pounding rice. She responds with equal charm, teasing him back and emphasizing her deep affection and commitment to him as her destined groom. The song vividly portrays traditional agrarian lifestyle, community camaraderie, and rural romantic banter.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vangadi vangadi vangigalae / Velanja vellari pinjugalae”
Repetition of the initial letter 'V' across opening lines creating a rhythmic folk bounce.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Kazhani paanayilae eliya polae”
Comparing a person's restless or trapped movements to a rat inside a pot of fermented rice water (kazhani paanai).
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Velanja vellari pinjugalae”
Metaphorically addressing young village women as tender cucumbers (vellari pinju) to highlight their youthful charm and freshness.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Mann Vasanai' (1983), directed by P. Bharathiraja, marked the silver screen debut of Revathi and Pandiyan. The soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja is iconic for capturing authentic Tamil rural folk flavor and traditional working songs (Ettappattu / Ulavu Pattu culture).
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