Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Amarakavi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chedi Maraivile

From Amarakavi · 1952

Lyricist
Suratha
Singers
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar, P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Amarakavi
Movie release year
1952
Lyrics added on
13 Aug 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
O..o…o…o…o..o..o…o…
Chedi maraivilae oru poongodi
Maraindhae maayam seivadhaen
Chedi maraivilae oru poongodi
Maraindhae maayam seivadhaen
Pidikka vandhaalae oodiduvenae
Pidikka vandhaalae oodiduvenae
Nijamae idhu enaiyae thoda mudiyaadhu ummaale
Nijamae idhu enaiyae thoda mudiyaadhu ummaale
Paadum kuyilae paaru ippodhae
Paadum kuyilae paaru ippodhae
Female :Thulli odum pulli maanai
Thulli odum pulli maanai
Neengal pidikka mudiyumoo
Male :Aamaiyalla naanae
Female :Muyal endru sollamatten
Haa
Vanna malar soodiya en jaadai pinnalai
Pidithizhuthaal valikkaadho
Vanna malar soodiya en jaadai pinnalai
Pidithizhuthaal valikkaadho
Adadadadaa
Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idai
Ooduvadhaal odiyaadhoo…hoo
Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idai
Ooduvadhaal odiyaadhoo…
Oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh...
A flowering vine behind the bushes,
why do you hide and cast your spell?
A flowering vine behind the bushes,
why do you hide and cast your spell?
If you come to catch me, I will run away!
If you come to catch me, I will run away!
It is true, you will never be able to touch me!
It is true, you will never be able to touch me!
Oh singing cuckoo, just watch me now!
Oh singing cuckoo, just watch me now!
A spotted deer that leaps and bounds,
A spotted deer that leaps and bounds,
can you ever catch it?
I am no slow tortoise!
I wouldn't call you a swift rabbit either!
Ha!
If you grab and pull my flower-decked braid,
won't it hurt?
If you grab and pull my flower-decked braid,
won't it hurt?
Oh no, no, no!
Your slender waist, as delicate as lightning,
won't it break if you keep running? Hoo!
Your slender waist, as delicate as lightning,
won't it break if you keep running?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful romantic song from Amarakavi (1952) depicts a playful hide-and-seek chase between two lovers in a garden setting. The hero lovingly compares the heroine to a delicate flowering vine hiding among bushes, while she playfully taunts him, comparing herself to a swift spotted deer that he will never be able to capture. As their lighthearted banter continues, the hero refutes being slow like a tortoise, while the heroine warns him not to pull her flower-adorned braided hair. In response, the hero poetically admires her delicate waist, comparing its slenderness to lightning and teasingly expressing worry that running too fast might break it.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Chedi maraivilae oru poongodi

The heroine hiding behind bushes is metaphorically addressed as a 'poongodi' (flowering vine).

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Thulli odum pulli maanai

The second consonant 'lli' rhymes across both words 'Thulli' and 'pulli', creating rhythmic harmony.

Personification / Hyperbole (Uvamai)

Minnalodu naesamulla chinna idai

Her extremely slender waist is poetically described as having 'friendship with lightning' and being so fragile it might snap when running.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amarakavi (1952) was among the notable post-prison comeback films of legendary Carnatic music star M. K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT). The song's lyricist, Suratha (Subburathinamidasan), was renowned in Tamil literature as 'Uvamai Kavinjar' (The Poet of Similes) for his effortless use of vivid allegories and metaphors as demonstrated in this song.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Amarakavi

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.