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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chittaga Thulli Thulli

From Kodimalar · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kodimalar1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sittaga thulli thulli vaaCome hopping like a sparrow, hopping along
Vaa vaa vaa vaaCome, come, come, come
Pattaadai pinna pinna vaa ho ooCome trailing your silk dress behind, ho oo
Male
Sittaga thulli thulli vaaCome hopping like a sparrow, hopping along
Female :Vaa vaa vaa vaaFemale: Come, come, come, come
Male :Pattaadai pinna pinna vaa ho ooMale: Come trailing your silk dress behind, ho oo
Female
Ennathilae kann pattadhooHas an evil eye fallen upon my thoughts?
Ennennavo thenpattadhoo oo ooHave all kinds of feelings appeared?
Sittaga thulla sonnadhoo ooh ooDid it tell me to leap like a sparrow?
Pattaadai pinna sonnadho oo oooDid it tell the silk dress to trail behind?
Female
Sittaga thulla sonnadhooDid it tell me to leap like a sparrow?
Male :Hoo ooh ooMale: Hoo ooh oo
Female :Pattaadai pinna sonnadho oo oooFemale: Did it tell the silk dress to trail behind?
Male
Ammaanin pennai kanduSeeing the maternal uncle's daughter
Aadharam illai endruThinking there is no support
Ammaanin pennai kanduSeeing the maternal uncle's daughter
Aadharam illai endruThinking there is no support
Female :Achchaaram kondu vandhatho oo oo ooFemale: Did it bring an advance token of love?
Female
Sittaga thulla sonnadhoo ooh oo ooDid it ask to leap like a sparrow?
Male :Sittaga thulli thulli vaa oo oo ooMale: Come hopping like a sparrow
Female
{Thottamondru naeril vandhu{Did a garden come directly in front of us
Aada sonnadhooAnd tell us to dance?
Thoghai konda kaadhal senduDid a peacock-feather bouquet of love
Paada sonnadho} (2)Tell us to sing?} (2)
Male
Aadai katti maedai kattiDressing up and setting up a stage
Thendral vandhadhoDid the gentle breeze arrive?
Aadai katti maedai kattiDressing up and setting up a stage
Thendral vandhadhoDid the gentle breeze arrive?
Vaadai pattu aasai nenjilTouched by the chilly wind, in a yearning heart
Minnal vandhadhooDid a flash of lightning strike?
Oh vaadai pattu aasai nenjilOh, touched by the chilly wind, in a yearning heart
Minnal vandhadhooDid a flash of lightning strike?
Female
Sevvanthi poovai kanduSeeing the red chrysanthemum flower
Sindhaadha thaenai kanduSeeing the unspilled honey
Sevvanthi poovai kanduSeeing the red chrysanthemum flower
Sindhaadha thaenai kanduSeeing the unspilled honey
Male :Kondaattam poda sonnadhoo oo oo ooMale: Did it tell us to celebrate?
Male
Sittaga thulli thulli vaaCome hopping like a sparrow
Female :Vaa vaa vaa vaaFemale: Come, come, come, come
Male :Pattaadai pinna pinna vaa ho ooMale: Come trailing your silk dress behind, ho oo
Female
{Thaazham poovin vaasam vandhu{Did the fragrance of the screwpine flower come
Pesa sonnadhoAnd ask us to speak?
Thaththi sellum muthu kinnamDid the hopping bowl of pearls
Kaana sonnadho} (2)Ask us to behold it?} (2)
Male
Aththai pettra penmai ennaWhy is the womanhood born to aunt
Acham kondadhooOvercome with fear?
Aththai pettra penmai ennaWhy is the womanhood born to aunt
Acham kondadhooOvercome with fear?
Aasai konjam naanam konjamA little desire, a little shyness
Micham kondadhooWas there any remaining?
Ho aasai konjam naanam konjamOh, a little desire, a little shyness
Micham kondadhooWas there any remaining?
Female
Ponaalum pogathendruSaying do not go even if leaving
Thaanaga munnae vandhuComing forward on its own
Ponaalum pogathendruSaying do not go even if leaving
Thaanaga munnae vandhuComing forward on its own
Male :Ponnadai katti kondadhooMale: Did it adorn itself with a golden robe?
Male
Sittaga thulli thulli vaaCome hopping like a sparrow
Female :Vaa vaa vaa vaaFemale: Come, come, come, come
Male :Pattaadai pinna pinna vaa ho ooMale: Come trailing your silk dress behind, ho oo
Female
Ennathilae kann pattadhooHas an evil eye fallen upon my thoughts?
Ennennavo thenpattadhoo oo ooHave all kinds of feelings appeared?
Female
Sittaga thulla sonnadhooDid it tell me to leap like a sparrow?
Male :Hoo ooh ooMale: Hoo ooh oo
Female :Pattaadai pinna sonnadho oo oooFemale: Did it tell the silk dress to trail behind?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sittaga thulli thulli vaa is a playful, romantic duet from the 1966 film Kodimalar, written by the eminent lyricist Kannadasan. The song captures the lively courtship between two lovers who express their affection through lighthearted teasing and natural metaphors. The male lead beckons his beloved, comparing her energetic grace to a hopping sparrow and her elegance to trailing silk garments. In response, she playfully questions whether a magical spell or an advance token of love has enchanted their hearts. Throughout the track, nature serves as a vivid canvas for their emotion—breezes acting as stage designers, cold winds bringing flashes of lightning in their hearts, and sweet floral scents urging them to speak and sing. Kannadasan also weaves traditional cultural motifs into the lyrics, referencing cross-cousin romantic customs (Ammaanin pennai and Aththai pettra penmai) while balancing shyness and desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor (Uwamai)

Sittaga thulli thulli vaa

Compares the playful agility of the heroine to the hopping movement of a sparrow ('Sittu').

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Sittaga thulli thulli vaa / Pattaadai pinna pinna vaa

The second consonant sound 't' is repeated in consecutive lines ('Sittaga' / 'Pattaadai'), creating auditory rhythm.

Sensory Imagery

Thaazham poovin vaasam vandhu / Pesa sonnadho

Invokes olfactory and visual imagery using fragrant screwpine flowers ('Thaazham poovu') and sparkling pearls ('muthu kinnam').

Repetition for Emphasis (Adukkuthodar)

Vaa vaa vaa vaa

Repetition of words like 'thulli thulli', 'pinna pinna', and 'vaa vaa vaa vaa' enhances the rhythmic momentum.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kodimalar (1966) features lyrics by Kannadasan, who masterfully incorporates traditional Tamil kinship terms like 'Ammaan' (maternal uncle) and 'Aththai' (paternal aunt) to reflect traditional cross-cousin matrimonial customs in Tamil culture.

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