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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Edhukku Pondatti

From Kizhakku Cheemayile · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shahul Hameed, T. K. Kala, Sunandha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kizhakku Cheemayile1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Dum chikkum dum chikkumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum chikkum
Dum chikkum dumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum
Dum chikkum dum chikkumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum chikkum
Dum chikkum dumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum
Chorus
Dum chikkum dum chikkumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum chikkum
Dum chikkum dum..haanRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum..haan
Dum chikkum dum chikkumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum chikkum
Dum chikkum dum..haanRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum..haan
Chorus
Dum chikkum dum chikkumRhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum chikkum
Dum chikkum dum (Overlapping)Rhythmic vocal beat: Dum chikkum dum (Overlapping)
Male
{Ethukku pondattiWhy do I need a wife
Enna suthi vappattiWhen I have mistresses all around me?
Ekkachakkam agi pochu kanakkuMy count has gone out of control and messy!
Male
Pallikoodam pogayilaeWhile going to school,
Pallapatti odayilaNear the Pallapatti stream,
Kokkumaku agi pochu enakkuEverything got topsy-turvy for me
Itha kuthamunnu sonna avan kirukku} (2)Whoever calls this a fault is a crazy fool!
Female
Hae….ae….ae…..Why do I need a wife
Aiyam kolam kammayilaWhen I have mistresses all around me?
Iyarameenu pudikaiyilaMy count has gone out of control and messy!
Kenda kalu kandu enna puduchaWhile going to school,
Female
Manja kazhangu edukayilaNear the Pallapatti stream,
Maraputhan othungayilaEverything got topsy-turvy for me
Malligapoo vangi enna puduchaWhoever calls this a fault is a crazy fool!
Female
Aii othayadi pathayilaHae….ae….ae…..
Othayila pogayilaIn the Aiyam Kolam pond,
Suthi vanthu en kosuvam puduchaWhile catching Ayarai fish,
Female
Karatupatti manthayilaHe caught me seeing my slender calves!
Karagattam adayilaWhile harvesting wild turmeric tubers,
Karagatha kandu enna puduchaWhen my upper garment slipped aside,
Male
Hey thottu thottu thol pudikkaHe bought me jasmine flowers and caught me!
Thookam vantha kal amukkaHey, on the narrow foot track,
Nitham oru ponnu venum enakkuWhen I was walking all alone,
Varathukku ezhu nalHe circled around and grabbed my saree pleats!
Vanthavalo nalu peruAt the Karatupatti common ground,
Moonu peru kurayuthadi kanakkuWhile performing the Karagattam dance,
Male
Ethukku pondattiLooking at my dance pot, he caught me!
Enna suthi vappattiHey, to touch shoulders affectionately,
Ekkachakkam agi pochu kanakkuTo press and massage legs when sleep arrives,
Male
Pallikoodam pogayilaeI need a new girl every single day!
Pallapatti odayilaThere are seven days in a week,
Kokkumaku agi pochu enakkuBut only four women arrived,
Chorus
………………………………..My tally is short by three women, dear!
Female
Pannakattu thaen rusiyaWhy do I need a wife
Paruva ponnu vai rusiyaWhen I have mistresses all around me?
Panthayatha kettu machan thokattumMy count has gone out of control and messy!
Female
Vellari poovazhagaWhile going to school,
Vedala pulla thol azhagaNear the Pallapatti stream,
Vevagaram pesi mudiveduppomEverything got topsy-turvy for me
Female
Pasumaatu nei rusiyaInterlude vocalization / musical pause
Panthi vecha kai rusiyaIs the palmyra forest honey sweeter,
Paipottu pesi pesi mudippomOr is a youthful girl's mouth sweeter?
Female
Sundakanja pal inippaLet my dear man lose after setting a wager!
Sundu viral thaan inippaIs the cucumber flower prettier,
Soodatha amuthi mudiveduppomOr is the young maiden's shoulder prettier?
Male
Hey vaiyuthulla pulla illaLet us debate this affair and reach a conclusion!
Vazhkayila tholla illaIs cow's ghee tastier,
Pathaikkoru inbam kandu jaippomOr is the hand serving the feast tastier?
Sakkalathi sandayilaLet us argue vigorously and settle it!
Thali kattum vambu illaIs boiled reduced milk sweeter,
Ippadiyae ella nalum iruppomOr is her little finger sweeter?
Male
{Ethukku pondattiLet us extinguish the heat and decide!
Enna suthi vappattiHey, there is no child in the belly,
Ekkachakkam agi pochu kanakkuSo there are no troubles in life!
Male
Pallikoodam pogayilaeWe shall find pleasure at every step and win!
Pallapatti odayilaThere are no co-wife quarrels,
Kokkumaku agi pochu enakkuNor the trouble of tying the sacred thread!
Itha kuthamunnu sonna avan kirukku} (2)Let us remain like this on all days!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful, high-energy folk song from Bharathiraja's 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' features playful banter between village men and women. The song uses lighthearted rural humor and cheeky lyricism to portray youthful indulgence, romantic teasing, and rural freedom. The male protagonist whimsically claims he prefers frivolous romantic encounters over the serious responsibility of marriage, while the village maidens engage in a poetic debate comparing nature's delights with female beauty. Set to A. R. Rahman's vibrant rustic beats, Vairamuthu's lyrics utilize authentic rural Tamil idioms, local place names, and agrarian imagery. The energetic exchanges highlight carefree rustic lifestyle, humorous exaggerated claims, and festive romance within a traditional village backdrop.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moni / Etukai (Assonance and Rhyming)

Ethukku pondatti / Enna suthi vappatti

Usage of matching second-letter consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'pondatti' / 'vappatti', 'kammayila' / 'pudikaiyila').

Anaphora / Initial Rhyme (Monaif)

Pannakattu thaen rusiya / Paruva ponnu vai rusiya

Repetition of initial letter sounds in consecutive lines for rhythm ('Pannakattu', 'Paruva', 'Panthayatha').

Imagery / Metaphor

Pannakattu thaen rusiya / Paruva ponnu vai rusiya

Comparing feminine sweetness and beauty to rural elements like palmyra honey, cucumber flowers, reduced milk, and cow's ghee.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context leaves music director and singers as unknown, this song 'Ethukku Pondatti' from 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' (1993) was composed by A. R. Rahman and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan, Shahul Hameed, and Sujatha. Directed by Bharathiraja, the soundtrack was acclaimed for blending modern rhythm arrangements with authentic southern Tamil Nadu folk instruments and vocal styles.

Keep listening

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