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Sarangathara album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Etti Etti Paakkudhadi Thoppile

From Sarangathara · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
A. G. Rathnamala, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sarangathara
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
13 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Etti etti pakkudhadi thoppula
Oru yemaandha sonagiri maappillae
Chorus :Adhu
Female :Etti etti
Chorus :Angae
Female :Etti etti
Chorus :Chumma
Etti etti pakkudhadi thoppula
Oru yemaandha sonagiri maappillae
Adhu ettaadha maambalam kottaavi yenunga
Kittadhunnu neenga sollunga
Sollai kaekkatti kaeli panni sollunga
Haa
Haa
Suthum muthum pakkudhu
Chorus : Hoo o hoo ho o hoo
Female :Sokki poyi nikkudhu
Chorus :Hoo o hoo ho o hoo
Suthum muthum pakkudhu
Sokki poyi nikkudhu
Kathavithai ellaam ingae kaattudhu
Female and Chorus :Kathavithai ellaam ingae kaattudhu
Female :Muthipona vayasile mulaichirukku manasile
Ithanai naal illaadha nenjile
Aasai ithanai naal illaadha nenjile
Haa
Haa
He keeps peeking into the grove, girls,
A foolish, naive bridegroom!
Look at him...
Peeking and craning,
Over there,
Peeking and craning,
Just standing and...
He keeps peeking into the grove, girls,
A foolish, naive bridegroom!
That mango is out of reach, so why is he yawning for it?
Tell him that he can never have it!
If he doesn't listen, tease him and tell him!
Ha!
Ha!
He looks all around,
Hoo oh hoo ho oh hoo
And stands there utterly entranced!
Hoo oh hoo ho oh hoo
He looks all around,
And stands there utterly entranced,
Showing off all his silly tricks here!
Showing off all his silly tricks here!
In his old age, it has sprouted in his mind,
In a heart that never felt it all these years,
Desire has sprung in a heart that never felt it all these years!
Ha!
Ha!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and teasing song from the 1958 film Sarangathara revolves around women playfully mocking an older, gullible man who is peeping at them from behind a grove. They poke fun at his foolish flirtations, comparing his futile romantic pursuit to trying to reach a high-hanging mango that is way out of his reach. The lyrics lightheartedly mock his sudden romantic desires sprouting late in life and his desperate attempts to show off tricks to gain attention.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Proverbial Allusion

Adhu ettaadha maambalam kottaavi yenunga

Compares an unattainable romantic desire to a high-hanging mango out of reach, drawing on the cultural idiom similar to 'sour grapes'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Suthum muthum pakkudhu / Sokki poyi nikkudhu / Kathavithai ellaam ingae kaattudhu

The lines end with rhyming verbs ('pakkudhu', 'nikkudhu', 'kaattudhu') creating a rhythmic folk cadence.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Etti etti pakkudhadi thoppula

The word 'Etti' (peeping/stretching) is repeated consecutively to emphasize the continuous action of peeping.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sarangathara (1958) was a classic Tamil historical drama starring Sivaji Ganesan, P. Bhanumathi, and Rajasulochana. The music was composed by G. Ramanathan, a pioneer of Tamil film music, with playful lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi, showcasing classic Tamil folk comedy tropes.

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