Gama Gama
From Pattaliyin Vetri · 1960
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Leela
- Music director
- S. Rajeswara Rao
- Details
- Pattaliyin Vetri1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oho…aahaa | Oho… aahaa |
| Male :Javvaathu | Male: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)... |
| Female :Javvaathu | Female: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)... |
| Male | |
| Gamagamagamagamagamanguthu | Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance... |
| Kaattu poonai javvaathu | It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat! |
| Gamagamagamagamagamanguthu | Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance... |
| Kaattu poonai javvaathu | It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat! |
| Kaasai enni kanakku paarkum | For a miser who only counts his money and checks accounts, |
| Aasaamikku ovvaathu | This luxurious scent will never suit such a person! |
| Male | |
| Aa….jamajamajamajamajamanguthu | Ah... grand, sparkling, and splendid... |
| Jaathi poonai javvaathu | It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat! |
| Jamajamajamajamajamanguthu | Grand, sparkling, and splendid... |
| Jaathi poonai javvaathu | It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat! |
| Thadavikkittaa vervai naaththaam | If you rub it on, foul sweat odor |
| Aduththa pakkam thavaathu… | Will not even stray anywhere near you... |
| Female | |
| Aa jamajamajamajama | Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama |
| Male :Aa gamagamagamagama | Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama |
| Female :Aa jama | Female: Ah, jama |
| Male :Aa kama | Male: Ah, kama |
| Female :Aa jam | Female: Ah, jam |
| Male :Aa kam | Male: Ah, kam |
| Male | |
| Singapore-u kaattukkullae | Deep inside the jungles of Singapore, |
| Thaedi ponaenaiyyaa | I went searching, dear sir! |
| Naan thaedi ponaenaiyyaa | I went searching, dear sir! |
| Singapore-u kaattukkullae | Deep inside the jungles of Singapore, |
| Thaedi ponaenaiyyaa | I went searching, dear sir! |
| Siruththa pola aala paarththu | Looking at a creature resembling a leopard, |
| Seerichchu oru miyyaa | It hissed at me with a wild meow! |
| Male | |
| Kuzhi thondi manna parichchu | Digging a pit and scooping out the soil, |
| En koni paiya virichchu | Unfurling my gunny bag, |
| Ippadi kuninju appadi valainju | Bending this way, flexing that way, |
| Ippadi sulinju appuram olinji | Twisting like this, and hiding over there, |
| Ippadi kuninju appadi valainju | Bending this way, flexing that way, |
| Ippadi sulinju appuram olinji | Twisting like this, and hiding over there, |
| Male | |
| Naan kuppura pottu amukki pudichchi | I pinned it flat on its face and held it down tight, |
| Kodainjeduththa javvaathu….javvaathu | And extracted this precious civet perfume... javvaadhu! |
| Female | |
| Kollimalai kaattukkullae | Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills, |
| Sulli porukka ponaen | I went to gather dry firewood twigs, |
| Naan sulli porukka ponaen | I went to gather dry firewood twigs, |
| Kollimalai kaattukkullae | Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills, |
| Sulli porukka ponaen | I went to gather dry firewood twigs, |
| Mullaan panniyai paaththukittu | While watching out for a wild porcupine, |
| Morachchuthu oru poonai | A wild cat glared aggressively at me! |
| Female | |
| Vaan kozhik kudala erachchi | Scattering wild bird/turkey entrails as bait, |
| Adhai kurukka marukka erachchi | Tossing them back and forth, |
| Vaaya adakki kaala modakki | Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs, |
| Ippadi kuththi melae ekki | Squatting down like this and stretching upward, |
| Vaaya adakki kaala modakki | Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs, |
| Ippadi kuththi melae ekki | Squatting down like this and stretching upward, |
| En koodaiya pottu moodi pudichcha | I trapped and covered it under my basket, |
| Thedi eduththa javvaathu javvaathu…. | And obtained this prized javvaadhu, javvaadhu... |
| Female | |
| Aa jamajamajamajama | Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama |
| Male :Aa gamagamagamagama | Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama |
| Female :Aa jama | Female: Ah, jama |
| Male :Aa kama | Male: Ah, kama |
| Female :Aa jam | Female: Ah, jam |
| Male :Aa kam | Male: Ah, kam |
| Male | |
| Kumbakonam kadaitheruvil | In the market streets of Kumbakonam, |
| Kozhuththa vilaikku vikkirathu | It sells for an exorbitantly high price, |
| Kozhuththa vilaikku vikkirathu | It sells for an exorbitantly high price! |
| Female :Naan kondu vanthu koduppathaalae | Female: Because I brought it directly to sell to you, |
| Korainja valaikku vikkirathu | It is sold at a cheap, discounted price! |
| Male | |
| Sangeethakaararellaam thadavi paaththathu | All the classical musicians felt and tested it, |
| Kaiyaalae thadavi paaththathu | They rubbed it with their hands to test its purity, |
| Idha tanjavoorukaararellaam sabaashnunnuthu | And all the connoisseurs of Tanjore praised it saying 'Bravo!' |
| Female | |
| Oh aiyaaso yae saamingo | Oh respected sirs! Oh gentle lords! |
| Inthaanga konjam vaangi paarunga | Here, take a little and sample it, |
| Saami vaangi paarunga | Respected sirs, buy and try it out! |
| Male :Oh esamaangi oh raasaango | Male: Oh masters, oh royal ones! |
| Vaada pudichchu paarungi | Sniff the rich fragrance and see, |
| Konjam vaangi paarungo | Buy a little and sample it! |
| Female | |
| Saamiyonnu irukkurathunnu | Remember that there is a Almighty God above, |
| Saththiyamaa ninai annaa | Consider that as the ultimate truth, brother! |
| Raama latchmanaa ramaa latchumanaa | Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana! |
| Female | |
| Kazhuththila eduththu maattikannaa | Wear this garland around your neck, brother! |
| Male :Ramannaa latchumanaa | Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana! |
| Female :Kaalaal nadanam seiyyunganna | Female: Dance gracefully with your feet, brother! |
| Male :Ramannaa latchumanaa ramannaa latchumanaa | Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana! |
ஓஹோ.....ஆஹா....
ஜவ்வாது..
ஜவ்வாது
Oho… aahaa
Male: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)...
Female: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)...
கமகமகமகமகமங்குது
காட்டுப் பூனை ஜவ்வாது
கமகமகமகமகமங்குது
காட்டுப் பூனை ஜவ்வாது
காசை எண்ணி கணக்கு பார்க்கும்
ஆசாமிக்கு ஒவ்வாது
Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance...
It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat!
Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance...
It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat!
For a miser who only counts his money and checks accounts,
This luxurious scent will never suit such a person!
ஆ.....ஜமஜமஜமஜமஜமங்குது
ஜாதி பூனை ஜவ்வாது
ஜமஜமஜமஜமஜமங்குது
ஜாதி பூனை ஜவ்வாது
தடவிக்கிட்டா வேர்வை நாத்தம்
அடுத்த பக்கம் தவ்வாது......
Ah... grand, sparkling, and splendid...
It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat!
Grand, sparkling, and splendid...
It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat!
If you rub it on, foul sweat odor
Will not even stray anywhere near you...
ஆ ஜமஜமஜமஜம
ஆ கமகமகமகம
ஆ ஜம
ஆ கம
ஆ ஜம்
ஆ கம்
Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama
Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama
Female: Ah, jama
Male: Ah, kama
Female: Ah, jam
Male: Ah, kam
கமகமகமகமகமங்குது
காட்டுப் பூனை ஜவ்வாது
காசை எண்ணி கணக்கு பார்க்கும்
ஆசாமிக்கு ஒவ்வாது
Deep inside the jungles of Singapore,
I went searching, dear sir!
I went searching, dear sir!
Deep inside the jungles of Singapore,
I went searching, dear sir!
Looking at a creature resembling a leopard,
It hissed at me with a wild meow!
சிங்கப்பூரு காட்டுக்குள்ளே
தேடி போனேனய்யா
நான் தேடி போனேனய்யா
சிங்கப்பூரு காட்டுக்குள்ளே
தேடி போனேனய்யா
சிறுத்த போல ஆளப் பார்த்து
சீறிச்சு ஒரு மிய்யா
Digging a pit and scooping out the soil,
Unfurling my gunny bag,
Bending this way, flexing that way,
Twisting like this, and hiding over there,
Bending this way, flexing that way,
Twisting like this, and hiding over there,
குழித் தோண்டி மண்ணப் பறிச்சு
என் கோணிப் பைய விரிச்சு
இப்படி குனிஞ்சு அப்படி வளைஞ்சு
இப்படி சுளிஞ்சு அப்புறம் ஒளிஞ்சி
இப்படி குனிஞ்சு அப்படி வளைஞ்சு
இப்படி சுளிஞ்சு அப்புறம் ஒளிஞ்சி
I pinned it flat on its face and held it down tight,
And extracted this precious civet perfume... javvaadhu!
நான் குப்புறப் போட்டு அமுக்கி புடிச்சி
கொடைஞ்செடுத்த ஜவ்வாது...ஜவ்வாது
Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills,
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills,
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
While watching out for a wild porcupine,
A wild cat glared aggressively at me!
கொல்லிமலைக் காட்டுக்குள்ளே
சுள்ளிப் பொறுக்க போனேன்
நான் சுள்ளிப் பொறுக்க போனேன்
நான் கொல்லிமலைக் காட்டுக்குள்ளே
சுள்ளிப் பொறுக்க போனேன்
முள்ளான் பன்னியை பாத்துக்கிட்டு
மொறச்சுது ஒரு பூனை
Scattering wild bird/turkey entrails as bait,
Tossing them back and forth,
Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs,
Squatting down like this and stretching upward,
Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs,
Squatting down like this and stretching upward,
I trapped and covered it under my basket,
And obtained this prized javvaadhu, javvaadhu...
வான் கோழிக் குடல எறச்சி அத
குறுக்க மறுக்க எறச்சி
வாய அடக்கி கால மொடக்கி
இப்படி குத்தி மேலே எக்கி
வாய அடக்கி கால மொடக்கி
இப்படி குத்தி மேலே எக்கி
என் கூடைய போட்டு மூடி புடிச்ச
தேடி எடுத்த ஜவ்வாது ஜவ்வாது....
Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama
Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama
Female: Ah, jama
Male: Ah, kama
Female: Ah, jam
Male: Ah, kam
ஆ ஜமஜமஜமஜம
ஆ கமகமகமகம
ஆ ஜம
ஆ கம
ஆ ஜம்
ஆ கம்
In the market streets of Kumbakonam,
It sells for an exorbitantly high price,
It sells for an exorbitantly high price!
Female: Because I brought it directly to sell to you,
It is sold at a cheap, discounted price!
ஆஹ் கமகமகமகமகமங்குது
காட்டுப் பூனை ஜவ்வாது
காசை எண்ணி கணக்கு பார்க்கும்
ஆசாமிக்கு ஒவ்வாது
All the classical musicians felt and tested it,
They rubbed it with their hands to test its purity,
And all the connoisseurs of Tanjore praised it saying 'Bravo!'
கும்பகோணம் கடத்தெருவில்
கொழுத்த விலைக்கு விக்கிறது
கொழுத்த விலைக்கு விக்கிறது
நான் கொண்டு வந்து கொடுப்பதாலே
கொறைஞ்ச வெலைக்கு விக்கிறது
Oh respected sirs! Oh gentle lords!
Here, take a little and sample it,
Respected sirs, buy and try it out!
Male: Oh masters, oh royal ones!
Sniff the rich fragrance and see,
Buy a little and sample it!
சங்கீதக்காரரெல்லாம் தடவிப் பாத்தது
கையாலே தடவிப் பாத்தது
இத தஞ்சாவூருகாரரெல்லாம் சபாஷ்னுன்னது
Remember that there is a Almighty God above,
Consider that as the ultimate truth, brother!
Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana!
ஒ ஐயாசோ ஏ..சாமிங்கோ
இந்தாங்க கொஞ்சம் வாங்கிப் பாருங்க
சாமி வாங்கிப் பாருங்க
ஒ எசமாங்கோ ஒ ராசாங்கோ
வாட புடிச்சு பாருங்கோ
கொஞ்சம் வாங்கிப் பாருங்கோ......
Wear this garland around your neck, brother!
Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana!
Female: Dance gracefully with your feet, brother!
Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana!
கமகமகமகமகமங்குது
காட்டுப் பூனை ஜவ்வாது
காசை எண்ணி கணக்கு பார்க்கும்
ஆசாமிக்கு ஒவ்வாது
ஆ.....ஜமஜமஜமஜமஜமங்குது
ஜாதி பூனை ஜவ்வாது
தடவிக்கிட்டா வேர்வை நாத்தம்
அடுத்த பக்கம் தவ்வாது......
சாமியொண்ணு இருக்குறதுன்னு
சத்தியமா நினை அண்ணா
ராமா லட்சுமணா ராமா லட்சுமணா
பூமியிலே பொழைக்கணுமுன்னா
புத்தி ரொம்ப வேணுமுண்ணா
ராமா லட்சுமணா ராமா லட்சுமணா
கழுத்தில எடுத்து மாட்டிகண்ணா
ராமண்ணா லட்சுமணா
காலால் நடனம் செய்யுங்கண்ணா
ராமண்ணா லட்சுமணா ராமண்ணா
லட்சுமணா
கோவிந்தம் ஹரி கோவிந்தம்
கோவிந்தம் ஹரி கோவிந்தம்
கோவிந்தம் ஹரி கோவிந்தம்
கோவிந்தம் ஹரி கோவிந்தம்
கோவிந்தம் ஹரி கோவிந்தம்
கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா
கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா
ஹரி கோவிந்தா
Oho…aahaa
Oho… aahaa
Male :Javvaathu
Male: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)...
Female :Javvaathu
Female: Civet perfume (Javvaadhu)...
Gamagamagamagamagamanguthu
Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance...
Kaattu poonai javvaathu
It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat!
Gamagamagamagamagamanguthu
Emitting a rich and enchanting fragrance...
Kaattu poonai javvaathu
It is civet perfume extracted from a wild cat!
Kaasai enni kanakku paarkum
For a miser who only counts his money and checks accounts,
Aasaamikku ovvaathu
This luxurious scent will never suit such a person!
Aa….jamajamajamajamajamanguthu
Ah... grand, sparkling, and splendid...
Jaathi poonai javvaathu
It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat!
Jamajamajamajamajamanguthu
Grand, sparkling, and splendid...
Jaathi poonai javvaathu
It is civet perfume from a high-breed cat!
Thadavikkittaa vervai naaththaam
If you rub it on, foul sweat odor
Aduththa pakkam thavaathu…
Will not even stray anywhere near you...
Aa jamajamajamajama
Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama
Male :Aa gamagamagamagama
Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama
Female :Aa jama
Female: Ah, jama
Male :Aa kama
Male: Ah, kama
Female :Aa jam
Female: Ah, jam
Male :Aa kam
Male: Ah, kam
Singapore-u kaattukkullae
Deep inside the jungles of Singapore,
Thaedi ponaenaiyyaa
I went searching, dear sir!
Naan thaedi ponaenaiyyaa
I went searching, dear sir!
Singapore-u kaattukkullae
Deep inside the jungles of Singapore,
Thaedi ponaenaiyyaa
I went searching, dear sir!
Siruththa pola aala paarththu
Looking at a creature resembling a leopard,
Seerichchu oru miyyaa
It hissed at me with a wild meow!
Kuzhi thondi manna parichchu
Digging a pit and scooping out the soil,
En koni paiya virichchu
Unfurling my gunny bag,
Ippadi kuninju appadi valainju
Bending this way, flexing that way,
Ippadi sulinju appuram olinji
Twisting like this, and hiding over there,
Ippadi kuninju appadi valainju
Bending this way, flexing that way,
Ippadi sulinju appuram olinji
Twisting like this, and hiding over there,
Naan kuppura pottu amukki pudichchi
I pinned it flat on its face and held it down tight,
Kodainjeduththa javvaathu….javvaathu
And extracted this precious civet perfume... javvaadhu!
Kollimalai kaattukkullae
Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills,
Sulli porukka ponaen
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
Naan sulli porukka ponaen
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
Kollimalai kaattukkullae
Inside the dense forests of Kolli Hills,
Sulli porukka ponaen
I went to gather dry firewood twigs,
Mullaan panniyai paaththukittu
While watching out for a wild porcupine,
Morachchuthu oru poonai
A wild cat glared aggressively at me!
Vaan kozhik kudala erachchi
Scattering wild bird/turkey entrails as bait,
Adhai kurukka marukka erachchi
Tossing them back and forth,
Vaaya adakki kaala modakki
Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs,
Ippadi kuththi melae ekki
Squatting down like this and stretching upward,
Vaaya adakki kaala modakki
Muzzling its mouth and folding its legs,
Ippadi kuththi melae ekki
Squatting down like this and stretching upward,
En koodaiya pottu moodi pudichcha
I trapped and covered it under my basket,
Thedi eduththa javvaathu javvaathu….
And obtained this prized javvaadhu, javvaadhu...
Aa jamajamajamajama
Ah, jama-jama-jama-jama
Male :Aa gamagamagamagama
Male: Ah, gama-gama-gama-gama
Female :Aa jama
Female: Ah, jama
Male :Aa kama
Male: Ah, kama
Female :Aa jam
Female: Ah, jam
Male :Aa kam
Male: Ah, kam
Kumbakonam kadaitheruvil
In the market streets of Kumbakonam,
Kozhuththa vilaikku vikkirathu
It sells for an exorbitantly high price,
Kozhuththa vilaikku vikkirathu
It sells for an exorbitantly high price!
Female :Naan kondu vanthu koduppathaalae
Female: Because I brought it directly to sell to you,
Korainja valaikku vikkirathu
It is sold at a cheap, discounted price!
Sangeethakaararellaam thadavi paaththathu
All the classical musicians felt and tested it,
Kaiyaalae thadavi paaththathu
They rubbed it with their hands to test its purity,
Idha tanjavoorukaararellaam sabaashnunnuthu
And all the connoisseurs of Tanjore praised it saying 'Bravo!'
Oh aiyaaso yae saamingo
Oh respected sirs! Oh gentle lords!
Inthaanga konjam vaangi paarunga
Here, take a little and sample it,
Saami vaangi paarunga
Respected sirs, buy and try it out!
Male :Oh esamaangi oh raasaango
Male: Oh masters, oh royal ones!
Vaada pudichchu paarungi
Sniff the rich fragrance and see,
Konjam vaangi paarungo
Buy a little and sample it!
Saamiyonnu irukkurathunnu
Remember that there is a Almighty God above,
Saththiyamaa ninai annaa
Consider that as the ultimate truth, brother!
Raama latchmanaa ramaa latchumanaa
Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana!
Kazhuththila eduththu maattikannaa
Wear this garland around your neck, brother!
Male :Ramannaa latchumanaa
Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana!
Female :Kaalaal nadanam seiyyunganna
Female: Dance gracefully with your feet, brother!
Male :Ramannaa latchumanaa ramannaa latchumanaa
Male: Oh Rama, Lakshmana! Rama, Lakshmana!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This vibrant song from 'Pattaliyin Vetri' (1960) is formatted as a lively folk street-vendor performance. The singers act as itinerant hawkers selling 'Javvaathu' (a traditional natural perfume extracted from civet cats). Through humorous exaggerations, they describe dramatic tales of hunting wild civet cats across exotic locations like Singapore jungles and the Kolli Hills, dodging leopards and porcupines, and carefully extracting the aromatic paste. They pitch the product to passersby, mock miserly people who wouldn't spend on luxury, and boast that while the product sells at exorbitant prices in commercial markets like Kumbakonam, they offer it at a bargain. Endorsed playfully by Tanjore musicians and art lovers, the song blends street seller hawking cries, rhythmic vocalizations ('gamagama', 'jamajama'), and lively folk dance calls into an entertaining musical display.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)
“Gamagamagamagamagamanguthu”
Repetitive rhythmic sound words representing the intense, rich fragrance of the civet perfume spreading all around.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kaattu poonai javvaathu / Aasaamikku ovvaathu”
The lines end with rhyming phonetic sounds ('javvaathu', 'ovvaathu'), creating a catchy folk cadence.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Ippadi kuninju appadi valainju / Ippadi sulinju appuram olinji”
The second consonant 'p' ('Ippadi', 'appadi') rhymes consistently across adjacent phrases.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)
“Singapore-u kaattukkullae / Thaedi ponaenaiyyaa”
Exaggeration used by street vendors claiming they traveled to Singapore jungles and wrestled wild beasts just to extract perfume paste.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track highlights Udumalai Narayanakavi's knack for incorporating Tamil street theatre (Therukoothu) style hawking calls and folk idioms into mainstream film lyrics. Composed by legendary maestro S. Rajeswara Rao, the song stands out as a unique comic duet performed by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and P. Leela, who were primarily renowned for classical and high-pitch devotional songs, showcasing their versatility in folk rhythm and comedic expression.
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