Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gundan Chatti Pandaramadi

From Sivandha Kangal · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Sivandha Kangal1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………….
Chorus :………………
Male
Gundaan satti pandaaramadi ombothuA mendicant with a pot and pan, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Kottaang kuchchi kummaalamadi ombothuA celebration with coconut shells, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Ada angittu paaru ingittu paaru ombothuHey look over there, look over here, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Naalu anju aaru yaezhu ettu ombothuFour, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Chorus
Gundaan satti pandaaramadi ombothuA mendicant with a pot and pan, it's number nine!
Male :OmbothuNine!
Chorus :Kottaang kuchchi kummaalamadi ombothuA celebration with coconut shells, it's number nine!
Male :OmbothuNine!
Chorus :Ada angittu paaru ingittu paaru ombothuHey look over there, look over here, it's number nine!
Male :OmbothuNine!
Chorus :Naalu anju aaru yaezhu ettu ombothuFour, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Male :OmbothuNine!
Male
Naan vaettiyum katti ravikka maattumWearing a dhoti and hooked up in a blouse,
Aambala pombala rendumadaaIt's a combination of both male and female!
Male :HaanAha!
Male :Idhu ammaiyappan thittamadaaThis is the divine design of Lord Shiva-Parvati (Ammaiyappan)!
Nalla kummiyadichchi paadungadaa….Clap your hands merrily in Kummi style and sing along!
Male :Haan…haiyo….oo….aa….Aha… oh dear… oo… aa…
Male
Elani thonguthadaa etti etti pudichukkadaaTender coconuts are hanging, reach out and grab them!
Chorus :Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehaeYaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae!
Male :Odachchaa vazhukkaiyadaa onthalaiyum vazhukkaiyadaaIf broken it's smooth coconut flesh, and your head is bald too!
Ivan sollavum maattaan mellavum maattaanHe will neither speak it out nor swallow it down!
Chorus :Ivan sollavum maattaan mellavum maattaanHe will neither speak it out nor swallow it down!
Male :Vaayath thoranthaa moodavae maattaanOnce he opens his mouth, he won't close it at all!
Chorus :Vaayath thoranthaa moodavae maattaanOnce he opens his mouth, he won't close it at all!
Male
Gundaan satti pandaaramadi ombothuA mendicant with a pot and pan, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Haa kottaang kuchchi kummaalamadi ombothuA celebration with coconut shells, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Ada angittu paaru ingittu paaru ombothuHey look over there, look over here, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Naalu anju aaru yaezhu ettu ombothuFour, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Chorus
……………..
Male
………………..
Male
Santhula ponthula engumirukkum koottamadaaWe are a community present everywhere in every nook and cranny!
Naanga kaalaiyum Illa pasuvum illaWe are neither a bull nor a cow,
Kannukkuttiyum poduvathillaNor do we give birth to calves!
Chikkupukku chikku rayiladiChikku-bukku-chikku, like a chugging train!
Naanga silirththukittaa mayiladiWhen we get excited, we dance like a peacock!
Chorus :Chikkupukku chikku rayiladiChikku-bukku-chikku, like a chugging train!
Naanga silirththukittaa mayiladiWhen we get excited, we dance like a peacock!
Male
Adi nallaa sonnae puththiyadiHey girl, you spoke with true wisdom!
Idhu naayadi peyadi neththiyadiThis is a relentless, fierce blow right on the forehead!
Male :Ennaa adi adhuWhat kind of hit is that?
Male :Idhu naayadi peyadineththiyadiThis is a relentless, fierce blow right on the forehead!
Female :Adi aaththaadiOh my goodness!
Male
Idhu saelaiyum illa vaettiyum illaThis is neither a saree nor a dhoti!
Chorus :Idhu saelaiyum illa vaettiyum illaThis is neither a saree nor a dhoti!
Male :Suththamaa sonnaa onnumaeyillaTo put it plainly, there is nothing at all!
Chorus :Suththamaa sonnaa onnumaeyillaTo put it plainly, there is nothing at all!
Male
Gundaan satti pandaaramadi ombothuA mendicant with a pot and pan, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Haa kottaang kuchchi kummaalamadi ombothuA celebration with coconut shells, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Ada angittu paaru ingittu paaru ombothuHey look over there, look over here, it's number nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :Naalu anju aaru yaezhu ettu ombothuFour, five, six, seven, eight, nine!
Chorus :OmbothuNine!
Male :OmbothuNine!
Chorus :Ombothu…Nine...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk-style song from 'Sivandha Kangal' (1982) uses colloquial Tamil street-slang and folk rhythms to explore themes surrounding transgender identity and gender fluidity in society. The term 'ombothu' (number nine) is a well-known Tamil slang reference to transgender individuals. The song candidly describes the dual nature of their attire and identity—combining elements of both male and female clothing and demeanor—while invoking the mythological concept of 'Ammaiyappan' (Ardhanarishvara, the half-male half-female form of Lord Shiva) to validate their existence as part of nature's design. Through playful banter, rhythmic chants, and street performance style ('Kummi'), the lyrics reflect on how the transgender community navigates visibility, societal attitudes, and self-expression across every nook and corner of the city. While lighthearted and satirical on the surface, the song asserts their presence and humanity in mainstream popular culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

Aambala pombala rendumadaa

Contrasting opposites 'Aambala' (Male) and 'Pombala' (Female) are placed together to emphasize gender duality.

Metaphor / Mythological Allusion

Idhu ammaiyappan thittamadaa

Compares dual gender identity to 'Ammaiyappan' (Ardhanarishvara), the combined form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Muran (Antithesis)

Idhu saelaiyum illa vaettiyum illa

Pairs the contrasting traditional garments 'Saelai' (Saree) and 'Vaetti' (Dhoti) to highlight non-binary identity.

Simile / Visual Imagery

Naanga silirththukittaa mayiladi

Compares the excitement and joyful expression of the dancers to a peacock fanning its feathers ('mayil').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sivandha Kangal' (1982) is an action-drama film starring Vijayakanth and Menaka, directed by Ram Narayan. The music for the film was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. This song stands out as a rare early 1980s Tamil cinema track that openly engaged with transgender themes using contemporary street dialect and folk dance rhythms.

Keep listening

More from Sivandha Kangal