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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gundooru Gongura

From Chinnavar · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinnavar1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Gundooru gonguraGuntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.
Female
ManakkumFragrant,
Mala javvaadhu naaI am the mountain civet perfume,
Maruthaa adhu ovvaadhu thaanIf rejected, it just won't do.
Male
Inikkum suttaSweetly baked,
Muttaasu thaanCandy and sweetmeat,
Idichaa idi pattaasu thaanIf struck, it bursts like a thundercracker!
Adi mayilaeOh my peacock!
Female
Ada gundooru gonguraHey Guntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Male
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.
Male
Aathula theppamA raft in the river,
Kan paathadhum veppamHeat as soon as eyes meet,
Adhu thaan en kaaya kalpamThat alone is my elixir of life.
Female
Maappila mappumThe bridegroom's intoxication,
Pen paarvaiyil uppumIs the saltiness in a woman's glance,
Iva thaan pudhu koyil sirpamShe is a newly sculpted temple idol.
Male
Aathu maettil potta poduSteps taken on the riverbank,
Poothu kaaikkum yela kaaduA cardamom forest blooming and yielding fruit,
Female
Paathu paathuWatching closely,
Nottam poduKeeping a sharp lookout,
Padhungi padhungiHiding and ducking,
Koottam poduGathering a crowd.
Male
Etti paathaen…I peeked from a distance...
Thatti paathaen…I knocked and checked...
Oi otti paathaenHey, I came close and checked,
Appodhum podhalaEven then, it was not enough,
Thattodu paayaasamSweet payasam served on a plate.
Female
Ada gundooru gonguraHey Guntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Male
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.
Female
ManakkumFragrant,
Mala javvaadhu naaI am the mountain civet perfume,
Maruthaa adhu ovvaadhu thaanIf rejected, it just won't do.
Male
Inikkum suttaSweetly baked,
Muttaasu thaanCandy and sweetmeat,
Idichaa idi pattaasu thaanIf struck, it bursts like a thundercracker!
Adi mayilaeOh my peacock!
Female
Ada gundooru gonguraHey Guntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Male
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.
Female
Vaanginen lattuI bought a laddu sweet,
Nee vaanganum thottuYou should touch and accept it,
Varuven oru vaakku pattuI will come bound by a solemn word.
Male
Paadanum mettuMust sing a melody,
Pudhu paattaiyum kattuAnd compose a new song too,
Padippen oru maalai ittuI will recite it after placing a garland.
Female
Yetham pottuWhile operating the water lever,
Paadum podhuAnd singing aloud,
Yekkam melae yerudhuThe longing inside keeps rising higher.
Male
Paathu kettuLooking and listening,
Koodum podhuWhen coming together,
Baaram melum saerudhuThe burden weighs even heavier.
Female
Mottu thaanae…She is just a flower bud...
Sittu thaanae…She is just a little bird...
Thottu thaanae tholodu serkkanumMust touch and hold her close to my shoulders,
Kottaadha thaen thaanaeShe is unspilled, pure honey!
Male
Adi gundooru gonguraHey Guntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.
Female
ManakkumFragrant,
Mala javvaadhu naaI am the mountain civet perfume,
Maruthaa adhu ovvaadhu thaanIf rejected, it just won't do.
Male
Inikkum suttaSweetly baked,
Muttaasu thaanCandy and sweetmeat,
Idichaa idi pattaasu thaanIf struck, it bursts like a thundercracker!
Adi mayilaeOh my peacock!
Female
Ada gundooru gonguraHey Guntur's Gongura,
Kandaalae raenguraaAs soon as she sees me, she buzzes around,
Gummaalam kumbamelaaA joyful celebration like a Kumbh Mela,
Male
Seendaama cheenduraaTeasing me without even touching,
Nondaama nonduraaProvoking me without disturbing,
Noyaanaen romba naalaaI have been sick with love for a long time.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Gundooru Gongura' from the movie Chinnavar (1992) is a playful, high-energy rural folk song portraying romantic banter and passionate attraction between two lovers. The lead male metaphorically compares his beloved to the fiery and tangy 'Guntur Gongura' (sorrel leaves), praising her spicy charm, teasing behavior, and irresistible beauty that leaves him feeling helpless with love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Gundooru gongura

Compares the fiery, tangy personality and beauty of the beloved to Guntur's famous Gongura leaves.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Etti paathaen… / Thatti paathaen… / Oi otti paathaen

Rhyming end words ('paathaen') creating a rhythmic cadence in line delivery.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Seendaama cheenduraa / Nondaama nonduraa

Consonance and initial letter rhythmic matching across phrase pairs ('Seendaama' / 'cheenduraa').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chinnavar' (1992) is a Tamil village drama film starring Prabhu and Kasthuri, directed by S. Chandrasekhar. The music for the film was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song features lively folk orchestration typical of rural Tamil cinema hits from the early 1990s.

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