Kaada Koutharikala
From Raja Sevai · 1959
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- A. L. Ragavan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- T. V. Raju
- Details
- Raja Sevai1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaade kaudharigale | Oh forest, oh francolins! |
| Kaade kaudharigale | Oh forest, oh francolins! |
| Yeppam vidum kaattum poonai | A wild cat that belches after devouring prey, |
| Ingaeyum irukkudhada singaa singaa | Is right here too, Singa, Singa! |
| Adhu engaeyum irukkudhada singaa singaa | Indeed, it exists everywhere, Singa, Singa! |
| Male | |
| Kaade kauthariyenna | What of the forest or francolins? |
| Adiyae kaade kauthariyenna | Hey girl, what of the forest or francolins? |
| Manushanaiyae yeppam vidum | Capable of devouring even human beings, |
| Kaariya poonai irukku | There exists an opportunistic cat, |
| Suya kaariya poonai irukku singi singi | A selfish opportunist cat exists, Singi, Singi! |
| Female | |
| Puliya paathukittu | Looking at the tiger, |
| Poonai soodu pottukittu | The cat brands itself with spots, |
| Poochandi kattudhadaa singa singa | And tries to act like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa! |
| Adhu poochandi kattudhadaa singa singa | Yes, it acts like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa! |
| Male | |
| Poochandi kaatinaalum | Even if it puts up a scary front, |
| Poochandi kaatinaalum haan | Aha, even if it acts like a bogeyman, |
| Pudalangha paambaaghi | A snake gourd pretending to be a snake, |
| Bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi | Can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi! |
| Adhu bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi | No, it can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi! |
| Female | |
| Enna adhisayam | What a surprise! |
| Male :Irukku ragasiyam | Male: There is a secret! |
| Female :Hmm mmm irukkudha | Female: Hmm mmm, is there? |
| Male :Hmm mmm irukkudhu | Male: Hmm mmm, yes there is! |
| Female | |
| Treeyae treeyae treeyae triyoo | Treeyae treeyae treeyae triyoo! |
| Semmariyaadu koottathila kllanari | In the middle of a herd of sheep, a cunning fox, |
| Theemthadaga poduthada singa singa | Dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa! |
| Adhu theemthadaga poduthada singa singa | Yes, it dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa! |
| Male | |
| Theemthadaga nariya paathu…? | Watching that deceptively dancing fox...? |
| Theemthadaga nariya paathu | Watching that sly fox dance deceitfully, |
| Raam thadaga poda | To beat a matching counter-rhythm, |
| Oru vaengai puli kaathirukku singi singi | A majestic royal tiger is waiting in ambush, Singi, Singi! |
| Female | |
| Oora keduthuputtu odhiya maram pola | Ruining the entire town, standing like a useless Odhiya tree, |
| Ullasamaa irukkuranae singa singa | He lives in cheerful luxury, Singa, Singa! |
| Avan ullasamaa irukkuranae singa singa | He lives happily in luxury, Singa, Singa! |
| Male | |
| Avanai vaerodu vettivida | To chop him down right from the root, |
| Vaerodu vettivida | To slice him off by the roots, |
| Veecharuva yendhikittu | Holding a sharp curved sickle, |
| Vaevukkaaran kaathirukkaan singi singi | A vigilant scout is waiting, Singi, Singi! |
காடே கௌதாரிகள காடே கௌதாரிகள
ஏப்பம் விடும் காட்டுப் பூனை
இங்கையும் இருக்குதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா
அது எங்கையும் இருக்குதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா
Oh forest, oh francolins!
Oh forest, oh francolins!
A wild cat that belches after devouring prey,
Is right here too, Singa, Singa!
Indeed, it exists everywhere, Singa, Singa!
ஹா ஆஅ...ஹா ஆஅ...
ஹா ஆஅ... ஹா ஆஅ...
What of the forest or francolins?
Hey girl, what of the forest or francolins?
Capable of devouring even human beings,
There exists an opportunistic cat,
A selfish opportunist cat exists, Singi, Singi!
காடே கௌதாரியென்ன
அடியே காடே கௌதாரியென்ன
மனுஷனையே ஏப்பம் விடும்
காரியப் பூனை இருக்கு
சுயக் காரியப் பூனை இருக்கு சிங்கி சிங்கி
Looking at the tiger,
The cat brands itself with spots,
And tries to act like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa!
Yes, it acts like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa!
புலிய பாத்துகிட்டு
பூனை சூடு போட்டுகிட்டு
பூச்சாண்டி காட்டுதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா
அது பூச்சாண்டி காட்டுதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா..
Even if it puts up a scary front,
Aha, even if it acts like a bogeyman,
A snake gourd pretending to be a snake,
Can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi!
No, it can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi!
பூச்சாண்டி காட்டினாலும்
பூச்சாண்டி காட்டினாலும் ஹான்
புடலங்கா பாம்பாகி
புஸ்ஸன்னு சீறாது சிங்கி சிங்கி
அது புஸ்ஸன்னு சீறாது சிங்கி சிங்கி
What a surprise!
Male: There is a secret!
Female: Hmm mmm, is there?
Male: Hmm mmm, yes there is!
என்ன அதிசயம்.....
இருக்கு ரகசியம்....
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் இருக்குதா....
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் இருக்குது.....
Treeyae treeyae treeyae triyoo!
In the middle of a herd of sheep, a cunning fox,
Dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa!
Yes, it dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa!
ரய்யான் ரப்பான் ஒங்க
கொய்யான் கொப்பான் சாமி
ரய்யான் ரப்பான் ஒங்க
கொய்யான் கொப்பான் சாமி
ராவோ நைனா ஜோடி மைனா....
ராவோ நைனா ஜோடி மைனா....
Watching that deceptively dancing fox...?
Watching that sly fox dance deceitfully,
To beat a matching counter-rhythm,
A majestic royal tiger is waiting in ambush, Singi, Singi!
ட்ரியே ட்ரியே ட்ரியே ட்ரியோ
செம்மறியாடு கூட்டத்திலே குள்ளநரி
தீம்தடகா போடுதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா
அது தீம்தடகா போடுதடா சிங்கா சிங்கா..
Ruining the entire town, standing like a useless Odhiya tree,
He lives in cheerful luxury, Singa, Singa!
He lives happily in luxury, Singa, Singa!
ஹா ஆஅ...ஹா ஆஅ...
ஹா ஆஅ... ஹா ஆஅ...
To chop him down right from the root,
To slice him off by the roots,
Holding a sharp curved sickle,
A vigilant scout is waiting, Singi, Singi!
தீம்தடகா நரியப் பாத்து .....?
தீம்தடகா நரியப் பாத்து
ராம் தடகா போட
ஒரு வேங்கை புலி காத்திருக்கு சிங்கி சிங்கி
ஊர கெடுத்துபுட்டு ஒதியமரம் போல
உல்லாசமா இருக்குறானே சிங்கா சிங்கா
அவன் உல்லாசமா இருக்குறானே சிங்கா சிங்கா
அவனை வேரோட வெட்டிவிட
வேரோட வெட்டிவிட
வீச்சருவா ஏந்திக்கிட்டு
வேவுக்காரன் காத்திருக்கான் சிங்கி சிங்கி
ரய்யான் ரப்பான் ஒங்க
கொய்யான் கொப்பான் சாமி
ரய்யான் ரப்பான் ஒங்க
கொய்யான் கொப்பான் சாமி
ராவோ நைனா ஜோடி மைனா....
ராவோ நைனா ஜோடி மைனா....
Kaade kaudharigale
Oh forest, oh francolins!
Kaade kaudharigale
Oh forest, oh francolins!
Yeppam vidum kaattum poonai
A wild cat that belches after devouring prey,
Ingaeyum irukkudhada singaa singaa
Is right here too, Singa, Singa!
Adhu engaeyum irukkudhada singaa singaa
Indeed, it exists everywhere, Singa, Singa!
Kaade kauthariyenna
What of the forest or francolins?
Adiyae kaade kauthariyenna
Hey girl, what of the forest or francolins?
Manushanaiyae yeppam vidum
Capable of devouring even human beings,
Kaariya poonai irukku
There exists an opportunistic cat,
Suya kaariya poonai irukku singi singi
A selfish opportunist cat exists, Singi, Singi!
Puliya paathukittu
Looking at the tiger,
Poonai soodu pottukittu
The cat brands itself with spots,
Poochandi kattudhadaa singa singa
And tries to act like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa!
Adhu poochandi kattudhadaa singa singa
Yes, it acts like a scary bogeyman, Singa, Singa!
Poochandi kaatinaalum
Even if it puts up a scary front,
Poochandi kaatinaalum haan
Aha, even if it acts like a bogeyman,
Pudalangha paambaaghi
A snake gourd pretending to be a snake,
Bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi
Can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi!
Adhu bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi
No, it can never hiss with real venom, Singi, Singi!
Enna adhisayam
What a surprise!
Male :Irukku ragasiyam
Male: There is a secret!
Female :Hmm mmm irukkudha
Female: Hmm mmm, is there?
Male :Hmm mmm irukkudhu
Male: Hmm mmm, yes there is!
Treeyae treeyae treeyae triyoo
Treeyae treeyae treeyae triyoo!
Semmariyaadu koottathila kllanari
In the middle of a herd of sheep, a cunning fox,
Theemthadaga poduthada singa singa
Dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa!
Adhu theemthadaga poduthada singa singa
Yes, it dances with deceptive rhythm, Singa, Singa!
Theemthadaga nariya paathu…?
Watching that deceptively dancing fox...?
Theemthadaga nariya paathu
Watching that sly fox dance deceitfully,
Raam thadaga poda
To beat a matching counter-rhythm,
Oru vaengai puli kaathirukku singi singi
A majestic royal tiger is waiting in ambush, Singi, Singi!
Oora keduthuputtu odhiya maram pola
Ruining the entire town, standing like a useless Odhiya tree,
Ullasamaa irukkuranae singa singa
He lives in cheerful luxury, Singa, Singa!
Avan ullasamaa irukkuranae singa singa
He lives happily in luxury, Singa, Singa!
Avanai vaerodu vettivida
To chop him down right from the root,
Vaerodu vettivida
To slice him off by the roots,
Veecharuva yendhikittu
Holding a sharp curved sickle,
Vaevukkaaran kaathirukkaan singi singi
A vigilant scout is waiting, Singi, Singi!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is structured as a traditional Tamil Kuravan-Kurathi folk duet between Singan and Singi. Through clever animal fables and nature allegories, the singers mock corrupt, selfish opportunists who exploit society and put up grand pretenses. Selfish men are compared to cats trying to brand themselves like tigers, snake gourds pretending to be venomous snakes, and sly foxes hiding among helpless sheep. The song carries a strong message of retributive justice: no matter how grandly a corrupt person lives at the expense of others, a tiger awaits the fox and a sharp sickle is ready to uproot the useless tree.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory & Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Puliya paathukittu Poonai soodu pottukittu”
Human opportunists and oppressors are metaphorically portrayed as sly foxes among sheep, wild cats branding themselves to look like tigers, and useless Odhiya trees.
Folk Refrain / Addressing Rhythm
“Suya kaariya poonai irukku singi singi”
The traditional Kuravan-Kurathi dialogue rhythm is maintained using rhythmic vocatives 'Singa Singa' (addressed by Singi to Singan) and 'Singi Singi' (addressed by Singan to Singi).
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Pudalangha paambaaghi Bussnnu seeraadhu singi singi”
Alliteration of the initial 'P' sound creates a rhythmic, musical folk flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Raja Sevai' (1959) features music by T. V. Raju with lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass employing the classic 'Kuravan-Kurathi' folk idiom (Singan and Singi characters). This style was widely popular in mid-20th century Tamil cinema for delivering socio-political critique wrapped in catchy, high-energy folk duets.
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