Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaakka Vendum

From Digambara Samiyar · 1950

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Leela, K. V. Janaki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Digambara Samiyar1950

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaakka vendum kadavule neeYou must protect us, O God
Karunai seiyappa iyyappaShow mercy, Lord Ayyappa
Kaakka vendum kadavule neeYou must protect us, O God
Karunai seiyappa iyyappaShow mercy, Lord Ayyappa
Female
Kadalai thaandi padakileriCrossing the sea by climbing into a boat
Poga vendume iyyappaWe must go, O Ayyappa
Kadalai thaandi padakileriCrossing the sea by climbing into a boat
Poga vendume iyyappaWe must go, O Ayyappa
Female
Pulla kutti vairu polaikkaTo feed my children and sustain my family
Pozhappai kaattappa iyyappaShow me a livelihood, O Ayyappa
Pulla kutti vairu polaikkaTo feed my children and sustain my family
Pozhappai kaattappa iyyappaShow me a livelihood, O Ayyappa
Female
Meenae meenu….Fish, oh fish!
Oh iyyamare……Oh…ammamaare….Oh gentlemen! Oh ladies!
Oh iyyamare……Oh…ammamaare….Oh gentlemen! Oh ladies!
Meenae meenu….Fish, oh fish!
Female
Kozhambuketha koduva meenuKoduva fish suitable for curry
Koduthuvachavar vaangum meenuFish bought by those who are fortunate
Koduthuvachavar vaangum meenuFish bought by those who are fortunate
Vaaiku rusiya varuval seiyaTo make tasty fry for the mouth
Vavva meenu…vanjura meenuVavval fish... Vanjaram fish
Vaaiku rusiya varuval seiyaTo make tasty fry for the mouth
Vavva meenu…vanjura meenuVavval fish... Vanjaram fish
Vala meenu oh vaangi marunga Oh..iyyamaare..Ribbon fish, oh come and buy, oh gentlemen!
Female
Vaala meenu vikka vantheI came to sell ribbon fish
Vaalai vayasu ponnneA young woman in her prime
Vaala meenu vikka vantheI came to sell ribbon fish
Vaalai vayasu ponnneA young woman in her prime
Varuma….varuma..namma sarasamaagathaaneWill it come... will it come... for us to flirt playfully?
Vilaikku ithu varuma….Will it come for this price?
varuma..namma sarasamaagathaaneWill it come... for us to flirt playfully?
Female
Ang…enna sonna ennaiyumHey... what did you say about me?
Neeyum yarunnuthaan nenachaWho did you think I am?
Enna sonna ennaiyumWhat did you say about me?
Neeyum yarunnuthaan nenachaWho did you think I am?
Chumma poya …..chi …poyaJust go away... chi... go away!
Un udambu bathiram aama..Be careful with your body, yes!
Chumma poya…Just go away...
Un udambu bathiram aama..Be careful with your body, yes!
Female
Penne ennai veratina naanWoman, if you chase me away, did you think...
Poaiduvenna nenacha...that I would just leave?
Penne ennai veratina naanWoman, if you chase me away, did you think...
Poaiduvenna nenacha...that I would just leave?
Female
Kannapinna ennannuthaanDon't talk nonsense to me...
Enkitta pesaathada kaithey…....you rogue, don't talk rubbish!
Kannapinna ennannuthaanDon't talk nonsense to me...
Enkitta pesaathada kaithey…....you rogue, don't talk rubbish!
Female
Meenu vikka pona sirukki veedu thirumbalaThe girl who went to sell fish hasn't returned home
Vealakku vaikura neramachu vishayam puriyalaIt is lamp-lighting time, I don't understand what happened
Veetula aambala irukaanennuIf she was afraid that a man is at home...
Bayamirunthaaka ippdai veliye poyi...would she go outside like this...
Vegunerma thaamchirupaala.....and delay for so long?
Female
Varattum innaiki rendulaLet her come today, I will deal with it...
Onnu paathu puduren naan...and settle it one way or another!
Antha varanda sirukki thimiraThat arrogant girl's pride...
Adakki theethu puduren naan...I will subdue and put an end to!
Female
Enna ponnu inthaneram neeWhat girl, at this hour, where...
Enguttu sutha poairuntha onnum puriyala...did you go wandering? I don't understand anything!
Enna ponnu inthaneram neeWhat girl, at this hour, where...
Enguttu sutha poairuntha onnum puriyala...did you go wandering? I don't understand anything!
Onnum puriyala enakku onnum puriyalaNothing is clear to me, nothing at all
Poosa enniki enkitta vaanga poriyo theriyalaI don't know when you will come to your senses with me
Poosa enniki enkitta vaanga poriyo theriyalaI don't know when you will come to your senses with me
Female
Ponna poranthathu enneramoAt what ill-fated hour was I born a girl?
Unnodu naan padura paadu sagikkalaI cannot tolerate the trouble I suffer with you!
Ponna poranthathu enneramoAt what ill-fated hour was I born a girl?
Unnodu naan padura paadu sagikkalaI cannot tolerate the trouble I suffer with you!
Nejama sagikalakonjamkooda sagikalaTruly intolerable, not at all tolerable
Chumma poochandi nee kaathathe onnum pudikalaI didn't like your useless threat at all
Chumma poochandi nee kaathathe onnum pudikalaI didn't like your useless threat at all
Female
Koodaiyai thalyil vachukira chummaYou place the basket on your head...
Kummalam pottu nadanthukira...and walk around making a scene!
Koodaiyai thalyil vachukira chummaYou place the basket on your head...
Kummalam pottu nadanthukira...and walk around making a scene!
Jaadaiyaai paakura thalukkuYou glance slyly with style...
Pannura kulukura.....you shake and sway...
Nalla minukura chumma...you shine bright and play...
Nelikura palla ilikura...you wiggle and grin showing your teeth!
Female
Iyo ammaOh my goodness!
Female
Kandavan pechaiyum kekuraYou listen to whatever anyone says...
Kaalaadithanama nadakura...and act recklessly like a vagrant!
Kandavan pechaiyum kekuraYou listen to whatever anyone says...
Kaalaadithanama nadakura...and act recklessly like a vagrant!
Kandapadiellam easuraYou scold me as you please...
Adikura..Palla kadikura...you hit me, you grind your teeth!
Enna otahaikura pottu mithikkuraYou kick me and trample on me!
Female
Kadavul aanai ini unnai naanI swear on God, from now on...
Kandapadi pesamaaten penne...I will not talk to you recklessly, woman!
Kaineeti adikka maaten kanneI won't raise my hand to strike you, my dear!
Female
Punnaagi poche unnal en udambuMy body has become bruised because of you
Porukka mudiyalaiye ammammaI cannot bear it, oh dear!
Vali porukka mudiyalaiye appappaI cannot bear the pain, oh goodness!
Konjam thadaven ..Apply a little balm and rub gently...
KJonjam pudiyen..Hold me a little...
Female
Thoppukaranam venuminna podurenIf you want, I will do sit-ups holding my ears as punishment!
Ne sonna padi elaam inikekkurenI will listen to everything you say from now on!
Manuchikka vendumadi pondaati ennaiForgive me, my wife!
Vaatti vadhachi kollathadi kannaati……Don't torment and kill me, my darling!
Thoppukaranam venuminna podurenIf you want, I will do sit-ups holding my ears as punishment!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Digambara Samiyar (1950) portrays a lively folk scenario blending street selling calls with a humorous domestic feud between a husband and wife. It begins as a prayer and sales pitch by a young woman selling fish, before transitioning into a fiery argument when she returns home late. Her husband threatens her, but she fiercely stands her ground, calling out his antics and physical aggression. Realizing he cannot overpower her spirit, the husband humorously relents, pleading for mercy, asking her to rub his bruises, and offering to do sit-ups (thoppukaranam) as a humble apology.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaakka vendum kadavule nee / Karunai seiyappa iyyappa

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' across consecutive lines establishing rhythmic momentum.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaala meenu vikka vanthe / Vaalai vayasu ponnne

Matching of the second consonant 'la' across lines creating classic Tamil poetic rhyme.

Colloquial Idiom & Onomatopoeia

Kannapinna ennannuthaan / Enkitta pesaathada kaithey….

Use of everyday spoken phrases like 'Kannapinna' and 'Palla ilikura' to capture realistic street banter and emotional flair.

Did you know?

Trivia

Digambara Samiyar (1950) was a hit film produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Sundaram, based on Vaduvur K. Duraiswamy Iyengar's popular detective novel. It prominently featured M. N. Nambiar in a celebrated lead role where he donned several distinct disguises to solve a mystery.

Keep listening

More from Digambara Samiyar