Kaayaadha Kaanagatthe
From Koondukkili · 1954
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, V. N. Sundaram
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Koondukkili1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum | Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest... |
| Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae….. | Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah... |
| Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum | Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest... |
| Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae…..ae…ae…ae… | Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah... ah... |
| Maeiyaadha maan | A deer that does not graze, |
| Pulli maevaadha maan… | A spotted deer that does not feed... |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa | Ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Maeyaadha maeyaadha maanum | Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer |
| Vara kandadhumundo valli | Coming along, Valli? |
| Maeyaadha maanum vara kandadhumundo | Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer coming? |
| Male | |
| Adhai vida | More than that, |
| Kovalanaar enna sonnaar | What did Lord Kovalan say? |
| Enna sonnaar pennae | What did he say, oh girl? |
| Male | |
| Kulukki nadakkum maadhaviyai | Madhavi who walks with a rhythmic sway, |
| Katta chonnaar | He asked to embrace her! |
| Male | |
| Kannagiyaar enna sonnaar | What did Lady Kannagi say? |
| Enna sonnaar pennae | What did she say, oh girl? |
| Male | |
| Kaal silambai virka chonnaar | She asked to sell her anklet! |
| Virka chonnaar | She asked to sell it! |
| Male | |
| Bathrakaali pol kannagi vandhaal | Kannagi came like the fierce Goddess Bhadrakali, |
| Male | |
| Paaniya raajan thoondi meenaippol | Like a fish caught on a hook, |
| Male | |
| Thoondiya raajan paandi meenaippol | The Pandyan king writhed like a hooked fish, |
| Male | |
| Parathavikkavae pazhiyai vaanginaa | And she exacted her revenge! |
| Male | |
| Kuttravaali yaar | Who is the culprit? |
| Male | |
| Kovalan thaandaa | It is Kovalan! |
| Male | |
| Paandiyan thaandaa | It is the Pandyan king! |
| Male | |
| Kovalan thaan | Only Kovalan! |
| Male | |
| Paandiyan thaan | Only the Pandyan king! |
| Male | |
| Kannagi | Kannagi! |
| Male | |
| Maadhavi | Madhavi! |
| Male | |
| Illae | No! |
| Male | |
| Aamaa avathaan kuthi kizhichaa | Yes, she was the one who tore things open! |
| Male | |
| Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa | Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana? |
| Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa | Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana? |
| Aathirappadal nandro lashmanaa | Is rushing in anger a good thing, Lakshmana? |
| Aathirappadal nandro | Is rushing in anger good? |
| Male | |
| Aagaiyaal inimael avasiyam naanae | Therefore, from now on, necessarily I... |
| Male | |
| Samooga naadagamaa | Is it a social play? |
| Appo | Then... |
| Oraa maadham udaladhu thalarndhu | In the first month, the body weakens, |
| Eeraam maadham idaiyadhu nondhu | In the second month, the waist aches, |
| Moondraam maadha | In the third month... |
| Male | |
| Ada appanae sathyakeerthi | Oh dear friend Sathyakeerthi! |
| Azhuvaadhae kirushnamoorthi | Don't cry, Krishnamoorthi! |
| Male | |
| Appo eppatthaan naadagam | Then when will we stage the play, |
| Nadathuvom raamamoorthi… | Ramamoorthi...? |
| Male | |
| Ee…ee…ee… | Ee... ee... ee... |
| Male | |
| Raamamoorthi… | Ramamoorthi... |
| Male | |
| Appo jintthadhaaram | Then jintthadhaaram, |
| Alakthaa jinakthaa kumarthalappaa | Alakthaa jinakthaa rhythm beat, |
| O …iyaa..o…..iyaa….o…..iyaa | Oh sir... oh sir... oh sir... |
| Nadaiyaa nadaiyazhagi | Oh beauty of walk, beauty of posture! |
| Naadhaangi kaadhazhagi nee | You with beautiful adorned ears, |
| Simitti nadakkaiyilae | When you walk with a graceful sway, |
| Seevan pari pogudhadi bangaaru | Life slips away, my golden one! |
| Male | |
| Aam appadipodu mannaaru | Yes, keep it going like that, Mannaru! |
| Male | |
| Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi | Come forward, my vine-like beauty, |
| Unakku vaangi thaaren | I will buy and give you |
| Thandha seeppu kannaadi | An ivory comb and a mirror! |
| Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi | Come forward, my vine-like beauty, |
| Unakku vaangi thaaren | I will buy and give you |
| Thandha seeppu kannaadi | An ivory comb and a mirror! |
| Bal…bal…bal…bal… | Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! |
| Naakkulae mookkulae | In the tongue and in the nose, |
| Nathu pilaakkulae | In the nose-ring ornament, |
| Nalladhu kettadhu | The good and the bad, |
| Pechu piraakkulae | In idle chatter and gossip, |
| Uttaalakari ghumthala ghummaa | Rhythmic folk syllables... |
| Thaatthaa kidu kidu pottukka thaalam | Grandfather, beat the drum rhythmically! |
| Raffu bal | Rough bravo! |
| Male | |
| Vaelaa vaelaayudham | Oh Vaelaa Vaelaayudham, |
| Unga veettukku varudhu kaayidham | A letter is arriving at your house! |
காயாத கானகத்தே நின்றுலாவும்
நற்காரிகையே......ஏ.......ஏ......
காயாத கானகத்தே நின்றுலாவும்
நற்காரிகையே......ஏ.......ஏ......ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....
மேயாத மான்
புள்ளி மேவாத மான்......
மேயாத மேயாத மானும்
வரக் கண்டதுமுண்டோ வள்ளி
மேயாத மானும் வரக் கண்டதுமுண்டோ
Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest...
Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah...
Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest...
Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah... ah...
A deer that does not graze,
A spotted deer that does not feed...
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer
Coming along, Valli?
Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer coming?
அதை விட
கோவலனார் என்ன சொன்னார்
என்ன சொன்னார் பெண்ணே
More than that,
What did Lord Kovalan say?
What did he say, oh girl?
ஆண் குழு :
என்ன சொன்னார் பெண்ணே
Madhavi who walks with a rhythmic sway,
He asked to embrace her!
குலுக்கி நடக்கும் மாதவியைக்
கட்டச் சொன்னார்
What did Lady Kannagi say?
What did she say, oh girl?
ஆண் குழு :
ராஜா கட்டச் சொன்னார்
She asked to sell her anklet!
She asked to sell it!
கண்ணகியார் என்ன சொன்னார்
என்ன சொன்னார் பெண்ணே
Kannagi came like the fierce Goddess Bhadrakali,
ஆண் குழு :
கண்ணகியார் என்ன சொன்னார்
என்ன சொன்னார் பெண்ணே
Like a fish caught on a hook,
கால் சிலம்பை விற்கச் சொன்னார்
விற்கச் சொன்னார்
The Pandyan king writhed like a hooked fish,
ஆண் குழு :
ராஜா விற்கச் சொன்னார்
And she exacted her revenge!
பத்ரகாளிபோல் கண்ணகி வந்தாள்
Who is the culprit?
பாண்டிய ராஜன் தூண்டி மீனைப்போல்
It is Kovalan!
தூண்டிய ராஜன் பாண்டி மீனைப்போல்
It is the Pandyan king!
பரதவிக்கவே பழியை வாங்கினா
Only Kovalan!
குற்றவாளி யார்
Only the Pandyan king!
கோவலன்தாண்டா
Kannagi!
பாண்டியன்தாண்டா
Madhavi!
கோவலன்தான்
No!
பாண்டியன்தான்
Yes, she was the one who tore things open!
கண்ணகி
Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana?
Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana?
Is rushing in anger a good thing, Lakshmana?
Is rushing in anger good?
மாதவி
Therefore, from now on, necessarily I...
இல்லே
Is it a social play?
Then...
In the first month, the body weakens,
In the second month, the waist aches,
In the third month...
ஆமா அவதான் குத்திக் கிழிச்சா
Oh dear friend Sathyakeerthi!
Don't cry, Krishnamoorthi!
ஆறுதல் சினமே அன்றோ லஷ்மணா
ஆறுதல் சினமே அன்றோ லஷ்மணா
ஆத்திரப்படல் நன்றோ லஷ்மணா
ஆத்திரப்படல் நன்றோ
Then when will we stage the play,
Ramamoorthi...?
ஆகையால் இனிமேல் அவசியம் நானே
நடத்திடுவோமே சமூக நாடகமே
Ee... ee... ee...
சமூக நாடகமா
அப்போ
ஓரா மாதம் உடலது தளர்ந்து
ஈராம் மாதம் இடையது நொந்து
மூன்றா மாதம்
Ramamoorthi...
அட அப்பனே சத்யகீர்த்தி
அழுவாதே கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி
Then jintthadhaaram,
Alakthaa jinakthaa rhythm beat,
Oh sir... oh sir... oh sir...
Oh beauty of walk, beauty of posture!
You with beautiful adorned ears,
When you walk with a graceful sway,
Life slips away, my golden one!
அப்போ எப்பத்தான் நாடகம்
நடத்துவோம் ராமமூர்த்தி...
Yes, keep it going like that, Mannaru!
ஈ...ஈ...ஈ...
Come forward, my vine-like beauty,
I will buy and give you
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Come forward, my vine-like beauty,
I will buy and give you
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
In the tongue and in the nose,
In the nose-ring ornament,
The good and the bad,
In idle chatter and gossip,
Rhythmic folk syllables...
Grandfather, beat the drum rhythmically!
Rough bravo!
ஆண் குழு :
ஈ...ஈ...ஈ...
Oh Vaelaa Vaelaayudham,
A letter is arriving at your house!
ராமமூர்த்தி...
ஆண் குழு :
ராமமூர்த்தி.......
அப்போ ஜிந்த்ததாரம்
அலக்தா ஜினக்தா குமர்தலப்பா
ஓ..........இயா.......ஓ..........இயா.......ஓ..........இயா.......
நடையா நடையழகி
நாதாங்கிக் காதழகி நீ
சிமிட்டி நடக்கையிலே
சீவன் பறி போகுதடி பங்காரு
ஆம் அப்படிபோடு மன்னாரு
வஞ்சிக்கொடியே வாடி முன்னாடி
உனக்கு வாங்கித் தாரேன்
தந்த சீப்புக் கண்ணாடி
வஞ்சிக்கொடியே வாடி முன்னாடி
உனக்கு வாங்கித் தாரேன்
தந்த சீப்புக் கண்ணாடி
பல்...பல்...பல்...பல்...
நாக்குலே மூக்குலே
நத்துப் பிலாக்குலே
நல்லது கெட்டது
பேச்சுப் பிராக்குலே
உட்டாலகரி கும்தலகும்மா
தாத்தா கிடு கிடு போட்டுக்கத் தாளம்
ரஃப்பு பல்
வேலா வேலாயுதம்
உங்க வீட்டுக்கு வருது காயிதம்
Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum
Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest...
Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae…..
Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah...
Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum
Oh good woman walking in the un-withered forest...
Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae…..ae…ae…ae…
Oh virtuous woman... ah... ah... ah...
Maeiyaadha maan
A deer that does not graze,
Pulli maevaadha maan…
A spotted deer that does not feed...
Aa…aa…aa…aa
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Maeyaadha maeyaadha maanum
Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer
Vara kandadhumundo valli
Coming along, Valli?
Maeyaadha maanum vara kandadhumundo
Have you ever seen a non-grazing deer coming?
Adhai vida
More than that,
Kovalanaar enna sonnaar
What did Lord Kovalan say?
Enna sonnaar pennae
What did he say, oh girl?
Kulukki nadakkum maadhaviyai
Madhavi who walks with a rhythmic sway,
Katta chonnaar
He asked to embrace her!
Kannagiyaar enna sonnaar
What did Lady Kannagi say?
Enna sonnaar pennae
What did she say, oh girl?
Kaal silambai virka chonnaar
She asked to sell her anklet!
Virka chonnaar
She asked to sell it!
Bathrakaali pol kannagi vandhaal
Kannagi came like the fierce Goddess Bhadrakali,
Paaniya raajan thoondi meenaippol
Like a fish caught on a hook,
Thoondiya raajan paandi meenaippol
The Pandyan king writhed like a hooked fish,
Parathavikkavae pazhiyai vaanginaa
And she exacted her revenge!
Kuttravaali yaar
Who is the culprit?
Kovalan thaandaa
It is Kovalan!
Paandiyan thaandaa
It is the Pandyan king!
Kovalan thaan
Only Kovalan!
Paandiyan thaan
Only the Pandyan king!
Kannagi
Kannagi!
Maadhavi
Madhavi!
Illae
No!
Aamaa avathaan kuthi kizhichaa
Yes, she was the one who tore things open!
Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa
Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana?
Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa
Isn't anger comforting, Lakshmana?
Aathirappadal nandro lashmanaa
Is rushing in anger a good thing, Lakshmana?
Aathirappadal nandro
Is rushing in anger good?
Aagaiyaal inimael avasiyam naanae
Therefore, from now on, necessarily I...
Samooga naadagamaa
Is it a social play?
Appo
Then...
Oraa maadham udaladhu thalarndhu
In the first month, the body weakens,
Eeraam maadham idaiyadhu nondhu
In the second month, the waist aches,
Moondraam maadha
In the third month...
Ada appanae sathyakeerthi
Oh dear friend Sathyakeerthi!
Azhuvaadhae kirushnamoorthi
Don't cry, Krishnamoorthi!
Appo eppatthaan naadagam
Then when will we stage the play,
Nadathuvom raamamoorthi…
Ramamoorthi...?
Ee…ee…ee…
Ee... ee... ee...
Raamamoorthi…
Ramamoorthi...
Appo jintthadhaaram
Then jintthadhaaram,
Alakthaa jinakthaa kumarthalappaa
Alakthaa jinakthaa rhythm beat,
O …iyaa..o…..iyaa….o…..iyaa
Oh sir... oh sir... oh sir...
Nadaiyaa nadaiyazhagi
Oh beauty of walk, beauty of posture!
Naadhaangi kaadhazhagi nee
You with beautiful adorned ears,
Simitti nadakkaiyilae
When you walk with a graceful sway,
Seevan pari pogudhadi bangaaru
Life slips away, my golden one!
Aam appadipodu mannaaru
Yes, keep it going like that, Mannaru!
Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi
Come forward, my vine-like beauty,
Unakku vaangi thaaren
I will buy and give you
Thandha seeppu kannaadi
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi
Come forward, my vine-like beauty,
Unakku vaangi thaaren
I will buy and give you
Thandha seeppu kannaadi
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Bal…bal…bal…bal…
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Naakkulae mookkulae
In the tongue and in the nose,
Nathu pilaakkulae
In the nose-ring ornament,
Nalladhu kettadhu
The good and the bad,
Pechu piraakkulae
In idle chatter and gossip,
Uttaalakari ghumthala ghummaa
Rhythmic folk syllables...
Thaatthaa kidu kidu pottukka thaalam
Grandfather, beat the drum rhythmically!
Raffu bal
Rough bravo!
Vaelaa vaelaayudham
Oh Vaelaa Vaelaayudham,
Unga veettukku varudhu kaayidham
A letter is arriving at your house!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a multi-part theatrical folk medley from the historic 1954 Tamil movie Koondukkili. Written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, the song weaves through ancient literary themes, mythological references, and street-theater (Therukoothu) tropes. It opens with references to Lord Murugan and Valli in the forest, transitions into the classic Silappatikaram epic drama highlighting Kovalan, Kannagi, and Madhavi, touches upon Ramayana dialogues involving Lakshmana, and comical meta-commentary about stage actors delaying their drama play. The second half shifts into a high-energy folk performance complete with rhythmic beats, street banter, playful flirting, and traditional oral storytelling style. The song showcases the rich tradition of Tamil folk drama, blending classical lore with everyday street comedy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Bathrakaali pol kannagi vandhaal / Paaniya raajan thoondi meenaippol”
Compares Kannagi's fierce anger to Goddess Bhadrakali, and the Pandyan king's plight to a fish caught on a hook.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oraa maadham udaladhu thalarndhu / Eeraam maadham idaiyadhu nondhu / Moondraam maadha”
The second letters 'raa', 'raa', and 'ndraa' create rhythmic harmony across sequential lines describing months.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi”
Refers to the maiden as 'Vanji kodi' (a delicate climbing vine/creeper), symbolizing grace and beauty.
Sondha Sol / Santham (Rhythmic Onomatopoeia)
“Alakthaa jinakthaa kumarthalappaa / Uttaalakari ghumthala ghummaa”
Use of folk percussion syllables (Alakthaa jinakthaa, ghumthala ghummaa) to set the theatrical beat.
Did you know?
Trivia
Koondukkili (1954) holds a iconic place in Tamil cinema history as the only film in which the two legendary titans of Tamil cinema, M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Sivaji Ganesan, starred together on screen.
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