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Koondukkili album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaayaadha Kaanagatthe

From Koondukkili · 1954

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, V. N. Sundaram
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Koondukkili
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
10 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum
Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae…..
Kaayaadha kaanagathae nindrulaavum
Narkaarigaiyae…ae…..ae…..ae…ae…ae…
Maeiyaadha maan
Pulli maevaadha maan…
Aa…aa…aa…aa
Maeyaadha maeyaadha maanum
Vara kandadhumundo valli
Maeyaadha maanum vara kandadhumundo
Adhai vida
Kovalanaar enna sonnaar
Enna sonnaar pennae
Kulukki nadakkum maadhaviyai
Katta chonnaar
Kannagiyaar enna sonnaar
Enna sonnaar pennae
Kaal silambai virka chonnaar
Virka chonnaar
Bathrakaali pol kannagi vandhaal
Paaniya raajan thoondi meenaippol
Thoondiya raajan paandi meenaippol
Parathavikkavae pazhiyai vaanginaa
Kuttravaali yaar
Kovalan thaandaa
Paandiyan thaandaa
Kovalan thaan
Paandiyan thaan
Kannagi
Maadhavi
Illae
Aamaa avathaan kuthi kizhichaa
Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa
Aarudhal sinamae andro lashmanaa
Aathirappadal nandro lashmanaa
Aathirappadal nandro
Aagaiyaal inimael avasiyam naanae
Samooga naadagamaa
Appo
Oraa maadham udaladhu thalarndhu
Eeraam maadham idaiyadhu nondhu
Moondraam maadha
Ada appanae sathyakeerthi
Azhuvaadhae kirushnamoorthi
Appo eppatthaan naadagam
Nadathuvom raamamoorthi…
Ee…ee…ee…
Raamamoorthi…
Appo jintthadhaaram
Alakthaa jinakthaa kumarthalappaa
O …iyaa..o…..iyaa….o…..iyaa
Nadaiyaa nadaiyazhagi
Naadhaangi kaadhazhagi nee
Simitti nadakkaiyilae
Seevan pari pogudhadi bangaaru
Aam appadipodu mannaaru
Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi
Unakku vaangi thaaren
Thandha seeppu kannaadi
Vanji kodiyae vaadi munnaadi
Unakku vaangi thaaren
Thandha seeppu kannaadi
Bal…bal…bal…bal…
Naakkulae mookkulae
Nathu pilaakkulae
Nalladhu kettadhu
Pechu piraakkulae
Uttaalakari ghumthala ghummaa
Thaatthaa kidu kidu pottukka thaalam
Raffu bal
Vaelaa vaelaayudham
Unga veettukku varudhu kaayidham
Wandering through the evergreen forest,
O graceful maiden...
Wandering through the evergreen forest,
O graceful maiden...
A deer that does not graze,
A spotless deer...
Aa... aa... aa... aa
Have you ever seen an ungrazing deer
Come this way, Valli?
Have you ever seen a deer that doesn't graze come by?
Leave that aside!
What did Kovalan say?
What did he say, my girl?
To Madhavi who walks swaying with charm,
He said to hold her close!
What did Kannagi say?
What did she say, my girl?
She told him to sell her anklet!
She told him to sell it!
Kannagi arrived furious like goddess Kali!
The Pandyan king, like a hooked fish,
Caught and struggling like a fish on a hook,
She took her revenge while he writhed in agony!
Who is the culprit?
It is Kovalan, man!
It is the Pandyan king, man!
It is Kovalan!
It is the Pandyan king!
Kannagi!
Madhavi!
No!
Yes, she is the one who tore everything apart!
Anger should be calmed, shouldn't it, Lakshmana?
Anger should be calmed, shouldn't it, Lakshmana?
Is it right to get furious, Lakshmana?
Is it right to get furious?
Therefore, from now on, I must definitely...
A social drama?
Then...
In the first month, the body weakens,
In the second month, the waist aches,
In the third month...
Oh dear friend Sathyakeerthi!
Do not cry, Krishnamoorthy!
Then when on earth will we
Stage our play, Ramamoorthy?
Ee... ee... ee...
Ramamoorthy...
Then, jinthathaaram!
Alatha jinatha kumarthalappa!
Oh... eya... oh... eya... oh... eya!
What a walk, you graceful beauty!
You beauty with ornate earrings,
When you wink and sway as you walk,
My life slips away, Bangaru!
Yes, keep that beat, Mannaru!
Come forward, my slender vine of a girl!
I will buy and give you
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Come forward, my slender vine of a girl!
I will buy and give you
An ivory comb and a mirror!
Pal... pal... pal... pal...
On the tongue, on the nose,
With the nose-stud and nose-ring,
The good and the bad,
Lost in the distraction of chatter...
Uttalagari kumthala kumma!
Grandpa, tap out the lively rhythm!
Rough ball!
Vela, Velayudham!
A letter is coming to your house!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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