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Lyrics & meaning

Kadellam Pichipoovu

From Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo · 1981

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaadellaam pichippoovuJasmine flowers fill the entire forest,
Karaiyellaam shenbagappooShenbagam flowers line all the riverbanks,
Naadae manakkuthillaThe entire land is fragrant,
Antha nalla magan pora paadhaiAlong the path where that good son walks.
Male
Kaadellaam pichippoovu….Jasmine flowers fill the entire forest...
Chorus
…………..
Male
Saainthaadum nerkadhire sadhiradum vazhaigalaeO swaying stalks of paddy, O dancing plantain trees,
Saainthaadum nerkadhire sadhiradum vazhaigalaeO swaying stalks of paddy, O dancing plantain trees,
Thaenaattam vellam oda oduthadi en manasuAs the stream flows like honey, my heart rushes along with it,
Thaenaattam vellam oda oduthadi en manasuAs the stream flows like honey, my heart rushes along with it,
Male
Senthaazham poovil ulla vaasam kollai pogaAs the fragrance of the red screwpine flower steals the senses,
Yaedhetho mogam theeraatha thaagamAn indefinable desire arises, an unquenchable thirst,
Yaedhetho mogam theeraatha thaagamAn indefinable desire arises, an unquenchable thirst.
Male
Kaadellaam pichippoovuJasmine flowers fill the entire forest,
Karaiyellaam shenbagappoo…Shenbagam flowers line all the riverbanks...
Male
YaeloyaeleloloYaeloyaelelolo
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :KarisakkaaduIn the dry black-soil land,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :PalamaagaththaanDeep in the well,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :Yaeththam kattiTying the water-lift picottah,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :YaeloyaeleloloYaeloyaelelolo
Male
Aththai mavanMy cousin (aunt's son),
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :Iraikkum thanniThe water he draws and pours,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :AththanaiyumEvery drop of it,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :SakkaraithaanIs sweet as sugar,
Male :Yaelo…Yaelo...
Male :Sakkaraithaan….yaelaeloIs sweet as sugar... yaelaelo,
Male
Vayalellaam aruvadaiyaam kattazhagu ponnugalaamIt is harvest across the fields, filled with beautiful women,
Vayalellaam aruvadaiyaam kattazhagu ponnugalaamIt is harvest across the fields, filled with beautiful women,
Paarththa kiranguthilla sevvarali thoranamaamLooking at them makes one dazed, like garlands of red oleander,
Paarththa kiranguthilla sevvarali thoranamaamLooking at them makes one dazed, like garlands of red oleander,
Male
Kondaadum thendral vanthuWhen the joyous breeze comes
Thottu sellumpothuAnd touches softly as it passes,
Thaalaatha mogam yaaraale theerumWho can cure this unbearable longing?
Thaalaatha mogam yaaraale theerumWho can cure this unbearable longing?
Male
Kaadellaam pichippoovuJasmine flowers fill the entire forest,
Karaiyellaam shenbagappooShenbagam flowers line all the riverbanks,
Naadae manakkuthillaThe entire land is fragrant,
Antha nalla magan pora paadhaiAlong the path where that good son walks,
Male
Kaadellaam pichippoovu….Jasmine flowers fill the entire forest...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-infused romantic track from 'Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo' vividly captures rural Tamil Nadu's idyllic landscape and pastoral beauty. The song praises a good-hearted man whose presence makes the entire village bloom with rich fragrances like jasmine and shenbagam. Through nature imagery—swaying paddy fields, flowing streams, and breezes carrying floral scents—the lyrics convey intense longing, romantic desire, and deep affection within a traditional agricultural setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Thaenaattam vellam oda oduthadi en manasu

Compares the flowing stream to honey ('Thaenaattam vellam oda'), emphasizing sweetness and smoothness.

Metaphor / Imagery (Uruvagam)

Aththanaiyum... Sakkaraithaan

Compares the water drawn by the loved one to sugar ('Sakkaraithaan'), highlighting how love sweetens even basic work.

Personification

Saainthaadum nerkadhire sadhiradum vazhaigalae

Attributes human dancing and celebrating actions to plantain trees ('sadhiradum vazhaigalae') and the breeze ('kondaadum thendral').

Monnai (Alliteration)

Kaadellaam pichippoovu / Karaiyellaam shenbagappoo

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., Kaadellaam / Karaiyellaam).

Did you know?

Trivia

Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo (1981) was directed by G. N. Rangarajan based on Sujatha's popular novel of the same name. Ilaiyaraaja not only composed the music but also rendered vocal parts in this song, using traditional Tamil folk 'Ettappattu' / 'Yaethappattu' (work songs sung during agricultural labor) rhythms.

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