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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhoram Kanagambaram

From Pudhu Padagan · 1990

Lyricist
Kalaipuli S. Thanu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sunantha
Music director
Kalaipuli S. Thanu
Details
Pudhu Padagan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Jigu jigu jigunchaJigu jigu jiguncha (Rhythmic folk beat)
Jingidu jingiduchaaJingidu jingiduchaa (Rhythmic folk beat)
Kaathoram kanagambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Theruvoram kaadhal varumLove comes along the street
Kaathoram kanagambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Theruvoram kaadhal varumLove comes along the street
Male
Maamanukku nee thaaramYou are the bride for your maternal uncle
Manasukullae reengaaramA buzz in the heart
Oorkolam poguthu oonjal aadudhuA procession goes on, a swing is swaying
Kaathoram kanagambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Theruvoram kaadhal varumLove comes along the street
Podu kaathoram kanagambaramPlay it, firecracker flower by the ear
Theruvoram kaadhal varumLove comes along the street
Male
…………………………....
Chorus
……………………....
Male
Aththa ponnae kitta vaadiCousin girl, come near me
Female :Hmm mmFemale: Hmmm mm
Male :Aasaiyodu vanthirukkum maamanthadiMale: Your uncle has come with desire
Female :Hoo oooFemale: Hoo ooo
Male :Aththa ponnae kitta vaadinnaaMale: Cousin girl, I said come near
Aasaiyodu vanthirukkum maamanthadiYour uncle has come with desire
Male
Kannaana kannatiyaeMy precious mirror-like girl
Vaadi en pondaattiyaeCome, my wife
Female :YaeiFemale: Hey!
Male :Kannaana kannatiyaeMale: My precious mirror-like girl
Vaadi en pondaattiyaeCome, my wife
Kattaaga unnai kattiHolding you tightly,
Kondu pogum madhura kaalaiThe Madurai bull taking you away
Male
Kaathoram kanagambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Female :HaanFemale: Yeah
Male :Theruvoram kaadhal varumMale: Love comes along the street
Maamanukku nee thaaramYou are the bride for your maternal uncle
Manasukullae reengaaramA buzz in the heart
Oorkolam poguthu oonjal aadudhuA procession goes on, a swing is swaying
Male
Kaathoram kanagambaramKaathoram kanagambaram
Female :AhaanFemale: Aha
Male :Theruvoram kaadhal varumMale: Love comes along the street
Male
…………………….....
Male
YepppaaaYopppaaa!
Unnai paartha pinnaalaeAfter seeing you
Female :AppuramFemale: And then?
Male :Ulagam suthudhu thannalaeMale: The world turns on its own
Female :Haan suthumFemale: Yeah, it turns
Male :Unnai paartha pinnaalaeMale: After seeing you
Ulagam suthudhu thannalaeThe world turns on its own
Male
Kallunda bodhai polae hukLike an intoxication from toddy, huk!
Thalladi undhan melaStaggering onto you
Kallunda bodhai polaeLike an intoxication from toddy
Thalladi undhan melaStaggering onto you
Patt aattam undhan maeniYour body sways like silk
Thottu kittaa dhosam illaeNo harm in touching it
Male
KaathoramBy the ear
Female :AhaanFemale: Aha
Male :KanagambaramMale: Firecracker flower
Female :AhaanFemale: Aha
Male :TheruvoramMale: Along the street
Female :AhaanFemale: Aha
Male :Kaadhal varumMale: Love will come
Female :AhaanFemale: Aha
Male
Maamanukku nee thaaramYou are the bride for your maternal uncle
Manasukullae reengaaramA buzz in the heart
Oorkolam poguthu oonjal aadudhuA procession goes on, a swing is swaying
Male
KaathoramBy the ear
Female :HahahahaFemale: Hahaha
Male :KanagambaramMale: Firecracker flower
Female :HaanFemale: Yeah
Male :Theruvoram kaadhal varumMale: Love comes along the street
Male
…………………….....
Female
HaanYeah!
Male
Ahaa ohoo aiyoo ammmaAhaa ohoo aiyoo ammma
Chorus
………………………...
Male
……………………....
Male
Yaetham irachu paarkaiyilaeWhen pulling water with a water-lift
Female :HahaanFemale: Hahaan
Male :Nilathula thaneer paanjudumaeMale: Water flows into the field
Female :AiyooFemale: Oh my!
Male
Yaetham irachu paarkaiyilaeWhen pulling water with a water-lift
Nilathula thaneer paanjudumaeWater flows into the field
Kadhirum vilanjidum pudhirum purinjidumCrops will yield and the puzzle will be solved
Kadhirum vilanjidum pudhirum purinjidumCrops will yield and the puzzle will be solved
Nallathoru badhilai solluGive me a good answer
Illavittaa kinathula thalluOtherwise push me into the well
Female :…………………….Female: ...
Male
Thallitiyaedi yapappa aa a aa aaYou pushed me! Oh dear, aa a aa aa!
Female
Kaathoram kanagaambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Kinathukkulla kaadhal varumLove comes inside the well
Kaathoram kanagaambaramFirecracker flower by the ear
Kinathukkulla kaadhal varumLove comes inside the well
Female
Maamanukku tharamillaNo status for the maternal uncle
Machaan kittae mogam illaNo infatuation towards the guy
Achchaaramaa tharavenuGiving an advance token
Avathi padu aalaviduSuffer now, leave me alone!
Durrrrr hoo hooiDurrrrr hoo hooi
Male
Indha pudi indha pudiCatch this, catch this!
Mela vandhennna paaruLook at me coming up
Vandhu pudichenna paaruLook at me catching you
Udhai vaanga poreenga aamaYou are going to get kicked, yes!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil folk-pop song 'Kaathoram Kanagambaram' from the 1990 movie Pudhu Padagan features a lighthearted banter between a man and his cousin (aththa ponnu). The male singer expresses his romantic affection, comparing his beloved's beauty to bright Kanagambaram flowers and describing his playful desire to marry her. He teasingly speaks of intoxication from her beauty and draws agricultural metaphors about watering fields and harvesting crops to symbolize romantic fulfillment. As the song progresses, the female counterpart playfully rebuffs his over-enthusiastic advances, pushing him into a well in jest. The humor continues with playful threats and bantering back-and-forth as the man emerges, culminating in a lively, comedic duet characteristic of classic rural Tamil cinema sequences.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kaathoram kanagambaram / Theruvoram kaadhal varum

The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines creating a Tamil rhyming pattern.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kallunda bodhai polae thalladi undhan mela

Comparing the feeling of falling in love or beholding the heroine to the intoxication induced by toddy (kallunda bodhai).

Agricultural Metaphor

Yaetham irachu paarkaiyilae nilathula thaneer paanjudumae

Using irrigation (yaetham irachu) and crop yielding (kadhirum vilanjidum) as a metaphor for romantic harmony and fruitfulness.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Kannaana kannatiyae / Kattaaga unnai katti

Repetition of initial consonants 'K' sound across words in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pudhu Padagan' (1990) was written, directed, and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu under his V. C. Guhanathan banner, starring Vijayakanth and Radhika. The film featured music composed by S. Thanu himself in his directorial debut.

Keep listening

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