Kai Veesamma Indha Ulagatha
From Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu · 1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu | Look at this world and swing your hands |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu | Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too |
| Penn deivam thannai thaanae thaazhthi | Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself |
| Mannil veezhvadhoo | And fall to the ground? |
| Un jenmam oru adimai pola innum vaazhvadho | Should your life continue to be lived like a slave? |
| Male | |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu | Look at this world and swing your hands |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu | Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too |
| Male | |
| Azhaga paathu aasai kondu | Seeing beauty and feeling desire |
| Arugil vandhu pesuvaan | He will come close and talk |
| Ponnu maniyum nee thaan endru | Saying you are precious gold and gem |
| Poiyai alli veesuvaan | He will shower you with lies |
| Male | |
| Maalai poda vendinaal | When requested to marry |
| Kaadha thooram ooduvaan | He will run miles away |
| Thaayar thandhai meedhilae | Upon his mother and father |
| Pazhiyai thookki poduvaan | He will dump the blame |
| Male | |
| Amman pondra pennai kooda | Even a woman who is like a goddess |
| Azhagillennu kooruvaan | He will claim lacks beauty |
| Aayirangal alli thandhaal | If handed over thousands in dowry |
| Adharkku maalai poduvaan | For that, he will place the garland |
| Male | |
| Amman pondra pennai kooda | Even a woman who is like a goddess |
| Azhagillennu kooruvaan | He will claim lacks beauty |
| Aayirangal alli thandhaal | If handed over thousands in dowry |
| Adharkku maalai poduvaan | For that, he will place the garland |
| Male | |
| Panangaasai koduthu vaangum vaazhkai | A life bought through greed for money |
| Vyaabaaram thaan podi poo | Is merely a commercial trade, go away! |
| Male | |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu | Look at this world and swing your hands |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu | Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too |
| Male | |
| Vandhu vandhu paarthu pona | So many grooms who came, saw, and left |
| Mappilaigal ethanaiyoo | How many of them were there? |
| Nondhu nondhu maaindhu pona | How many young maidens were there |
| Kanni pengal ethanaiyoo | Who grieved and perished? |
| Male | |
| Maalai konda podhilum | Even after getting married |
| Vaadum pengal kodi thaan | Crores of women still wither away |
| Mamiyin kodumai thaangaamal | Unable to bear the mother-in-law's cruelty |
| Thaayin veettai thaedi thaan | Seeking their mother's home |
| Male | |
| Odi pona pengal ingu | The women who ran away here |
| Ondru alla aayiram | Are not just one, but thousands |
| Pugundha veetil vazhi illamal | Finding no way out in their in-laws' home |
| Theeyil vendha thaayiram | Thousands perished in fire |
| Male | |
| Odi pona pengal ingu | The women who ran away here |
| Ondru alla aayiram | Are not just one, but thousands |
| Pugundha veetil vazhi illamal | Finding no way out in their in-laws' home |
| Theeyil vendha thaayiram | Thousands perished in fire |
| Male | |
| Ada panathaal serndhu panathaal piriyum | Oh, united by money and separated by money |
| Sandhai thaan indha ulagam thaan | This world is merely a marketplace |
| Male | |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu | Look at this world and swing your hands |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu | Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too |
| Male | |
| Pen deivam thannai thaanae thaazhthi | Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself |
| Mannil veezhvadhoo | And fall to the ground? |
| Un jenmam oru adimai pola innum vaazhvadho | Should your life continue to be lived like a slave? |
| Male | |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu | Look at this world and swing your hands |
| Kai veesamma | Swing your hands, girl |
| Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu | Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too |
கை வீசம்மா......
இந்த உலகத்தப் பாத்து கை வீசு
கை வீசம்மா.....
மூடப் பழக்கத நீயும் கை வீசு
Swing your hands, girl
Look at this world and swing your hands
Swing your hands, girl
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself
And fall to the ground?
Should your life continue to be lived like a slave?
பெண் தெய்வம் தன்னை தானே தாழ்த்தி
மண்ணில் வீழ்வதா
உன் ஜென்மம் ஒரு அடிமை போல
இன்னும் வாழ்வதா
Swing your hands, girl
Look at this world and swing your hands
Swing your hands, girl
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
கை வீசம்மா......
இந்த உலகத்தப் பாத்து கை வீசு
கை வீசம்மா.....
மூடப் பழக்கத நீயும் கை வீசு
Seeing beauty and feeling desire
He will come close and talk
Saying you are precious gold and gem
He will shower you with lies
அழகப் பாத்து ஆசைக் கொண்டு
அருகில் வந்து பேசுவான்
பொன்னு மணியும் நீதானென்று
பொய்யை அள்ளி வீசுவான்
When requested to marry
He will run miles away
Upon his mother and father
He will dump the blame
மாலை போட வேண்டினால்
காத தூரம் ஓடுவான்
தாயார் தந்தை மீதிலே
பழியை தூக்கி போடுவான்
Even a woman who is like a goddess
He will claim lacks beauty
If handed over thousands in dowry
For that, he will place the garland
அம்மன் போன்ற பெண்ணைக் கூட
அழகில்லேன்னு கூறுவான்
ஆயிரங்கள் அள்ளித் தந்தால்
அதற்கு மாலை போடுவான்
Even a woman who is like a goddess
He will claim lacks beauty
If handed over thousands in dowry
For that, he will place the garland
அம்மன் போன்ற பெண்ணைக் கூட
அழகில்லேன்னு கூறுவான்
ஆயிரங்கள் அள்ளித் தந்தால்
அதற்கு மாலை போடுவான்
A life bought through greed for money
Is merely a commercial trade, go away!
பணங்காசை கொடுத்து வாங்கும் வாழ்க்கை
வியாபாரம்தான் போடி போ....
Swing your hands, girl
Look at this world and swing your hands
Swing your hands, girl
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
கை வீசம்மா......
இந்த உலகத்தப் பாத்து கை வீசு
கை வீசம்மா.....
மூடப் பழக்கத நீயும் கை வீசு...
So many grooms who came, saw, and left
How many of them were there?
How many young maidens were there
Who grieved and perished?
வந்து வந்து பார்த்து போன
மாப்பிள்ளைகள் எத்தனையோ
நொந்து நொந்து மாய்ந்து போன
கன்னிப் பெண்கள் எத்தனையோ
Even after getting married
Crores of women still wither away
Unable to bear the mother-in-law's cruelty
Seeking their mother's home
மாலை கொண்ட போதிலும்
வாடும் பெண்கள் கோடிதான்
மாமியின் கொடுமை தாங்காமல்
தாயின் வீட்டை தேடித்தான்
The women who ran away here
Are not just one, but thousands
Finding no way out in their in-laws' home
Thousands perished in fire
ஓடிப் போன பெண்கள் இங்கு
ஒன்று அல்ல ஆயிரம்
புகுந்த வீட்டில் வழியில்லாமல்
தீயில் வெந்ததாயிரம்....
The women who ran away here
Are not just one, but thousands
Finding no way out in their in-laws' home
Thousands perished in fire
ஓடிப் போன பெண்கள் இங்கு
ஒன்று அல்ல ஆயிரம்
புகுந்த வீட்டில் வழியில்லாமல்
தீயில் வெந்ததாயிரம்....
Oh, united by money and separated by money
This world is merely a marketplace
அட பணத்தால் சேர்ந்து பணத்தால் பிரியும்
சந்தைதான் இந்த உலகம்தான்
Swing your hands, girl
Look at this world and swing your hands
Swing your hands, girl
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
கை வீசம்மா......
இந்த உலகத்தப் பாத்து கை வீசு
கை வீசம்மா.....
மூடப் பழக்கத நீயும் கை வீசு
Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself
And fall to the ground?
Should your life continue to be lived like a slave?
பெண் தெய்வம் தன்னை தானே தாழ்த்தி
மண்ணில் வீழ்வதா
உன் ஜென்மம் ஒரு அடிமை போல
இன்னும் வாழ்வதா
Swing your hands, girl
Look at this world and swing your hands
Swing your hands, girl
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
கை வீசம்மா......
இந்த உலகத்தப் பாத்து கை வீசு
கை வீசம்மா.....
மூடப் பழக்கத நீயும் கை வீசு
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu
Look at this world and swing your hands
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Penn deivam thannai thaanae thaazhthi
Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself
Mannil veezhvadhoo
And fall to the ground?
Un jenmam oru adimai pola innum vaazhvadho
Should your life continue to be lived like a slave?
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu
Look at this world and swing your hands
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Azhaga paathu aasai kondu
Seeing beauty and feeling desire
Arugil vandhu pesuvaan
He will come close and talk
Ponnu maniyum nee thaan endru
Saying you are precious gold and gem
Poiyai alli veesuvaan
He will shower you with lies
Maalai poda vendinaal
When requested to marry
Kaadha thooram ooduvaan
He will run miles away
Thaayar thandhai meedhilae
Upon his mother and father
Pazhiyai thookki poduvaan
He will dump the blame
Amman pondra pennai kooda
Even a woman who is like a goddess
Azhagillennu kooruvaan
He will claim lacks beauty
Aayirangal alli thandhaal
If handed over thousands in dowry
Adharkku maalai poduvaan
For that, he will place the garland
Amman pondra pennai kooda
Even a woman who is like a goddess
Azhagillennu kooruvaan
He will claim lacks beauty
Aayirangal alli thandhaal
If handed over thousands in dowry
Adharkku maalai poduvaan
For that, he will place the garland
Panangaasai koduthu vaangum vaazhkai
A life bought through greed for money
Vyaabaaram thaan podi poo
Is merely a commercial trade, go away!
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu
Look at this world and swing your hands
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Vandhu vandhu paarthu pona
So many grooms who came, saw, and left
Mappilaigal ethanaiyoo
How many of them were there?
Nondhu nondhu maaindhu pona
How many young maidens were there
Kanni pengal ethanaiyoo
Who grieved and perished?
Maalai konda podhilum
Even after getting married
Vaadum pengal kodi thaan
Crores of women still wither away
Mamiyin kodumai thaangaamal
Unable to bear the mother-in-law's cruelty
Thaayin veettai thaedi thaan
Seeking their mother's home
Odi pona pengal ingu
The women who ran away here
Ondru alla aayiram
Are not just one, but thousands
Pugundha veetil vazhi illamal
Finding no way out in their in-laws' home
Theeyil vendha thaayiram
Thousands perished in fire
Odi pona pengal ingu
The women who ran away here
Ondru alla aayiram
Are not just one, but thousands
Pugundha veetil vazhi illamal
Finding no way out in their in-laws' home
Theeyil vendha thaayiram
Thousands perished in fire
Ada panathaal serndhu panathaal piriyum
Oh, united by money and separated by money
Sandhai thaan indha ulagam thaan
This world is merely a marketplace
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu
Look at this world and swing your hands
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Pen deivam thannai thaanae thaazhthi
Should a woman, who is a goddess, lower herself
Mannil veezhvadhoo
And fall to the ground?
Un jenmam oru adimai pola innum vaazhvadho
Should your life continue to be lived like a slave?
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Indha ulagatha paarthu kai veesu
Look at this world and swing your hands
Kai veesamma
Swing your hands, girl
Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu
Wave goodbye to superstitious customs too
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a social reform anthem that urges women to rise against patriarchal oppression, dowry demands, and outdated traditions. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly takes 'Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu', a popular traditional Tamil nursery rhyme typically taught to toddlers, and turns it into a powerful rally cry for women's empowerment and liberation. The lyrics scathingly critique how society treats marriage as a transactional business, where young women are judged superficially and subjected to dowry harassment, abusive in-laws, and even bride burning. By addressing the woman as a divine force ('Penn deivam'), the song urges her to stop living like a slave, break free from blind customs, and face the world with self-respect and courage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Subversion / Parody of Traditional Rhyme
“Mooda pazhakkatha neeyum kai veesu”
The song adapts the structural framing of the traditional Tamil lullaby/nursery rhyme 'Kai veesamma kai veesu' (which teaches children basic hand gestures) to deliver a modern social critique against dowry and patriarchy.
Simile (Upamai)
“Un jenmam oru adimai pola innum vaazhvadho”
Compares a woman's subjugated state to that of a slave to highlight systemic oppression.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Sandhai thaan indha ulagam thaan”
Metaphorically compares the world and its transactional human relationships to a commercial market driven by money.
Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Vandhu vandhu paarthu pona”
Doubling of words to emphasize repeated rejection and intense suffering.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Vaali was well known for creatively adapting traditional nursery rhymes and folk motifs into sharp social commentary songs in Tamil cinema. By twisting a song meant for young girls into an anti-dowry movement anthem, he highlighted how social conditioning begins early in life.
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