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Enkitta Mothathe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu

From Enkitta Mothathe · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Enkitta Mothathe
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
22 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kai veesammaa kai veesu
Kadaikku polaam kai veesu
Mittaai vaangalaam kai veesu
Medhuvaai thingalaam kai veesu
Kai veesammaa kai veesu
Sandhaikku polaam kai veesu
Sokkaa vaangalaam kai veesu
Joraa podalaam kai veesu
En mannavarum nadandhu vandhaa
Mani udhirum thannaalae
En chinnavaru sirichu puttaa
Thaen sidharum munnaale
Thangamae thangam
Thenmadhura singamae singam
Thangamae thangam
Thenmadhura singamae singam
En kutti mavan kudhichu vandhaa
Pon vilaiyum mann melae
En sutti mavan virala asanjaa
Ulagam varum pinnaalae
Thangamae thangam
Thenmadhura singamae singam
Thangamae thangam
Thenmadhura singamae singam
Swing your hands, little one, swing your hands
Let's go to the shop, swing your hands
We'll buy some sweets, swing your hands
We'll eat them slowly, swing your hands
Swing your hands, little one, swing your hands
Let's go to the market, swing your hands
We'll buy a new shirt, swing your hands
We'll wear it in style, swing your hands
When my king walks along,
Pearls scatter all on their own.
When my dear young man smiles,
Honey overflows before him.
Pure gold, my precious gold,
A true lion of South Madurai!
Pure gold, my precious gold,
A true lion of South Madurai!
When my little boy comes bounding along,
Gold will sprout from the earth.
When my naughty little boy wiggles his finger,
The world will follow behind him.
Pure gold, my precious gold,
A true lion of South Madurai!
Pure gold, my precious gold,
A true lion of South Madurai!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song creatively adapts the classic Tamil nursery rhyme 'Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu' into a affectionate musical tribute celebrating a beloved child or dear family member. The lyricist Vaali weaves traditional folklore and simple rhythmic phrases with grand poetic imagery to convey deep love and pride.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Folk Repetition / Anaphora

Kai veesammaa kai veesu

The line ending 'kai veesu' repeats consistently across the first stanza, mirroring classic Tamil children's play songs.

Hyperbole (Atisayokti)

En kutti mavan kudhichu vandhaa / Pon vilaiyum mann melae

Exaggerating the child's presence by asserting that gold will grow on the land simply because he jumps.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Thangamae thangam / Thenmadhura singamae singam

Comparing the beloved directly to pure gold and a grand lion of Madurai to denote value and bravery.

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Thangamae thangam / Thenmadhura singamae singam

Matching starting sounds in consecutive lines for poetic rhythm ('Thangamae' and 'Thenmadhura').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song adapts the traditional Tamil nursery rhyme 'Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu' into a feature film track from the 1990 movie 'Enkitta Mothathe', composed by Ilaiyaraaja and starring Sathyaraj and Prabhu.

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