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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalakodi

From Karotiyin Kadhali · 2022

Lyricist
Siva R
Singer
Thanjai Selvi
Music director
N. R. Raghunanthan
Details
Karotiyin Kadhali2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aararo aararo aarirarooLullaby refrain: Aararo aararo aariraroo
Rariraro rarirararooLullaby refrain: Rariraro rarirararoo
Female
Kallakodi velanju irukkuThe groundnut crop has fully matured
Parichu edukka aalu vallaBut no workers have come to harvest it
Ennangadi thangamWhat is this, my dear gold?
Idhu enga veetu sorgamThis is the heaven of our home
Idhu enga veetu sorgamThis is the heaven of our home
Female
Serukki maga sollivittaThe arrogant daughter has demanded
Kaal kolusu venumunnuThat she needs an anklet
Thangathula kaal kolusuAn anklet made of gold
Venumunnu venumunnuDemanding it, insisting on it
Venumunnu venumunnuDemanding it, insisting on it
Female
Velanju kadalaiellaamIf all the harvested groundnuts
Mannukulla makki ponaRot away under the soil
Female
Velanju kadalaiellaamIf all the harvested groundnuts
Mannukulla makki ponaRot away under the soil
Enga poyi naan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Enga poyi thaan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Enga poyi thaan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Female
Sevalai pasumaaduThe reddish-brown cow
Kannupottu kaathirukkuHas given birth to a calf and is waiting
Punnakku venumunnuAsking for oilcake feed
Kaathirukku kaathirukkuWaiting and waiting
Sevalai maadu kaathirukkuThe reddish cow is waiting
Female
Velanju kadalaiellaamIf all the harvested groundnuts
Mannukulla makki ponaRot away under the soil
Enga poyi naan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Enga poyi thaan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Enga poyi thaan nippenWhere will I go and stand?
Female
Ennangadi thangamWhat is this, my dear gold?
Idhu enga veetu sorgamThis is the heaven of our home
Enga veetu sorgamThe heaven of our home
Enga veetu sorgamThe heaven of our home
Female
Aararo aararo aarirarooLullaby refrain: Aararo aararo aariraroo
Rariraro rarirararooLullaby refrain: Rariraro rarirararoo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant folk song blends a traditional lullaby motif with the harsh economic realities faced by rural agricultural families. It contrasts the soothing framing of a mother singing to a child with deep distress over unharvested crops, financial demands from family members, and the responsibility of caring for newborn cattle.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Venumunnu venumunnu

Words like 'venumunnu venumunnu' and 'kaathirukku kaathirukku' are repeated to heighten the feeling of insistence, urgency, and desperation.

Irony / Structural Contrast

Aararo aararo aariraroo

The song uses the comforting framework of 'Aararo' (a traditional lullaby) to express anxious distress about rotting crops and financial ruin.

Folk Imagery (Nattupura Porul)

Kallakodi velanju irukku

Authentic rural terminology such as 'Kallakodi' (groundnut crop), 'Sevalai' (reddish cow), and 'Punnakku' (oilcake feed) grounds the song in agrarian life.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thanjai Selvi is a well-known Tamil folk singer celebrated for bringing authentic village vocal techniques and rural emotive quality to film soundtracks.

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