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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kammakkarai Kaaththu

From Album Songs 2023 · 2023

Lyricist
Raja Gurusamy
Singer
Shakthi
Music director
Henry
Details
Album Songs 20232023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yelelo yeleloo yelalaeloYelelo yeleloo yelalaelo (Folk refrain)
Yelelo yeleloo yelalaeloYelelo yeleloo yelalaelo (Folk refrain)
Female
Kammakara kathaeO breeze from the bank of the lake,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Sembha nelnaathaeO sapling of red paddy,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Panju mega kootangalaeO crowds of cotton clouds,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Panjaarathu kozhi kunjaO chick in the coop,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Nenjukulla niranjivaraThe one who fills my heart,
Nesam vaikka purandhavaThe one born to be loved,
Ennathula nuzhainju varaThe one who enters my thoughts,
Enna katti pudichavaraThe one who embraced me,
Kaanama thedudhu thedudhuSearches for him endlessly, unable to find him,
Vaadudhu vaadudhu vayasu malli mottuThe youthful jasmine bud is wilting and withering.
Female
Kammakara kathaeO breeze from the bank of the lake,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Sembha nelnaathaeO sapling of red paddy,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Panju mega kootangalaeO crowds of cotton clouds,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Panjaarathu kozhi kunjaO chick in the coop,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Aththoram kaathu nikkumLord Aiyanar waiting by the riverbank,
Aiyannaarae sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Saethoram paathu nikkumKingfisher watching by the mud's edge,
Meen kothiyae sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Female
Ooor oram thooram pogumNeedle dragonfly flying far at the edge of the village,
Oosi thattaan sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Kadhoram thandatti podumGrandmother wearing heavy ear ornaments,
Pattiyamma sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Female
Vaazhathanda valandha pullaThat the girl grown tall like a plantain stem,
Yengudhunnu sollu solluIs yearning, tell him!
Alli senda valandha pullaThat the girl who grew up like a bunch of lilies,
Azhagunnu sollu solluIs beautiful, tell him!
Female
Athi pazhutha pazhamaIs she a ripe fig fruit,
Ai aarettu ragamaOr a melody of eight tunes?
Amainja pulla samainja pullaThe young girl who has come of age,
Athaanukku sollu sollu solluTell her cousin, tell him, tell him!
Female
Kammakara kathaeO breeze from the bank of the lake,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Sembha nelnaathaeO sapling of red paddy,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Vettukkulla maavaraikkumGrinding stone inside the house,
Aattukkallae sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Thoppukkulla koovi nikkumCuckoo bird cooing in the grove,
Poonguyil nee sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Female
Naathooram padhungi nirkkumCrabs hiding near the young sprouts,
Nanduglae sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Mettoram vandi izhukkumBulls pulling carts along the high mound,
Kaalaigalai sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Female
Vetkapada aarambichaThe details of her,
Vivaretha sollu solluBeginning to feel shy, tell him!
Mala katta poo parichaThe mind that plucked flowers for a garland,
Manasa nee sollu solluTell him, tell him!
Female
Kumari pulla radhamaIs this young girl a chariot?
Un kooda varanum sugamaShe wants to accompany you happily.
Paruva pulla padicha pullaThe young girl, the educated girl,
Machanukku sollu sollu solluTell her beloved cousin, tell him, tell him!
Female
Kammakara kathaeO breeze from the bank of the lake,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Sembha nelnaathaeO sapling of red paddy,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Panju mega kootangalaeO crowds of cotton clouds,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Panjaarathu kozhi kunjaO chick in the coop,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Nenjukulla niranjivaraThe one who fills my heart,
Nesam vaikka purandhavaThe one born to be loved,
Ennathula nuzhainju varaThe one who enters my thoughts,
Enna katti pudichavaraThe one who embraced me,
Kaanama thedudhu thedudhuSearches for him endlessly, unable to find him,
Vaadudhu vaadudhu vayasu malli mottuThe youthful jasmine bud is wilting and withering.
Female
Kammakara kathaeO breeze from the bank of the lake,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Sembha nelnaathaeO sapling of red paddy,
Konjam kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Female
Panju mega kootangalaeO crowds of cotton clouds,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.
Panjaarathu kozhi kunjaO chick in the coop,
Kettennu solluTell him I asked for him.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style Tamil song captures the deep yearning of a young village woman longing for her beloved cousin (Athaan/Machan). She addresses various elements of rural nature and daily village life—such as the lake breeze, paddy saplings, clouds, birds, dragonflies, and household grinding stones—asking them all to convey her feelings and love to him. Through rich agrarian imagery, the lyrics express her blossoming youth, shyness, and eager desire to unite with her beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe (Addressing inanimate objects/nature)

Kammakara kathae / Konjam kettennu sollu

The singer addresses lake breezes, clouds, grinding stones, and birds, asking them to act as messengers to her beloved.

Metaphor / Simile

Vaazhathanda valandha pulla

Comparing the young girl's growth and beauty to a banana trunk (Vaazhathanda) and a bunch of lilies (Alli senda), and her youth to a jasmine bud (malli mottu).

Monodistich / Rhyme (Egal / Anaphora / Tamil Ethukai & Monai)

Kammakara kathae ... Sembha nelnaathae

Repetition of initial/internal sounds across lines (e.g., Kammakara / Sembha / Panju) creating rhythmic folk musicality.

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Trivia

The song draws heavily on traditional Tamil folk messenger motifs (Thoodhu), a classic Sangam poetry convention where lovers send messages through natural elements like wind, birds, and clouds.

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