Kandangi Selakatti
From Chinnanjsiru Kiliye · 1980
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- G. K. Venkatesh
- Details
- Chinnanjsiru Kiliye1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kandaangi sela katti vanthaalae chinnakkutti | The young girl came wearing a traditional Kandangi saree. |
| Aalavattam poduraalae chellammaa | She is swirling around happily, my dear Chellamma. |
| Ad kannammaa adi sornammaa | Hey Kannamma, hey Sornamma, |
| Iva yaarukkaaga kaaththirukkaa sollammaa | Tell me, who is she waiting for? |
| Female | |
| Machchaana thedum kannu | Her eyes are searching for her beloved groom, |
| Mai theetti vatha ponnu | The young girl who came with kohl-adorned eyes. |
| Maappillaikku kaaththirukkaa thoppilae | She is waiting for her bridegroom in the grove. |
| Ada vennaiyyaa ada ponnaiyyaa | Oh dear Sir, oh golden Sir, |
| Ava aasa vachchaa kaiyalakka paaraiyaa | Look at her desire overflowing beyond measure. |
| Male | |
| Iruttaal iruttadikka | As the deep darkness spreads over the night, |
| Izhuppa mara kaaththadikka | As the wind blows through the Mahua trees, |
| Female :Ooradangum munnaalae | Female: Before the entire village goes to sleep, |
| Odhungum enna paaththu | Seeing me retreat into solitude, |
| Male :Thiruttuthanamaa nadakkuthammaa naadagam | Male: A sly play is taking place secretively, my lady! |
| Male | |
| Thaazhampoo siththaada thalaiyil paaru | Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head, |
| Oru kooda mullaippoo jaadhi mullaippoo | A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers! |
| Thaazhampoo siththaada thalaiyil paaru | Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head, |
| Oru kooda mullaippoo jaadhi mullaippoo | A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers! |
| Female :Sirichchaa paaru maththaappu | Female: Look when she smiles, it sparkles like a firework! |
| Azhagu maththaappoo | A beautiful sparkler! |
| Male | |
| Arugu pol verodi | Taking root deeply like Bermuda grass, |
| Aal pol thazhaichchirukku | Flourishing lushly like a giant banyan tree! |
| Female :Aasaiyum velanjirukku | Female: Her desire has ripened like a full crop, |
| Aruvadaikku kaaththirukku | Waiting for the harvest to begin! |
| Male :Ada veli thaandum maadu | Male: Look at that cow leaping over the fence, |
| Onnu payira meya paakkuthadi | Trying to graze upon the growing crops! |
| Female | |
| Munthaana panthaada | As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball, |
| Hae munnum pinnum kaaththaada | Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze, |
| Vanthaanae muththam thanthaanae | He came and planted a kiss upon her! |
| Munthaana panthaada | As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball, |
| Hae munnum pinnum kaaththaada | Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze, |
| Vanthaanae muththam thanthaanae | He came and planted a kiss upon her! |
| Female | |
| Thanthaanae thaanae thanthaanae | Rhythmic folk refrain (Thanthaanae thaanae thanthaanae), |
| Thanthaanae avan thanthaanae | He gave, yes he gave, |
| Thaniyaaga thaagam theerkka vanthaanae…. | He came alone to quench the deep thirst of love... |
கண்டாங்கி சேலக் கட்டி வந்தாளே சின்னக்குட்டி
ஆலவட்டம் போடுறாளே செல்லம்மா
அடி கண்ணம்மா அடி சொர்ணம்மா
இவ யாருக்காக காத்திருக்கா சொல்லம்மா
The young girl came wearing a traditional Kandangi saree.
She is swirling around happily, my dear Chellamma.
Hey Kannamma, hey Sornamma,
Tell me, who is she waiting for?
மச்சான தேடும் கண்ணு
மை தீட்டி வந்த பொண்ணு
மாப்பிள்ளைக்கு காத்திருக்கா தோப்பிலே
அட வெண்ணய்யா அட பொன்னய்யா
அவ ஆச வச்சா கையளக்க பாரையா
Her eyes are searching for her beloved groom,
The young girl who came with kohl-adorned eyes.
She is waiting for her bridegroom in the grove.
Oh dear Sir, oh golden Sir,
Look at her desire overflowing beyond measure.
இருட்டாய் இருட்டடிக்க
இலுப்ப மரக் காத்தடிக்க
ஊரடங்கும் முன்னாலே
ஒதுங்கும் என்னப் பாத்து
திருட்டுத்தனமா நடக்குதம்மா நாடகம்....
As the deep darkness spreads over the night,
As the wind blows through the Mahua trees,
Female: Before the entire village goes to sleep,
Seeing me retreat into solitude,
Male: A sly play is taking place secretively, my lady!
தாழம்பூ சித்தாட தலையில் பாரு
ஒரு கூடை முல்லைப்பூ ஜாதி முல்லைப்பூ
தாழம்பூ சித்தாட தலையில் பாரு
ஒரு கூடை முல்லைப்பூ ஜாதி முல்லைப்பூ
சிரிச்சா பாரு மத்தாப்பு அழகு மத்தாப்பு
இந்த சின்னப்பொண்ணு மச்சானுக்கு ரோசாப்பூ
Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head,
A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers!
Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head,
A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers!
Female: Look when she smiles, it sparkles like a firework!
A beautiful sparkler!
அருகு போல் வேரோடி....
ஆல் போல் தழைச்சிருக்கு
ஆசையும் வெளஞ்சிருக்கு
அறுவடைக்கு காத்திருக்கு
அட வேலி தாண்டும் மாடு
ஒன்னு பயிர மேயப் பாக்குதடி
Taking root deeply like Bermuda grass,
Flourishing lushly like a giant banyan tree!
Female: Her desire has ripened like a full crop,
Waiting for the harvest to begin!
Male: Look at that cow leaping over the fence,
Trying to graze upon the growing crops!
முந்தானப் பந்தாட
ஹே முன்னும் பின்னும் காத்தாட
வந்தானே முத்தம் தந்தானே
முந்தானப் பந்தாட
ஹே முன்னும் பின்னும் காத்தாட
வந்தானே முத்தம் தந்தானே
As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball,
Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze,
He came and planted a kiss upon her!
As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball,
Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze,
He came and planted a kiss upon her!
தந்தானே தானே தந்தானே
தந்தானே அவன் தந்தானே
தனியாக தாகம் தீர்க்க வந்தானே..........
Rhythmic folk refrain (Thanthaanae thaanae thanthaanae),
He gave, yes he gave,
He came alone to quench the deep thirst of love...
Kandaangi sela katti vanthaalae chinnakkutti
The young girl came wearing a traditional Kandangi saree.
Aalavattam poduraalae chellammaa
She is swirling around happily, my dear Chellamma.
Ad kannammaa adi sornammaa
Hey Kannamma, hey Sornamma,
Iva yaarukkaaga kaaththirukkaa sollammaa
Tell me, who is she waiting for?
Machchaana thedum kannu
Her eyes are searching for her beloved groom,
Mai theetti vatha ponnu
The young girl who came with kohl-adorned eyes.
Maappillaikku kaaththirukkaa thoppilae
She is waiting for her bridegroom in the grove.
Ada vennaiyyaa ada ponnaiyyaa
Oh dear Sir, oh golden Sir,
Ava aasa vachchaa kaiyalakka paaraiyaa
Look at her desire overflowing beyond measure.
Iruttaal iruttadikka
As the deep darkness spreads over the night,
Izhuppa mara kaaththadikka
As the wind blows through the Mahua trees,
Female :Ooradangum munnaalae
Female: Before the entire village goes to sleep,
Odhungum enna paaththu
Seeing me retreat into solitude,
Male :Thiruttuthanamaa nadakkuthammaa naadagam
Male: A sly play is taking place secretively, my lady!
Thaazhampoo siththaada thalaiyil paaru
Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head,
Oru kooda mullaippoo jaadhi mullaippoo
A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers!
Thaazhampoo siththaada thalaiyil paaru
Look at her screwpine-patterned dress and on her head,
Oru kooda mullaippoo jaadhi mullaippoo
A basket full of jasmine and royal jasmine flowers!
Female :Sirichchaa paaru maththaappu
Female: Look when she smiles, it sparkles like a firework!
Azhagu maththaappoo
A beautiful sparkler!
Arugu pol verodi
Taking root deeply like Bermuda grass,
Aal pol thazhaichchirukku
Flourishing lushly like a giant banyan tree!
Female :Aasaiyum velanjirukku
Female: Her desire has ripened like a full crop,
Aruvadaikku kaaththirukku
Waiting for the harvest to begin!
Male :Ada veli thaandum maadu
Male: Look at that cow leaping over the fence,
Onnu payira meya paakkuthadi
Trying to graze upon the growing crops!
Munthaana panthaada
As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball,
Hae munnum pinnum kaaththaada
Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze,
Vanthaanae muththam thanthaanae
He came and planted a kiss upon her!
Munthaana panthaada
As the loose end of her saree sways like a ball,
Hae munnum pinnum kaaththaada
Blowing forward and backward in the gentle breeze,
Vanthaanae muththam thanthaanae
He came and planted a kiss upon her!
Thanthaanae thaanae thanthaanae
Rhythmic folk refrain (Thanthaanae thaanae thanthaanae),
Thanthaanae avan thanthaanae
He gave, yes he gave,
Thaniyaaga thaagam theerkka vanthaanae….
He came alone to quench the deep thirst of love...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a lively folk-based romantic duet from the 1980 movie 'Chinnanjsiru Kiliye'. Set in a rustic rural backdrop, it depicts a young woman beautifully dressed in a Kandangi saree and fragrant flowers, secretly waiting for her lover in a grove at dusk. The singers playfully describe her anticipation and the secretive romantic encounter that unfolds between the two lovers under the cover of night. The lyricist Gangai Amaran uses rich agricultural and nature-based metaphors common in Tamil folklore, such as crops ready for harvest, deep banyan roots, and cattle leaping fences. These imagery choices highlight the natural, raw, and vibrant essence of rural romance, enhanced by G. K. Venkatesh's earthy musical arrangement and dynamic vocals.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Sirichchaa paaru maththaappu Azhagu maththaappoo”
Compares her bright smile directly to a lit firework/sparkler ('maththaappu').
Traditional Blessing Imagery (Uvamana)
“Arugu pol verodi Aal pol thazhaichchirukku”
Uses the traditional Tamil wedding blessing of taking deep roots like 'Arugu' (Bermuda grass) and spreading wide like 'Aal' (Banyan tree) to describe thriving love.
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Aasaiyum velanjirukku Aruvadaikku kaaththirukku”
Compares growing romantic desire to a mature field of crops waiting to be harvested ('Aruvadaikku kaaththirukku').
Allegory / Metaphor
“Ada veli thaandum maadu Onnu payira meya paakkuthadi”
The lover entering the grove is symbolically described as a stray cow jumping a fence to graze on crops.
Emonai / Rhyming (Monai & Etukai)
“Munthaana panthaada Hae munnum pinnum kaaththaada”
Rhythmic repetition of initial sound and internal cadence across phrases like 'Munthaana' and 'panthaada'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Arugu pol verodi Aal pol thazhaithu' used in the lyrics is an ancient traditional Tamil blessing usually uttered by village elders to newlyweds, wishing their family lineage to take deep roots like Bermuda grass (which never dies) and branch out grandly like a Banyan tree. Music composer G. K. Venkatesh was a pioneer in blending authentic Tamil folk idioms with orchestral arrangements, and was notably the master/mentor under whom legendary maestro Ilaiyaraaja worked as an assistant.
Keep listening
More from Chinnanjsiru Kiliye
Chinnanjsiru Kiliye
Chinnanjsiru Kiliye