Kannukulle Keluthi
From Dhill · 2001
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singer
- Manikka Vinayagam
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Dhill2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Thanna nanae nananaa.. | Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..) |
| Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa.. | Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..) |
| Thanna nanae nananaa.. | Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..) |
| Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa.. | Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..) |
| Male | |
| Yeah..yeah.. | Yeah..yeah.. |
| Yeah…yeah… | Yeah…yeah… |
| Male | |
| Kannukulae keluthi | A catfish inside her eyes |
| Vechchirukaa sirukki | That young lass keeps hidden |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Kannivedi thiriyai | The fuse of a landmine |
| Vechchirukka koluthi | She has lit up |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Male | |
| Aththamagha nenappu | Thoughts of her cousin and lover |
| Vethalaikku sevappu..ohooo…oo.. | Redness like betel leaves.. ohooo…oo.. |
| kothamalli sirrippu pathikuchi | Her coriander-like smile caught fire |
| Neruppu…ohooo..ooo.. | Fire.. ohooo..ooo.. |
| Chorus | |
| {Yappo yappoo… | {Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Yappo yappoo…} (2) | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)} (Repeated 2 times) |
| Male | |
| Kannukulae keluthi | A catfish inside her eyes |
| Vechchirukaa sirukki | That young lass keeps hidden |
| Chorus :Yappo yappoo… | Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Male :Kannivedi thiriyai | Male: The fuse of a landmine |
| Vechchirukka koluthi | She has lit up |
| Chorus :Yappo yappoo… | Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Male | |
| Pottalilae pogum othayadi paadha | A single-track path running through barren land |
| Uchchanthala vagudaachae | Has become the hair-parting on her crown |
| Ohooo..uchchimalai yerum | Ohooo.. like a cart trail climbing a hill peak |
| Vandiththadam pola | Like a cart track |
| Rettai jadai vizhudaachae | Her twin braids hang like banyan aerial roots |
| Male | |
| {Kannu aadum karakaatum | {Her eyes move like Karakattam folk dance |
| Iva nenjumelae mazhaimootam} (2) | Rain clouds gather over her heart} (Repeated 2 times) |
| Kattipotta puyalaattaam | Like a trapped storm |
| Iva kitta poga bayam kaattum | She strikes fear when going near her |
| Chorus | |
| {Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae | {Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae |
| Thana naanaa.. | Thana naanaa.. |
| Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..} (2) | Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times) |
| Male | |
| Kannukulae keluthi | A catfish inside her eyes |
| Vechchirukaa sirukki | That young lass keeps hidden |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Kannivedi thiriyai | The fuse of a landmine |
| Vechchirukka koluthi | She has lit up |
| Yappo yappoo… | Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…) |
| Chorus | |
| Podu thandana thandana | Set the rhythm (Thandana thandana) |
| Thandana thandana | Thandana thandana |
| Thandana thandana | Thandana thandana |
| Thandana thandana | Thandana thandana |
| {Thaththi thagida thithom | {Rhythmic beat syllables (Thaththi thagida thithom |
| Thithom thagida thiththathom} (2) | Thithom thagida thiththathom)} (Repeated 2 times) |
| Male | |
| Senjuvechcha iduppu | A waist sculpted to perfection |
| Chinanjjiru madippu | Tiny, delicate folds |
| En manasa edaipodum | Weighs and measures my heart |
| Poththi vechcha azhaghai | Her hidden beauty |
| Koorukatti usuru | Portioned out, her life force |
| Kannukulla kadapodum | Sets up a shop inside her eyes |
| Male | |
| {Ellupootha vayakaadu..uu | {A blooming sesame field |
| Nee thallipoga porukkaathu} (2) | It cannot bear you stepping away} (Repeated 2 times) |
| Kattukaaval kedaiyaathu | There are no strict boundaries or guards |
| Un pottum kooda karaiyaathu | Even your bindi mark will not fade away |
| Chorus | |
| {Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae | {Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae |
| Thana naanaa.. | Thana naanaa.. |
| Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..} (2) | Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times) |
தன்ன நானே நனனா
நான நானே நனனா ஆ தன்ன
நானே நனனா நான நானே
நனனா ஆ
Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..)
Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..)
Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..)
Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..)
யே யே யே யே
Yeah..yeah..
Yeah…yeah…
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே
கெளுத்தி வெச்சிருக்கா
சிறுக்கி யப்போ யப்போ
கன்னி வெடி திரியை
வெச்சிருக்கா கொளுத்தி
யப்போ யப்போ
A catfish inside her eyes
That young lass keeps hidden
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
The fuse of a landmine
She has lit up
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
அத்த மக நெனப்பு
வெத்தலைக்கு சிவப்பு ஓ
ஹோ ஓ கொத்தமல்லி
சிரிப்பு பத்திகுச்சு நெருப்பு
ஓஹோ ஓ
Thoughts of her cousin and lover
Redness like betel leaves.. ohooo…oo..
Her coriander-like smile caught fire
Fire.. ohooo..ooo..
{ யப்போ யப்போ
யப்போ யப்போ யப்போ
யப்போ யப்போ யப்போ } (2)
{Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)} (Repeated 2 times)
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே
கெளுத்தி வெச்சிருக்கா
சிறுக்கி
குழு :
யப்போ யப்போ
கன்னி வெடி திரியை
வெச்சிருக்கா கொளுத்தி
குழு :
யப்போ யப்போ
A catfish inside her eyes
That young lass keeps hidden
Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Male: The fuse of a landmine
She has lit up
Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
பொட்டலிலே போகும்
ஒத்தயடி பாத உச்சந்தல வகுடாச்சே
ஓஹோ உச்சிமலை ஏறும் வண்டி
தடம் போல ரெட்டை ஜடை
விழுதாச்சே
A single-track path running through barren land
Has become the hair-parting on her crown
Ohooo.. like a cart trail climbing a hill peak
Like a cart track
Her twin braids hang like banyan aerial roots
{ கண்ணு ஆடும்
கரகாட்டம் இவ நெஞ்சு
மேலே மழை மூட்டம் } (2)
கட்டி போட்ட புயல் ஆட்டம்
இவ கிட்ட போக பயம் காட்டும்
{Her eyes move like Karakattam folk dance
Rain clouds gather over her heart} (Repeated 2 times)
Like a trapped storm
She strikes fear when going near her
{ தந்த நானே தந்த
நானே தான நானா தந்த
நானே தான நானே தந்த
நானா } (2)
{Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
Thana naanaa..
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times)
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே
கெளுத்தி வெச்சிருக்கா
சிறுக்கி யப்போ யப்போ
கன்னி வெடி திரியை
வெச்சிருக்கா கொளுத்தி
யப்போ யப்போ
A catfish inside her eyes
That young lass keeps hidden
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
The fuse of a landmine
She has lit up
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
போடு தந்தன தந்தன
தந்தன தந்தன தந்தன தந்தன
தந்தன தந்தன
{ தத்தி தகிட தித்தோம்
தித்தோம் தகிட தித்ததோம் } (2)
Set the rhythm (Thandana thandana)
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
{Rhythmic beat syllables (Thaththi thagida thithom
Thithom thagida thiththathom)} (Repeated 2 times)
செஞ்சு வச்ச இடுப்பு
சின்னஞ்சிறு மடிப்பு என் மனச
எடை போடும் பொத்தி வச்ச
அழகை கூறு கட்டி உசுரு
கண்ணு குள்ள கட போடும்
A waist sculpted to perfection
Tiny, delicate folds
Weighs and measures my heart
Her hidden beauty
Portioned out, her life force
Sets up a shop inside her eyes
{ எள்ளு பூத்த
வயக்காடு நீ தள்ளி
போக பொறுக்காது } (2)
கட்டு காவல் கிடையாது
உன் பொட்டும் கூட
கரையாது
{A blooming sesame field
It cannot bear you stepping away} (Repeated 2 times)
There are no strict boundaries or guards
Even your bindi mark will not fade away
{ தந்த நானே தந்த
நானே தான நானா தந்த
நானே தான நானே தந்த
நானா } (2)
{Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
Thana naanaa..
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times)
Thanna nanae nananaa..
Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..)
Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..
Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..)
Thanna nanae nananaa..
Rhythmic vocalizing (Thanna nanae nananaa..)
Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..
Rhythmic vocalizing (Nanaa nanae nananaa..aa..)
Yeah..yeah..
Yeah..yeah..
Yeah…yeah…
Yeah…yeah…
Kannukulae keluthi
A catfish inside her eyes
Vechchirukaa sirukki
That young lass keeps hidden
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Kannivedi thiriyai
The fuse of a landmine
Vechchirukka koluthi
She has lit up
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Aththamagha nenappu
Thoughts of her cousin and lover
Vethalaikku sevappu..ohooo…oo..
Redness like betel leaves.. ohooo…oo..
kothamalli sirrippu pathikuchi
Her coriander-like smile caught fire
Neruppu…ohooo..ooo..
Fire.. ohooo..ooo..
{Yappo yappoo…
{Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Yappo yappoo…} (2)
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)} (Repeated 2 times)
Kannukulae keluthi
A catfish inside her eyes
Vechchirukaa sirukki
That young lass keeps hidden
Chorus :Yappo yappoo…
Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Male :Kannivedi thiriyai
Male: The fuse of a landmine
Vechchirukka koluthi
She has lit up
Chorus :Yappo yappoo…
Chorus: Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Pottalilae pogum othayadi paadha
A single-track path running through barren land
Uchchanthala vagudaachae
Has become the hair-parting on her crown
Ohooo..uchchimalai yerum
Ohooo.. like a cart trail climbing a hill peak
Vandiththadam pola
Like a cart track
Rettai jadai vizhudaachae
Her twin braids hang like banyan aerial roots
{Kannu aadum karakaatum
{Her eyes move like Karakattam folk dance
Iva nenjumelae mazhaimootam} (2)
Rain clouds gather over her heart} (Repeated 2 times)
Kattipotta puyalaattaam
Like a trapped storm
Iva kitta poga bayam kaattum
She strikes fear when going near her
{Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
{Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
Thana naanaa..
Thana naanaa..
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..} (2)
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times)
Kannukulae keluthi
A catfish inside her eyes
Vechchirukaa sirukki
That young lass keeps hidden
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Kannivedi thiriyai
The fuse of a landmine
Vechchirukka koluthi
She has lit up
Yappo yappoo…
Exclamation (Yappo yappoo…)
Podu thandana thandana
Set the rhythm (Thandana thandana)
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
Thandana thandana
{Thaththi thagida thithom
{Rhythmic beat syllables (Thaththi thagida thithom
Thithom thagida thiththathom} (2)
Thithom thagida thiththathom)} (Repeated 2 times)
Senjuvechcha iduppu
A waist sculpted to perfection
Chinanjjiru madippu
Tiny, delicate folds
En manasa edaipodum
Weighs and measures my heart
Poththi vechcha azhaghai
Her hidden beauty
Koorukatti usuru
Portioned out, her life force
Kannukulla kadapodum
Sets up a shop inside her eyes
{Ellupootha vayakaadu..uu
{A blooming sesame field
Nee thallipoga porukkaathu} (2)
It cannot bear you stepping away} (Repeated 2 times)
Kattukaaval kedaiyaathu
There are no strict boundaries or guards
Un pottum kooda karaiyaathu
Even your bindi mark will not fade away
{Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
{Rhythmic vocalizing (Thandhan nanae thandhan nanae
Thana naanaa..
Thana naanaa..
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..} (2)
Thandhan nanae thanae nanae thandananaa..)} (Repeated 2 times)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kannukulae Keluthi is a high-energy folk-pop track from the 2001 Tamil film Dhill, composed by Vidyasagar with lyrics penned by Arivumathi. The song captures the playful banter and romantic tension between the hero and heroine using expressive rural Tamil imagery. The lyricist compares the heroine's lively, darting eyes to quick catfish, her hair parting to a single footpath in open fields, and her twin braids to banyan tree aerial roots, painting a vivid picture of countryside beauty and youthful charm. The energetic folk rhythm, paired with passionate vocal deliveries, highlights the hero's sheer infatuation and irresistible attraction to her captivating beauty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kannukulae keluthi Vechchirukaa sirukki”
Compares her quick, darting eyes to 'Keluthi' (catfish) swimming lively in water.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Uchchimalai yerum Vandiththadam pola Rettai jadai vizhudaachae”
Compares her twin braids to cart wheel tracks climbing up a mountain peak and banyan roots.
Visual Imagery (Kaatchi Inbam)
“Pottalilae pogum othayadi paadha Uchchanthala vagudaachae”
Paints a vivid picture of rural landscapes, comparing her hair parting line to a single footpath across open fields.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kattipotta puyalaattaam Iva kitta poga bayam kaattum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words to create a rhythmic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Vidyasagar for the action-thriller Dhill starring Vikram and Laila, this track stands out as a memorable folk-dance song of the early 2000s. Lyricist Arivumathi used authentic village metaphors like single paths ('othayadi paadha') and sesame fields ('ellupootha vayakaadu'), which helped anchor the song's rural flavor despite the movie's urban-action context.
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