Kathari Poovazhagi
From Asuran · 2019
- Lyricist
- Ekadasi
- Singers
- Velmurugan, Rajalakshmi, Napolia
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Asuran2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Male | |
| Kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi | Oh beautiful one like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi |
| Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae | Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl |
| Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku | Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy |
| Female | |
| Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara | O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires |
| Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala | I will marry you in front of the whole village |
| Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala | Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes |
| Male | |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Male | |
| Maiyaala kannezhudhi | Applying kohl to your eyes |
| En vaalibatha mayakkuriyae | You mesmerize my youthful age |
| Female : Kaathaadi pola naanum | Female: Like a kite flying in the wind |
| Unna nikkaama suthurenae..ae….ae…. | I keep spinning around you endlessly |
| Male | |
| Kazhutha pola thaan | Like a donkey |
| Azhaga sumakkaatha | Do not carry your beauty as a heavy load |
| Enaku thaayendi konja venum naanum | Give it to me my dear, I want to pamper you too |
| Male | |
| Hey kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi | Hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi |
| Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae | Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl |
| Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku | Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy |
| Female | |
| Haan haan aan | Expressive vocalization |
| Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara | O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires |
| Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala | I will marry you in front of the whole village |
| Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala | Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes |
| Male | |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae) |
| Male | |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae) |
| Hey thannaenannae thannaenannae | Hey folk rhythm refrain |
| Thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae) |
| Hey thannaenannae thannaenannae | Hey folk rhythm refrain |
| Thannae thannaanae | Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae) |
| Male | |
| Karagaattam aaduthu nenju | My heart dances the Karagattam folk dance |
| Unna kandaalae theruvula ninnu | Whenever I see you standing out in the street |
| Female :Naan kulikkum thamirabharani | Female: You are the sacred Thamirabarani river I bathe in |
| Kann thoongaama vaanguna varam nee | You are a blessing I received through sleepless nights |
| Male | |
| Aalam vizhuthaattam adada thalamayiru | Ah, your head of hair is like the aerial roots of a banyan tree |
| Thooli aadidathaan thothu senju thaadi | Hand over a hammock made to swing in |
| Both : Ilavam panjula nee yethura vilakku thiri | Both: You light a lamp wick inside silk-cotton wool |
| Pathikkum thithikkum anaichaa nikkaathadi | It ignites and tastes sweet, once embraced it won't stop, my girl |
| Male | |
| Hey hey kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi | Hey hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi |
| Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae | Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl |
| Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku | Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy |
| Female | |
| Haan haan haan | Expressive vocalization |
| Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara | O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires |
| Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala | I will marry you in front of the whole village |
| Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala | Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes |
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
கத்தரி பூவழகி
கரையா பொட்டழகி
கலரு சுவையாட்டம்
உன்னோட நெனப்பு அடியே
சொட்டாங்கல்லு ஆடையில
புடிக்குது கிறுக்கு
Oh beautiful one like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
வரப்பு மீசைக்காரா
வத்தாத ஆசைக்காரா
உன்ன நான் கட்டிக்குறேன்
ஊரு முன்னால
அட வெக்கப்பட வேணா
என்ன பாரு கண்ணால
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
மையால கண்ணெழுதி
என் வாலிபத்த மயக்குறியே
பெண் : காத்தாடி போல நானும்
உன்ன நிக்காம சுத்துறேனே.....ஏ.....ஏ.....
Applying kohl to your eyes
You mesmerize my youthful age
Female: Like a kite flying in the wind
I keep spinning around you endlessly
கழுதை போலத்தான்
அழக சுமக்காத
எனக்கு தாயேண்டி
கொஞ்ச வேணும் நானும்
Like a donkey
Do not carry your beauty as a heavy load
Give it to me my dear, I want to pamper you too
அருவா போல நீ
மொறப்பா நடக்குறியே
திருடா மொரடா
இருப்பேன் உன்னோடதான்
Hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
ஹேய் கத்தரி பூவழகி
கரையா பொட்டழகி
கலரு சுவையாட்டம்
உன்னோட நெனப்பு அடியே
சொட்டாங்கல்லு ஆடையில
புடிக்குது கிறுக்கு
Expressive vocalization
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
ஹான் ஹான் ஆன்
வரப்பு மீசைக்காரா
வத்தாத ஆசைக்காரா
உன்ன நான் கட்டிக்குறேன்
ஊரு முன்னால
அட வெக்கப்பட வேணா
என்ன பாரு கண்ணால
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Hey folk rhythm refrain
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae)
Hey folk rhythm refrain
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae)
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
தன்னே நன்னானே தன்னே நன்னானே
ஹேய் தன்னேனன்னானே தன்னேனன்னானே
தன்னே தன்னானே
ஹேய் தன்னேனன்னானே தன்னேனன்னானே
தன்னே தன்னானே
My heart dances the Karagattam folk dance
Whenever I see you standing out in the street
Female: You are the sacred Thamirabarani river I bathe in
You are a blessing I received through sleepless nights
கரகாட்டம் ஆடுது நெஞ்சு
உன்ன கண்டாலே தெருவுல நின்னு
நான் குளிக்கும் தாமிரபரணி
கண் தூங்காம வாங்குன வரம் நீ
Ah, your head of hair is like the aerial roots of a banyan tree
Hand over a hammock made to swing in
Both: You light a lamp wick inside silk-cotton wool
It ignites and tastes sweet, once embraced it won't stop, my girl
ஆலம் விழுதாட்டம்
அடடா தலமயிரு
தூளி ஆடிடத்தான்
தோது செஞ்சு தாடி
Hey hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
இலவம் பஞ்சுல
நீ ஏத்துற விளக்கு திரி
பத்திக்கும் தித்திக்கும்
அணைச்சா நிக்காதடி
Expressive vocalization
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
ஹேய் ஹேய் கத்தரி பூவழகி
கரையா பொட்டழகி
கலரு சுவையாட்டம்
உன்னோட நெனப்பு அடியே
சொட்டாங்கல்லு ஆடையில
புடிக்குது கிறுக்கு
ஹான் ஹான் ஹான்
வரப்பு மீசைக்காரா
வத்தாத ஆசைக்காரா
உன்ன நான் கட்டிக்குறேன்
ஊரு முன்னால
அட வெக்கப்பட வேணா
என்ன பாரு கண்ணால
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi
Oh beautiful one like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Maiyaala kannezhudhi
Applying kohl to your eyes
En vaalibatha mayakkuriyae
You mesmerize my youthful age
Female : Kaathaadi pola naanum
Female: Like a kite flying in the wind
Unna nikkaama suthurenae..ae….ae….
I keep spinning around you endlessly
Kazhutha pola thaan
Like a donkey
Azhaga sumakkaatha
Do not carry your beauty as a heavy load
Enaku thaayendi konja venum naanum
Give it to me my dear, I want to pamper you too
Hey kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi
Hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
Haan haan aan
Expressive vocalization
Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae thannae thannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae nannaanae thannae nannaanae)
Hey thannaenannae thannaenannae
Hey folk rhythm refrain
Thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae)
Hey thannaenannae thannaenannae
Hey folk rhythm refrain
Thannae thannaanae
Folk rhythm refrain (Thannae thannaanae)
Karagaattam aaduthu nenju
My heart dances the Karagattam folk dance
Unna kandaalae theruvula ninnu
Whenever I see you standing out in the street
Female :Naan kulikkum thamirabharani
Female: You are the sacred Thamirabarani river I bathe in
Kann thoongaama vaanguna varam nee
You are a blessing I received through sleepless nights
Aalam vizhuthaattam adada thalamayiru
Ah, your head of hair is like the aerial roots of a banyan tree
Thooli aadidathaan thothu senju thaadi
Hand over a hammock made to swing in
Both : Ilavam panjula nee yethura vilakku thiri
Both: You light a lamp wick inside silk-cotton wool
Pathikkum thithikkum anaichaa nikkaathadi
It ignites and tastes sweet, once embraced it won't stop, my girl
Hey hey kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi
Hey hey, beautiful like an brinjal flower, beautiful with an indelible bindi
Color-u suvaiyaattam unnoda nenappu adiyae
Thoughts of you taste like sweet colored popsicles, my girl
Sottaankallu aadayila pudikkuthu kirukku
Watching you play the five-stones game in your attire drives me crazy
Haan haan haan
Expressive vocalization
Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara
O man with a mustache like a field ridge, man with unquenchable desires
Unna naan kattikkuren ooru munnala
I will marry you in front of the whole village
Ada vekkapada vena enna paaru kannaala
Hey, don't be shy, look into my eyes
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kathari Poovazhagi is a joyous and romantic folk duet from the Tamil film Asuran (2019), celebrating youthful love and affectionate teasing between two young village lovers. Set against a rustic Southern Tamil Nadu backdrop, the song relies heavily on native agrarian imagery—comparing the girl's beauty to brinjal flowers, local games like jacks (sottaankallu), and the man's mustache to the mud ridges of a paddy field (varappu). The couple exchanges playful flirtations, pledging public marriage and expressing their passionate affection using rich local metaphors.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Kaathaadi pola naanum”
Compares the girl's carefree circular motion around her beloved to a kite flying in the wind using the explicit comparison word 'pola'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Varappu meesakaara vathaatha aasakaara”
Metaphorically describes the young man's prominent facial hair as the sturdy dirt ridge (varappu) of a farm field.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kathiri poovazhagi karayaa pottazhagi”
Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across words creates a rhythmic and euphonic musical effect in the folk line.
Cultural Imagery / Local Metaphor
“Naan kulikkum thamirabharani”
Refers to the sacred Thamirabarani river of southern Tamil Nadu to symbolize purity and life-giving love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar and written by Ekadasi, 'Kathari Poovazhagi' highlights traditional Tamil Nattupura Pattu (folk song) structure featuring 'Thannane' rhythmic chants. Sung by Velmurugan and folk singer Rajalakshmi, the track captures the vibrant rural culture of Tirunelveli and added a lighthearted, endearing romantic moment in Director Vetrimaaran's intense period drama Asuran.
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