Kathoram Lolakku
From Chinna Mapillai · 1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir. |
| Kaathaadum melaaku unnai thinnudhaiyaa | The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl. |
| Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi | The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl. |
| Female | |
| Un mugathai paarkaiyila en mugathai naan marandhen | When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl. |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku … uuuuu | The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh... |
| Female | |
| { Naan virumbum maapillaiku naal kanakaa kaathirundhen } (2) | I waited for days together for the groom I desired. |
| Vandhaayae neeum vaasalai thedi kandanae naanum enakoru jodi | You came searching for my doorstep, and I found a perfect match for myself. |
| Male | |
| Unnaatam thaan thanga theru kandadhilla enga ooru | Our village has never seen a golden chariot quite like you. |
| Kaadhal bodhai thandha kalli kandhan thedi vandha valli | You charming lady who gave the intoxication of love, like Valli whom Lord Murugan came searching for. |
| Female | |
| Nee thoda thaanae naan porandhen | I was born only for you to touch me. |
| Naaloru vannam naan valarndhen | I bloomed with a new beauty every passing day. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl. |
| Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi | The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir. |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku … uuuuu | The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh... |
| Male | |
| { Vaanavilla velai koduthu vaangida thaan kaasiruku } (2) | I have enough wealth to even purchase a rainbow at a price. |
| En kooda un pol oviya paavai illaamal ponaal naan oru yezhai | Yet, without a picture-perfect maiden like you by my side, I am just a poor man. |
| Female | |
| Ennalum naan undhan sothu istam pola alli kattu | I am forever your possession; embrace me and hold me as you wish. |
| Mezhum keezhum ennai thottu melam polae enna thattu | Touch me top to bottom and play me rhythmically like a drum. |
| Male | |
| Naan adharkaaga kaathirundhenae | I was eagerly waiting for that very moment. |
| Nee varum paadhai paarthirundhen | I kept my eyes fixed on the path you would arrive from. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir. |
| Kaathaadum melaaku unnai thinnudhaiyaa | The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir. |
| Male | |
| Un mugathai paarkaiyila en mugathai naan marandhen | When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi | The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl. |
| Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi | The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl. |
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதய்யா காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு உன்னை தின்னுதையா
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதடி காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு என்னை தின்னுதடி
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
உன் முகத்த பார்க்கையில
என் முகத்தை நான் மறந்தேன்
When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதடி காதோரம்
லோலாக்கு ......
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh...
{ நான் விரும்பும்
மாப்பிள்ளைக்கு நாள்
கணக்கா காத்திருந்தேன் } (2)
வந்தாயே நீயும் வாசலை தேடி
கண்டேனே நானும் எனக்கொரு
ஜோடி
I waited for days together for the groom I desired.
You came searching for my doorstep, and I found a perfect match for myself.
உன்னாட்டம் தான்
தங்கத்தேரு கண்டதில்லை
எங்க ஊரு காதல் போதை
தந்த கள்ளி கந்தன் தேடி
வந்த வள்ளி
Our village has never seen a golden chariot quite like you.
You charming lady who gave the intoxication of love, like Valli whom Lord Murugan came searching for.
நீ தொடத்தானே
நான் பொறந்தேன்
நாளொரு வண்ணம்
நான் வளர்ந்தேன்
I was born only for you to touch me.
I bloomed with a new beauty every passing day.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதடி காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு என்னை தின்னுதடி
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதய்யா காதோரம்
லோலாக்கு
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh...
{ வானவில்ல விலை
கொடுத்து வாங்கிடத்தான்
காசிருக்கு } (2)
என் கூட உன் போல் ஓவியப்
பாவை இல்லாமல் போனால்
நான் ஒரு ஏழை
I have enough wealth to even purchase a rainbow at a price.
Yet, without a picture-perfect maiden like you by my side, I am just a poor man.
எந்நாளும் நான்
உந்தன் சொத்து இஷ்டம்
போல அள்ளி கட்டு மேலும்
கீழும் என்னை தொட்டு
மேளம் போலே என்னைத்
தட்டு
I am forever your possession; embrace me and hold me as you wish.
Touch me top to bottom and play me rhythmically like a drum.
நான் அதற்காக
காத்திருந்தேனே நீ
வரும் பாதை பார்த்திருந்தேன்
I was eagerly waiting for that very moment.
I kept my eyes fixed on the path you would arrive from.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதய்யா காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு உன்னை தின்னுதையா
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir.
உன் முகத்த பார்க்கையில
என் முகத்தை நான் மறந்தேன்
When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதய்யா காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு உன்னை தின்னுதையா
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
காதோரம் லோலாக்கு
கதை சொல்லுதடி காத்தாடும்
மேலாக்கு என்னை தின்னுதடி
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
Kaathaadum melaaku unnai thinnudhaiyaa
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
Un mugathai paarkaiyila en mugathai naan marandhen
When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
Kaadhoram lolaaku … uuuuu
The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh...
{ Naan virumbum maapillaiku naal kanakaa kaathirundhen } (2)
I waited for days together for the groom I desired.
Vandhaayae neeum vaasalai thedi kandanae naanum enakoru jodi
You came searching for my doorstep, and I found a perfect match for myself.
Unnaatam thaan thanga theru kandadhilla enga ooru
Our village has never seen a golden chariot quite like you.
Kaadhal bodhai thandha kalli kandhan thedi vandha valli
You charming lady who gave the intoxication of love, like Valli whom Lord Murugan came searching for.
Nee thoda thaanae naan porandhen
I was born only for you to touch me.
Naaloru vannam naan valarndhen
I bloomed with a new beauty every passing day.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
Kaadhoram lolaaku … uuuuu
The ear pendant dangling near your ear... ooh...
{ Vaanavilla velai koduthu vaangida thaan kaasiruku } (2)
I have enough wealth to even purchase a rainbow at a price.
En kooda un pol oviya paavai illaamal ponaal naan oru yezhai
Yet, without a picture-perfect maiden like you by my side, I am just a poor man.
Ennalum naan undhan sothu istam pola alli kattu
I am forever your possession; embrace me and hold me as you wish.
Mezhum keezhum ennai thottu melam polae enna thattu
Touch me top to bottom and play me rhythmically like a drum.
Naan adharkaaga kaathirundhenae
I was eagerly waiting for that very moment.
Nee varum paadhai paarthirundhen
I kept my eyes fixed on the path you would arrive from.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, sir.
Kaathaadum melaaku unnai thinnudhaiyaa
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring you, sir.
Un mugathai paarkaiyila en mugathai naan marandhen
When I look at your face, I completely forget my own face.
Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi
The ear pendant dangling near your ear tells a story, my girl.
Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi
The swaying upper cloth is teasing and devouring me, my girl.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic duet expresses the playful flirtation and deep romantic affection between a young couple. The song opens with playful observations about each other's ornaments and attire—specifically how her dangling ear pendants seem to whisper secrets and how her swaying saree garment entrances him. As they converse through song, the woman expresses how long she waited for her ideal groom, while the man praises her divine beauty, comparing her to goddess Valli and declaring that all his material wealth is meaningless without her love. The lyrics combine classical Tamil literary tropes—such as comparing a lover to a golden chariot or a picture-perfect maiden—with catchy folk rhythms. Both lovers surrender to the euphoria of love, acknowledging that they were made for each other and expressing their longing for intimacy and lifelong union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagatu)
“Unnaatam thaan thanga theru kandadhilla enga ooru”
The male lead refers to the female lead as 'Thanga theru' (Golden chariot) and 'Oviya paavai' (Picture-perfect doll/painting), accentuating her exceptional beauty.
Personification (Maanidamayamaakkal)
“Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhaiyaa”
The ear pendant (lolaaku) is personified as telling stories ('kadhai solludhaiyaa').
Emoni / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaadhoram lolaaku kadhai solludhadi / Kaathaadum melaaku ennai thinnudhadi”
Rhyming/alliteration of initial consonants across lines (Kaadhoram / Kaathaadum).
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Vaanavilla velai koduthu vaangida thaan kaasiruku”
Exaggeration of wealth and devotion where he claims he has enough money to buy a rainbow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although credited as unknown in the prompt, 'Kaadhoram Lolaaku' is a famous hit composed by 'Isaignani' Ilaiyaraaja for the 1993 hit film 'Chinna Mapillai', starring Prabhu and Sukanya. The song was sung by Mano and Swarnalatha with lyrics penned by Vaali, and remains one of the iconic dance-duet tracks of 90s Tamil cinema.
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