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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kattana Kattalagazhu

From Kudumba Thalaivan · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kudumba Thalaivan
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
14 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kattaana kattazhagu kannaa
Unnai kaanaadha pennum oru pennaa…
Kattaana kattazhagu kannaa
Unnai kaanaadha pennum oru pennaa…
Pattaadai katti vandha mainaa
Unnai paarkkaadha kannum oru kannaa…
Pattaadai katti vandha mainaa
Unnai paarkkaadha kannum oru kannaa…
Pattaadai katti vandha mainaa
Nadai podu… nadai podu
Nadai podu… nadai podu
Nadai podu nadai podu manamendra thaeril
Nadamaadum mayil polavae
Nadai podu nadai podu manamendra thaeril
Nadamaadum mayil polavae
Un idaiyodu idaiyodu kodi pola ullam
Vialaiyaada vandha nilavae…
Kattaana kattazhagu kannaa
Vilaiyaadu nee vilaiyaadu…
Vilaiyaadu vilaiyaadu vidikkindra varaiyil
Azhagodu vandha thunaiyae
Vilaiyaadu vilaiyaadu vidikkindra varaiyil
Azhagodu vandha thunaiyae
Pon valaiyodu valaiyodu isai paadum kaiyil
Valaindhaada vandha kaliyae
Pattaadai katti vandha mainaa
Paalendra paruvamae
Pazhamendra uruvamae
Saelendra kangalae vaa nee vaa…aa…
Paalendra paruvamae
Pazhamendra uruvamae
Saelendra kangalae vaa
Siru noolendra idaiyilae
Kaal pinnum nadaiyilae
Noi thandha penmaiyae vaa
Kaadhal noi thandha penmaiyae vaa
Madhayaanai vadivamae
Nadamaadum veeramae
Malar pondra ullamae vaa…vaa…vaa…aaa
Madhayaanai vadivamae
Nadamaadum veeramae
Malar pondra ullamae vaa
Naam ariyaadha boomiyil
Theriyaadha paadhaiyil
Iru perum pogalaam vaa
Naam iru perum pogalaam vaa
Pattaadai katti vandha mainaa
Unnai paarkkaadha kannum oru kannaa
Kattaana kattazhagu kannaa
Unnai kaanaadha pennum oru pennaa
Kattaana kattazhagu kannaa
Aa…haa.haa…
O…ho…ho…
Aa…haa.haa…
O…ho…ho…
O handsome darling with a sturdy build,
is a woman who has not seen you really a woman?
O handsome darling with a sturdy build,
is a woman who has not seen you really a woman?
O myna draped in fine silk,
is an eye that has not seen you really an eye?
O myna draped in fine silk,
is an eye that has not seen you really an eye?
O myna draped in fine silk,
Walk gracefully... walk gracefully...
Walk gracefully... walk gracefully...
Take graceful steps upon the chariot of my heart,
just like a dancing peacock!
Take graceful steps upon the chariot of my heart,
just like a dancing peacock!
With your slender waist swaying like a vine,
O moon who came to play with my heart!
O handsome darling with a sturdy build,
Play on, yes, play on...
Play on, play on until the break of dawn,
O companion who arrived with such beauty!
Play on, play on until the break of dawn,
O companion who arrived with such beauty!
In arms where golden bangles chime against each other,
O sweet joy who came to bend and dance!
O myna draped in fine silk,
O youth as pure and sweet as milk,
O beauty as tender as ripe fruit,
O eyes shaped like glistening fish, come, oh come...
O youth as pure and sweet as milk,
O beauty as tender as ripe fruit,
O eyes shaped like glistening fish, come!
With a waist as slender as a single thread,
and a graceful walk of swaying steps,
O sweet womanhood that gifted me lovesickness, come!
O womanly grace that brought me love's fever, come!
O majestic man built like a mighty elephant,
O living image of courage,
O heart as gentle as a blossom, come... come... come...
O majestic man built like a mighty elephant,
O living image of courage,
O heart as gentle as a blossom, come!
To a distant land we have never known,
along an unfamiliar path,
let the two of us go together, come!
Let the two of us go together, come!
O myna draped in fine silk,
is an eye that has not seen you really an eye?
O handsome darling with a sturdy build,
is a woman who has not seen you really a woman?
O handsome darling with a sturdy build,
Ah... ha ha...
Oh... ho... ho...
Ah... ha ha...
Oh... ho... ho...
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This delightful duet from the film 'Kudumba Thalaivan' is a joyful interchange of romantic admiration between two lovers. The female protagonist praises her beloved's masculine posture, strength, and noble heart, comparing his stature to a majestic elephant and his tender soul to a blossom. In turn, the male protagonist marvels at her elegance, comparing her movements to a dancing peacock, her eyes to glistening carp fish, and her presence to a silk-draped myna bird.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Nadamaadum mayil polavae

Compares the movement of the lover on the mind's chariot to a dancing peacock using 'polavae'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Nadai podu nadai podu manamendra thaeril

Metaphorically describes the mind as a chariot ('manamendra thaer').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paalendra paruvamae / Pazhamendra uruvamae

The second letter 'la' rhymes across successive lines ('Paalendra' and 'Pazhamendra').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Saelendra kangalae vaa

Compares the eyes directly to 'Sael' (a species of carp fish) denoting grace and quickness.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Kudumba Thalaivan' (1962) features M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics crafted by Kannadasan and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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