Kattodu Kuzhal Aada
From Periya Idathu Penn · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Periya Idathu Penn1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Kattodu kuzhal | Tied tresses of hair |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Kannendra meen | Eyes like fish |
| Aada aada aada } (2) | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Female | |
| Pottodu nagai | Bindi along with fine jewelry |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Chorus | |
| Kondaadum | Like a celebrating |
| Mayilae nee aadu | Peacock, dance! |
| Female | |
| Kattodu kuzhal | Tied tresses of hair |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Kannendra meen | Eyes like fish |
| Aada aada | Swaying, swaying |
| Female | |
| Paavaadai | The skirt |
| Kaathodu aada aada | Swaying with the wind, swaying |
| Kaalodu kaal pinni | Legs intertwining with legs |
| Aada aada kallunda | Swaying, swaying, like an intoxicated |
| Vandaaga aadu | Beetle, dance! |
| Female | |
| Kattodu kuzhal | Tied tresses of hair |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Kannendra meen | Eyes like fish |
| Aada aada | Swaying, swaying |
| Female | |
| { Muthiraatha nel | Unripe paddy grains |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Mulaikaatha sol aada | Unsprouted words swaying |
| Aada aada } (2) | Swaying, swaying |
| Male | |
| Uthiraatha malar | Unfallen flower |
| Aada aada sathiraadu | Swaying, swaying, dance gracefully |
| Thamizhae nee aadu | Oh personified Tamil, dance! |
| Female | |
| Kattodu kuzhal | Tied tresses of hair |
| Aada aada aada | Swaying, swaying, swaying |
| Kannendra meen | Eyes like fish |
| Aada aada | Swaying, swaying |
| Male | |
| …………………. | |
| Female | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| { Thennai mara | Like a coconut grove |
| Thoppaaga thevara paataga } (2) | And sacred devotional chants (Thevaram) |
| Punnai maram poochoriya | As the Alexandrian laurel tree showers blossoms |
| Chinnavalae nee aadu | Little girl, dance! |
| Male | |
| Kandaangi mun | The front of the Kandaangi saree |
| Aada kanni manam | Swaying, and the maiden's heart |
| Pin aada kandu kandu | Swaying behind, watching this |
| Naan aada sendaaga nee aadu | As I dance, dance like a ball of flowers! |
| Sendaaga nee aadu | Dance like a ball of flowers! |
| Male | |
| Kattodu kuzhal | Tied tresses of hair |
| Aada aadaFemale chorus :Aada | Swaying, swaying Female chorus: Swaying |
| Kannendra meen | Eyes like fish |
| Aada aada | Swaying, swaying |
| Female | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Pacharisi pal aada | Raw rice white as milk swaying |
| Pambarathu naavaada | Tongue spinning like a top swaying |
| Machanin manam aada | The lover's heart swaying |
| Vattamitu nee aadu | Circle around and dance |
| Male | |
| Valli manam | Valli's heart |
| Neeraada thillai manam | Bathing in water, Thillai's heart |
| Poraada rendu pakkam | Tossing and turning, on both sides |
| Naan aada sonthamae nee aadu | As I dance, my dear kin, dance! |
| Sonthamae nee aadu | My dear kin, dance! |
{ கட்டோடு குழல்
ஆட ஆட ஆட கண் என்ற
மீன் ஆட ஆட ஆட } (2)
Tied tresses of hair
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Eyes like fish
Swaying, swaying, swaying
பொட்டோடு
நகை ஆட ஆட ஆட
Bindi along with fine jewelry
Swaying, swaying, swaying
கொண்டாடும்
மயிலே நீ ஆடு
Like a celebrating
Peacock, dance!
கட்டோடு குழல்
ஆட ஆட ஆட கண் என்ற
மீன் ஆட ஆட
Tied tresses of hair
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Eyes like fish
Swaying, swaying
பாவாடை காத்தோடு
ஆட ஆட காலோடு கால்
பின்னி ஆட ஆட கள்ளுண்ட
வண்டாக ஆடு
The skirt
Swaying with the wind, swaying
Legs intertwining with legs
Swaying, swaying, like an intoxicated
Beetle, dance!
கட்டோடு குழல்
ஆட ஆட ஆட கண் என்ற
மீன் ஆட ஆட
Tied tresses of hair
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Eyes like fish
Swaying, swaying
{ முதிராத நெல்
ஆட ஆட ஆட முளைக்காத
சொல் ஆட ஆட ஆட } (2)
Unripe paddy grains
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Unsprouted words swaying
Swaying, swaying
உதிராத மலர்
ஆட ஆட சதிராடு
தமிழே நீ ஆடு
Unfallen flower
Swaying, swaying, dance gracefully
Oh personified Tamil, dance!
கட்டோடு குழல்
ஆட ஆட ஆட கண் என்ற
மீன் ஆட ஆட
Tied tresses of hair
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Eyes like fish
Swaying, swaying
........................
........................
{ தென்னை மரத்
தோப்பாக தேவாரப்
பாட்டாக } (2)
புன்னை மரம் பூசொரிய
சின்னவளே நீ ஆடு
கண்டாங்கி முன்
ஆட கன்னி மனம் பின்
ஆட கண்டு கண்டு நான்
ஆட செண்டாக நீ ஆடு
செண்டாக நீ ஆடு
Like a coconut grove
And sacred devotional chants (Thevaram)
As the Alexandrian laurel tree showers blossoms
Little girl, dance!
கட்டோடு
குழல் ஆட ஆட
பெண் குழு :
ஆட
கண் என்ற மீன்
ஆட ஆட
The front of the Kandaangi saree
Swaying, and the maiden's heart
Swaying behind, watching this
As I dance, dance like a ball of flowers!
Dance like a ball of flowers!
.....................
Tied tresses of hair
Swaying, swaying Female chorus: Swaying
Eyes like fish
Swaying, swaying
பச்சரிசி பல்
ஆட பம்பரத்து நாவாட
மச்சானின் மனமாட
வட்டமிட்டு நீ ஆடு
வள்ளி மனம்
நீராட தில்லை மனம்
போராட ரெண்டு பக்கம்
நான் ஆட சொந்தமே
நீ ஆடு சொந்தமே நீ ஆடு
Raw rice white as milk swaying
Tongue spinning like a top swaying
The lover's heart swaying
Circle around and dance
ஆண் & பெண் :
கட்டோடு
குழல் ஆட ஆட
பெண் குழு :
ஆட
கண் என்ற மீன்
ஆட ஆட
Valli's heart
Bathing in water, Thillai's heart
Tossing and turning, on both sides
As I dance, my dear kin, dance!
My dear kin, dance!
ஆண் & பெண் :
பொட்டோடு
நகை ஆட ஆட
பெண் குழு :
ஆட
கொண்டாடும்
மயிலே நீ ஆடு
ஆண் & பெண் :
கட்டோடு
குழல் ஆட ஆட
பெண் குழு :
ஆட
கண் என்ற மீன்
ஆட ஆட
{ Kattodu kuzhal
Tied tresses of hair
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Kannendra meen
Eyes like fish
Aada aada aada } (2)
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Pottodu nagai
Bindi along with fine jewelry
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Kondaadum
Like a celebrating
Mayilae nee aadu
Peacock, dance!
Kattodu kuzhal
Tied tresses of hair
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Kannendra meen
Eyes like fish
Aada aada
Swaying, swaying
Paavaadai
The skirt
Kaathodu aada aada
Swaying with the wind, swaying
Kaalodu kaal pinni
Legs intertwining with legs
Aada aada kallunda
Swaying, swaying, like an intoxicated
Vandaaga aadu
Beetle, dance!
Kattodu kuzhal
Tied tresses of hair
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Kannendra meen
Eyes like fish
Aada aada
Swaying, swaying
{ Muthiraatha nel
Unripe paddy grains
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Mulaikaatha sol aada
Unsprouted words swaying
Aada aada } (2)
Swaying, swaying
Uthiraatha malar
Unfallen flower
Aada aada sathiraadu
Swaying, swaying, dance gracefully
Thamizhae nee aadu
Oh personified Tamil, dance!
Kattodu kuzhal
Tied tresses of hair
Aada aada aada
Swaying, swaying, swaying
Kannendra meen
Eyes like fish
Aada aada
Swaying, swaying
………………….
……………….
{ Thennai mara
Like a coconut grove
Thoppaaga thevara paataga } (2)
And sacred devotional chants (Thevaram)
Punnai maram poochoriya
As the Alexandrian laurel tree showers blossoms
Chinnavalae nee aadu
Little girl, dance!
Kandaangi mun
The front of the Kandaangi saree
Aada kanni manam
Swaying, and the maiden's heart
Pin aada kandu kandu
Swaying behind, watching this
Naan aada sendaaga nee aadu
As I dance, dance like a ball of flowers!
Sendaaga nee aadu
Dance like a ball of flowers!
Kattodu kuzhal
Tied tresses of hair
Aada aadaFemale chorus :Aada
Swaying, swaying Female chorus: Swaying
Kannendra meen
Eyes like fish
Aada aada
Swaying, swaying
………………………..
Pacharisi pal aada
Raw rice white as milk swaying
Pambarathu naavaada
Tongue spinning like a top swaying
Machanin manam aada
The lover's heart swaying
Vattamitu nee aadu
Circle around and dance
Valli manam
Valli's heart
Neeraada thillai manam
Bathing in water, Thillai's heart
Poraada rendu pakkam
Tossing and turning, on both sides
Naan aada sonthamae nee aadu
As I dance, my dear kin, dance!
Sonthamae nee aadu
My dear kin, dance!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kattodu Kuzhal' is a joyful, rhythmically infectious romantic folk song from the 1963 Tamil movie 'Periya Idathu Penn'. Penned by lyricist Kannadasan, the song celebrates the grace and beauty of a dancing young woman. The speaker affectionately invites her to dance, describing how her tied hair, fish-like eyes, flowing skirt, and traditional saree move in rhythm, drawing comparisons to dancing peacocks and honey-drunk beetles.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Kannendra meen”
Compares the heroine's eyes to glistening fish ('Kannendra meen').
Repetition (Adukku Thodaru)
“Aada aada aada”
Rhythmic repetition of 'Aada' enhances the musicality and vivid description of movement.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thamizhae nee aadu”
Personifies the beloved directly as the Tamil language itself ('Thamizhae nee aadu').
Simile (Uvamai)
“Vandaaga aadu”
Compares the dancing maiden's intertwined leg movements to an intoxicated beetle ('Kallunda vandaaga aadu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by T.M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this song features M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. It remains one of the most iconic folk-style dance numbers in classical Tamil cinema.
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