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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kattodu Kuzhal Aada

From Periya Idathu Penn · 1963

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singers: T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director: Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name: Periya Idathu Penn
Movie release year: 1963
Lyrics added on: 26 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

{ Kattodu kuzhal

Aada aada aada

Kannendra meen

Aada aada aada } (2)

Pottodu nagai

Aada aada aada

Kondaadum

Mayilae nee aadu

Kattodu kuzhal

Aada aada aada

Kannendra meen

Aada aada

Paavaadai

Kaathodu aada aada

Kaalodu kaal pinni

Aada aada kallunda

Vandaaga aadu

Kattodu kuzhal

Aada aada aada

Kannendra meen

Aada aada

{ Muthiraatha nel

Aada aada aada

Mulaikaatha sol aada

Aada aada } (2)

Uthiraatha malar

Aada aada sathiraadu

Thamizhae nee aadu

Kattodu kuzhal

Aada aada aada

Kannendra meen

Aada aada

………………….

……………….

{ Thennai mara

Thoppaaga thevara paataga } (2)

Punnai maram poochoriya

Chinnavalae nee aadu

Kandaangi mun

Aada kanni manam

Pin aada kandu kandu

Naan aada sendaaga nee aadu

Sendaaga nee aadu

Kattodu kuzhal

Aada aadaFemale chorus :Aada

Kannendra meen

Aada aada

………………………..

Pacharisi pal aada

Pambarathu naavaada

Machanin manam aada

Vattamitu nee aadu

Valli manam

Neeraada thillai manam

Poraada rendu pakkam

Naan aada sonthamae nee aadu

Sonthamae nee aadu

{ As your neatly bound hair

sways, sways, and sways,

and your fish-like eyes

dart, dart, and sway, } (2)

along with your bindi and jewelry

swaying, dancing, and swaying,

like a joyful

peacock, come and dance!

As your neatly bound hair

sways, sways, and sways,

and your fish-like eyes

dart and sway,

As your skirt

twirls high and sways,

as your feet intertwine

and dance, like a honeybee

drunk on nectar, come dance!

As your neatly bound hair

sways, sways, and sways,

and your fish-like eyes

dart and sway,

{ As young, tender paddy

sways, sways, and sways,

and unspoken words stir,

stir, and dance, } (2)

as unfading flowers

sway, dancing gracefully,

my sweet Tamil, come dance!

As your neatly bound hair

sways, sways, and sways,

and your fish-like eyes

dart and sway,

...

...

{ Like a coconut

grove, like a holy Thevaram song, } (2)

with the punnai tree raining blossoms,

little one, come dance!

As the front of your saree sways,

and your young heart

sways behind it, watching you

as I dance, dance like a bouquet of flowers!

Dance like a bouquet of flowers!

As your neatly bound hair

sways, sways—(Chorus: dances)—

and your fish-like eyes

dart and sway,

...

As the milky juice of fresh rice swirls,

as the point of a spinning top whirls,

and your sweetheart's heart dances,

whirl around and dance!

While Valli's heart

bathes in joy, and Thillai's heart

is torn in struggle,

as I dance between both, my dear, come dance!

My dear, come dance!

Female

Female

Chorus

Female

Female

Female

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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