Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kendai Keluthi

From Panam Pagai Paasam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Panam Pagai Paasam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
2 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Raavelaam muzhichchi naane pudippaen
Raavelaam muzhichchi naane pudippaen
Sikkaatha meenukellaam vala veesa nenappen
Sikkaatha meenukellaam vala veesa nenappen
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Vengaaya kozhambu vachu meena
Vennaiya pol vega vachchu
Moochu mutta thinnu vaasanaikku ponnu
Thannaala pakkam varuvaa
Vengaaya kozhambu vachu meena
Vennaiya pol vega vachchu
Moochu mutta thinnu vaasanaikku ponnu
Thannaala pakkam varuvaa
Neiyaattam manakkumunga
Thanni naakkulathaan oorumunga
Neiyaattam manakkumunga
Thanni naakkulathaan oorumunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Paththavidum annaachchi
Thaedi vanthathu ennaachchi
Enniyathu unakku ennidaththil irukku
Ennaivittu pogaathae
Aalaagi naalaachchu
Udambu aasaiyilae noolaachchu
Aalaagi naalaachchu
Udambu aasaiyilae noolaachchu
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Koodaiyilae nandirukku
Adha kondu poga aalirukku
Eththanaiyo kokku suththuratha paaru
Koththi poga udamaattaen
Koodaiyilae nandirukku
Adha kondu poga aalirukku
Eththanaiyo kokku suththuratha paaru
Koththi poga udamaattaen
Yaemaaththa mudiyaathu
Adhuthaan engitta nadakkaathu
Yaemaaththa mudiyaathu
Adhuthaan engitta nadakkaathu
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa
Rushiyaana meenunga
Raavellaam muzhichchi naanae pudippaen
Raavellaam muzhichchi naanae pudippaen
Sikkaatha meenukellaam vala veesa nenaippaen
Sikkaatha meenukellaam vala veesa nenaippaen
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Staying awake all night, I catch them myself,
Staying awake all night, I catch them myself,
For any fish that gets away, I plan to cast my net!
For any fish that gets away, I plan to cast my net!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Cooking the fish in an onion curry,
simmering it soft like butter,
eating until full, drawn by the aroma, a girl
will come near on her own!
Cooking the fish in an onion curry,
simmering it soft like butter,
eating until full, drawn by the aroma, a girl
will come near on her own!
It will smell as rich as ghee,
and your mouth will water for sure!
It will smell as rich as ghee,
and your mouth will water for sure!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Hey mister who sparks a flame,
what happened to what you came looking for?
What you dreamed of is right here with me,
so don't leave me and go!
It has been years since I came of age,
and my body has worn thin as thread with desire!
It has been years since I came of age,
and my body has worn thin as thread with desire!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
There is a crab in the basket,
and someone waiting to take it away!
Look at all the cranes circling around,
but I won't let them peck it and fly away!
There is a crab in the basket,
and someone waiting to take it away!
Look at all the cranes circling around,
but I won't let them peck it and fly away!
You cannot fool me,
that will never work with me!
You cannot fool me,
that will never work with me!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Carp, catfish, ribbon fish, and pomfret,
they are delicious fish, you know!
Staying awake all night, I catch them myself,
Staying awake all night, I catch them myself,
For any fish that gets away, I plan to cast my net!
For any fish that gets away, I plan to cast my net!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kendai Keluthi Vaala Vavvaa is a lively, folk-style romantic song from the film Panam Pagai Paasam (1979). Sung by Vani Jairam with music composed by Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics written by Kannadasan, the song uses rich culinary and fishing metaphors to express playful flirtation, desire, and affection. The heroine names various popular freshwater fish (Kendai, Keluthi, Vaala, Vavvaa) and describes preparing mouth-watering dishes with onion curry and ghee. Through these sensory food metaphors and imagery of fishing nets and protective crabs, she playfully tempts her lover, expresses her longing, and warns off potential rivals symbolized as circling cranes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Vennaiya pol vega vachchu”

Compares the delicate, soft texture of well-cooked fish to butter using the comparative marker 'pol'.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Udambu aasaiyilae noolaachchu”

Exaggerates physical longing and weight loss due to romantic longing as becoming thin as a thread.

Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Eththanaiyo kokku suththuratha paaru / Koththi poga udamaattaen”

Uses 'kokku' (cranes) as a metaphor for rival suitors trying to peck away 'nandhu' (crab/love interest).

Alliteration (Monai)

“Kendai keluthi vaala vavvaa”

Repetition of the initial 'k' consonant sound across consecutive words in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Panam Pagai Paasam (1979) showcased Kannadasan's skill in adopting authentic rural folk terminology and local seafood culture into film lyrics. Vani Jairam's energetic rendition combined with Shankar-Ganesh's catchy folk beats made this track a memorable dance number in late 70s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Pozhuthukku Munne1973
Komatha En KulamathaVillage LifeNature
Pandhaiyathula Kalandhirukkura1979
Lakshmi (1979)CourtshipPlayful Romance
Sonnapadi Kelu1992
SingaravelanPlayful RomancePlayful
Machchaanai Oram Kattu1991
Nallathai Naadu KekumPlayfulVillage Life
Samaiyal Padame Porumaiyaga1982
Manipur MamiyarPlayfulPlayful Romance
Vettakaara Kootam2021
Jai BhimAttractionWork And Duty

From the same album

More songs from Panam Pagai Paasam

View album
Nethu Madhuraiyile1979
Panam Pagai PaasamPlayful
Enakku Piditha Roja1979
Panam Pagai PaasamRomantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.