Kichu Kichu Thambalam
From Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam · 1980
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Lalla lallaal laallaa | Lalla lallaal laallaa |
| Lalla lallaal laallaa | Lalla lallaal laallaa |
| Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa | Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa |
| Female | |
| Nannaa nannaannaa | Nannaa nannaannaa |
| Nannaa naannaa | Nannaa naannaa |
| Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa | Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa |
| Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa | Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
| Female | |
| Kaala kannuga ippo | The bull calf's eyes now |
| Tthulludhu summaa | Are bouncing playfully for no reason |
| Kayiththa mookkula ittu | Tying a rope through its nose |
| Paakkuraa ammaa | Mother is watching over |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
| Female | |
| Nee aan pillai endraalae | If you say you are a man |
| Kottukkul nillu | Stand within your boundaries |
| Naan pen pillai ketkindren | I, a young woman, am asking you |
| Sariyaaga chollu | Tell me truthfully and correctly |
| Female | |
| Yen yaarodum yedhaachum | Why, is there something going on |
| Undaa aiyaa | With anyone else, sir? |
| Yaarodum seraadha paiyaa | Oh boy who doesn't mix with anyone |
| Nee aattamittu aaduvadhenna | Why are you dancing and making a scene? |
| Pattai kettu oduvadhenna | Why are you breaking loose and running away? |
| Unnoda irundhaalae | Just being in your company |
| Oru naalum thirunaalaiyaa | Every single day feels like a grand festival! |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
| Female | |
| Naan mel naattu pennalla | I am not a woman from a foreign land |
| Thamizh naadu thaanae | I am from Tamil Nadu itself |
| Nee kai naattu aalalla | You are not an uneducated illiterate person |
| Padichaayae veeranae | You are educated, oh brave one |
| Female | |
| Nee thillaalae thaaraadhaero | Are you playing sly games? |
| Maammaa maammaa | Oh uncle, oh uncle |
| Neeyaachu naanaachu aamaa | It is between you and me now, yes |
| Naan enna solli ennaththa panna | What can I say or do |
| Kanni ponnu kannaththa killa | When you pinch the young girl's cheek? |
| Sonnaalum puriyalla | Even when told, you do not understand |
| Thannaalae theriyallaiyae | Do you not even realize it by yourself? |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
| Female | |
| Kaala kannuga ippo | The bull calf's eyes now |
| Tthulludhu summaa | Are bouncing playfully for no reason |
| Kayiththa mookkula ittu | Tying a rope through its nose |
| Paakkuraa ammaa | Mother is watching over |
| Female | |
| Kichu kichu thaambaalam | Kichu kichu betel tray game |
| Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam | Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game |
| Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam | When is the wedding for our king? |
...................
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
Nannaa nannaannaa
Nannaa naannaa
Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa
Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
காள கன்னுக
இப்போ துள்ளுது சும்மா
கயித்த மூக்கில இட்டு
பார்க்கிறா அம்மா
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
The bull calf's eyes now
Are bouncing playfully for no reason
Tying a rope through its nose
Mother is watching over
நீ ஆண்பிள்ளை என்றாலே
கோட்டுக்குள் நில்லு
நான் பெண்பிள்ளை கேட்கின்றேன்
சரியாக சொல்லு
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
ஏன் யாரோட ஏதாச்சும் உண்டா ஐயா
யாரோடும் சேராத பையா
நீ ஆட்டமிட்டு ஆடுவதென்ன
பாட்டை கேட்டு ஓடுவதென்ன
உன்னோடு இருந்தாலே
ஒருநாளும் திருநாளய்யா
If you say you are a man
Stand within your boundaries
I, a young woman, am asking you
Tell me truthfully and correctly
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
Why, is there something going on
With anyone else, sir?
Oh boy who doesn't mix with anyone
Why are you dancing and making a scene?
Why are you breaking loose and running away?
Just being in your company
Every single day feels like a grand festival!
நான் மேல்நாட்டு பெண்ணல்ல
தமிழ்நாடுதானே
நீ கைநாட்டு ஆளல்ல
படிச்சாயே வீரனே
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
நீ தில்லாலே தாரதேரோ
மாமா மாமா
நீயாச்சு நானாச்சு ஆமா
I am not a woman from a foreign land
I am from Tamil Nadu itself
You are not an uneducated illiterate person
You are educated, oh brave one
நான் என்ன சொல்லி என்னத்த பண்ண
கன்னி பொண்ணு கன்னத்த கிள்ள
சொன்னாலும் புரியல்ல
தன்னாலே தெரியல்லையே
Are you playing sly games?
Oh uncle, oh uncle
It is between you and me now, yes
What can I say or do
When you pinch the young girl's cheek?
Even when told, you do not understand
Do you not even realize it by yourself?
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
காள கன்னுக
இப்போ துள்ளுது சும்மா
கயித்த மூக்கில இட்டு
பார்க்கிறா அம்மா
The bull calf's eyes now
Are bouncing playfully for no reason
Tying a rope through its nose
Mother is watching over
கிச்சு கிச்சு தாம்பாளம்
கியா கியா தாம்பாளம்
எங்க ராஜாவுக்கு எப்ப கல்யாணம்
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
When is the wedding for our king?
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa
Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa
Nannaa nannaannaa
Nannaa nannaannaa
Nannaa naannaa
Nannaa naannaa
Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa
Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa
Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa
Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Kaala kannuga ippo
The bull calf's eyes now
Tthulludhu summaa
Are bouncing playfully for no reason
Kayiththa mookkula ittu
Tying a rope through its nose
Paakkuraa ammaa
Mother is watching over
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Nee aan pillai endraalae
If you say you are a man
Kottukkul nillu
Stand within your boundaries
Naan pen pillai ketkindren
I, a young woman, am asking you
Sariyaaga chollu
Tell me truthfully and correctly
Yen yaarodum yedhaachum
Why, is there something going on
Undaa aiyaa
With anyone else, sir?
Yaarodum seraadha paiyaa
Oh boy who doesn't mix with anyone
Nee aattamittu aaduvadhenna
Why are you dancing and making a scene?
Pattai kettu oduvadhenna
Why are you breaking loose and running away?
Unnoda irundhaalae
Just being in your company
Oru naalum thirunaalaiyaa
Every single day feels like a grand festival!
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Naan mel naattu pennalla
I am not a woman from a foreign land
Thamizh naadu thaanae
I am from Tamil Nadu itself
Nee kai naattu aalalla
You are not an uneducated illiterate person
Padichaayae veeranae
You are educated, oh brave one
Nee thillaalae thaaraadhaero
Are you playing sly games?
Maammaa maammaa
Oh uncle, oh uncle
Neeyaachu naanaachu aamaa
It is between you and me now, yes
Naan enna solli ennaththa panna
What can I say or do
Kanni ponnu kannaththa killa
When you pinch the young girl's cheek?
Sonnaalum puriyalla
Even when told, you do not understand
Thannaalae theriyallaiyae
Do you not even realize it by yourself?
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Kaala kannuga ippo
The bull calf's eyes now
Tthulludhu summaa
Are bouncing playfully for no reason
Kayiththa mookkula ittu
Tying a rope through its nose
Paakkuraa ammaa
Mother is watching over
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kichu kichu betel tray game
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa betel tray game
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
When is the wedding for our king?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kichu Kichu Thaambaalam' is a playful, romantic folk-style song centered around a traditional Tamil children's game rhyme used metaphorically to tease a man about his impending marriage. The female protagonist playfully challenges her lover, questioning his coyness, calling him educated yet playfully foolish in matters of love, and urging him to take a stand and marry her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Folk Rhyme Metaphor (Nattupura Paadal)
“Kichu kichu thaambaalam Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam”
The line uses 'Kichu kichu thaambaalam', a traditional Tamil children's clapping game rhyme, as an extended metaphor for marital negotiations and romantic teasing.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nee aan pillai endraalae / Naan pen pillai ketkindren”
The second letters 'aan' in 'aan' and 'en' in 'pen' share rhythmic alignment across lines.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaala kannuga ippo / Tthulludhu summaa”
Repetition of the 'Ka' and 'T' initial sounds in adjacent lines creates a rhythmic bounce.
Did you know?
Trivia
The hook line 'Kichu kichu thaambaalam' is adapted from a classic Tamil folk game rhythm traditionally played by children in rural Tamil Nadu.
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