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Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kichu Kichu Thambalam

From Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam · 1980

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
21 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lalla lallaal laallaa
Lala lallaallaa lallaallaa lallaallaa
Nannaa nannaannaa
Nannaa naannaa
Nanaa nanaa nanaa nanaa
Naanaa naanaa naanaa naanaa
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Kaala kannuga ippo
Tthulludhu summaa
Kayiththa mookkula ittu
Paakkuraa ammaa
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Nee aan pillai endraalae
Kottukkul nillu
Naan pen pillai ketkindren
Sariyaaga chollu
Yen yaarodum yedhaachum
Undaa aiyaa
Yaarodum seraadha paiyaa
Nee aattamittu aaduvadhenna
Pattai kettu oduvadhenna
Unnoda irundhaalae
Oru naalum thirunaalaiyaa
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Naan mel naattu pennalla
Thamizh naadu thaanae
Nee kai naattu aalalla
Padichaayae veeranae
Nee thillaalae thaaraadhaero
Maammaa maammaa
Neeyaachu naanaachu aamaa
Naan enna solli ennaththa panna
Kanni ponnu kannaththa killa
Sonnaalum puriyalla
Thannaalae theriyallaiyae
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Kaala kannuga ippo
Tthulludhu summaa
Kayiththa mookkula ittu
Paakkuraa ammaa
Kichu kichu thaambaalam
Kiyaa kiyaa thaambaalam
Enga raajaavukku eppa kalyaanam
Lalla lallaal laalla
Lalla lallaal laalla
Lala lallaalla lallaalla lallaalla
Nanna nannaanna
Nanna naanna
Nana nana nana nana
Naana naana naana naana
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
The young bull calf now
prances around without reason,
and putting a rope through its nose,
Mother tries to rein it in!
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
If you are a real man,
stand firm within the ring!
I am a woman asking you,
give me a straight answer!
Tell me, do you have something
going on with anyone else, sir?
You boy who stays away from everyone!
Why do you dance and act so restless?
Why do you lose control and run wild?
If only I am with you,
every single day is a festival!
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
I am not a woman from a foreign land,
I am from Tamil Nadu itself!
You are not an unlettered man using thumbprints,
you are educated and brave!
Singing thillaley thaaradhero,
my dear love, oh my love!
It is just you and me now, yes!
What more can I say, what can I do?
To come and pinch a young girl's cheek,
you do not get it even when told,
and you cannot figure it out on your own!
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
The young bull calf now
prances around without reason,
and putting a rope through its nose,
Mother tries to rein it in!
Kichu kichu thaambaalam,
Kiya kiya thaambaalam,
When is our king getting married?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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