Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kizhavikku Mudhaliravu

From Odangal · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Kovai Kamala
Music director
Sampath Selvam
Details
Odangal1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Laalalalaalaa…..laalalallaa….Laalalalaalaa... laalalallaa...
Laalalalaalaa…..laalalallaa….Laalalalaalaa... laalalallaa...
Female
Kizhavikku mudhaliravuFirst nuptial night for an old woman,
Kettaalae kirukirukkumJust hearing about it makes her dizzy with excitement.
Female
Kizhavikku mudhaliravuFirst nuptial night for an old woman,
Kettaalae kirukirukkumJust hearing about it makes her dizzy with excitement.
Ippa naan nenachchaalumEven if I think about it now,
Engengo kurukurukkumIt gives me tingles all over.
Yaeththi vachcha thirivilakkuThe sacred lamp that was lit
Eppothum anaiyalaiyaeHas never gone out.
Muththamitta ponnudhaduThe golden lips that shared a kiss
Moonu naalum piriyalaiyae….ae….Didn't part even for three whole days...
Female
Kizhavikku mudhaliravuFirst nuptial night for an old woman,
Kettaalae kirukirukkum…..Just hearing about it makes her dizzy with excitement...
Female
Paayaellaam poovu padukkaiyellaam panneeruFlowers all over the mat, rosewater all over the bed,
Malligaippoo kaiyil suththi vanthaaru mannaaruMy king arrived with jasmine flowers wrapped around his hands.
Paayaellaam poovu padukkaiyellaam panneeruFlowers all over the mat, rosewater all over the bed,
Malligaippoo kaiyil suththi vanthaaru mannaaruMy king arrived with jasmine flowers wrapped around his hands.
Female
Mallu veati kattikittuWearing a fine muslin dhoti,
Mallukatta vantha machchaanMy beau came over to playfully wrestle.
Paal kudikkum poonaiyai polLike a cat stealthily drinking milk,
Padharaama ettu vachchaanHe took soft steps without rushing.
Achchaththila naanirukkaWhile I stood trembling in fear,
Anganga thottu vachchaanHe gently touched me here and there.
Ponaa poguthinnuOut of sheer generosity,
Podavaiyaththaan vittu vachchaanHe spared my saree and left it intact.
Female
Kizhavikku mudhaliravuFirst nuptial night for an old woman,
Kettaalae kirukirukkumJust hearing about it makes her dizzy with excitement.
Ippa naan nenachchaalumEven if I think about it now,
Engengo kurukurukkumIt gives me tingles all over.
Female
Poovukku vaasamunduFlowers have their own fragrance,
Pombalaikku theriyumadiEvery woman knows that, my friend!
Aambalaikkum vaasamunduMen too have their own unique scent,
Annaikkuththaan paarththendiThat was the day I truly discovered it!
Poovukku vaasamunduFlowers have their own fragrance,
Pombalaikku theriyumadiEvery woman knows that, my friend!
Aambalaikkum vaasamunduMen too have their own unique scent,
Annaikkuththaan paarththendiThat was the day I truly discovered it!
Female
Kooththu nadanthathadiA playful drama unfolded,
kummaalam mudinjuthadiAnd the joyful celebration came to an end.
Ettu naal kazhichchuthanOnly after eight full days
Iruvarukkum vidinjuthadiDid dawn finally break for both of us!
Vidinju paarththaa….When dawn broke and we looked...
Podava katti avanirukkaHe was wearing the saree,
Vaetti katti naanirukkaAnd I was wearing the dhoti!
Veliyaeri vanthomadiWe stepped outside dressed like that, my friend,
Veedhiyellaam sirisirikkaLeaving the whole street bursting in laughter!
Chorus :HahahaahhaChorus: Hahahaahha
Male :Ooo….oo….ooo….Male: Ooo... oo... ooo...
Female
Kizhavikku mudhaliravuFirst nuptial night for an old woman,
Kettaalae kirukirukkumJust hearing about it makes her dizzy with excitement.
Ippa naan nenachchaalumEven if I think about it now,
Engengo kurukurukkumIt gives me tingles all over.
Chorus :HahahaahhaChorus: Hahahaahha

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kizhavikku Mudhaliravu is a humorous and nostalgic Tamil folk song from the movie Odangal (1986), penned by lyricist Vairamuthu. The song captures an elderly woman fondly looking back at her first wedding night with playful embarrassment and joy. She describes how, even in her old age, the vivid memories of her youth bring back butterfly-like sensations and sweet nostalgia. Through lively folk metaphors, she describes her husband's gentle, stealthy steps like a cat drinking milk, the intimacy they shared, and the hilarious confusion the next morning when they accidentally swapped clothes—him wearing her saree and her in his dhoti—amusing the entire village street.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edugai and Iyaibu (Rhyme Scheme)

Paayaellaam poovu padukkaiyellaam panneeru / Malligaippoo kaiyil suththi vanthaaru mannaaru

The lyrics use second-consonant agreement (Edugai) and end-rhyming words (Iyaibu) such as panneeru and mannaaru to create an infectious folk cadence.

Simile (Upamai)

Paal kudikkum poonaiyai pol / Padharaama ettu vachchaan

The husband's soft, careful, and quiet approach into the room is compared to a stealthy milk-drinking cat walking without making a sound.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Ettu naal kazhichchuthan / Iruvarukkum vidinjuthadi

The lyricist exaggerates that eight whole days passed before they realized morning had come, emphasizing how completely absorbed they were in their romantic bliss.

Onomatopoeia (Anukaranai)

Kettaalae kirukirukkum / Engengo kurukurukkum

Words like kirukirukkum (dizziness) and kurukurukkum (tingling/butterflies) vividly mimic physical sensation through rhythmic sound effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Odangal (1986) was directed by Ameerjan with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. This song stands out in Tamil film music as a rare, highly comedic folk track depicting an elderly woman humorously recounting her youthful wedding night romance, crafted with trademark folk wit by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

More from Odangal