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Lyrics & meaning

Kodi Naattuven

From Kathanayaki · 1955

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Kathanayaki1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kodi naattuven vettriI will hoist the flag of victory
Kodi naattuvenI will hoist the flag
Kadhal sogam veeram nadippaenI will act out romance, sorrow, and heroism
Azhagaai naan medaiyilaeBeautifully on the stage
Female
Kodi naattuven vettriI will hoist the flag of victory
Kodi naattuvenI will hoist the flag
Kadhal sogam veeram nadippaenI will act out romance, sorrow, and heroism
Azhagaai naan medaiyilaeBeautifully on the stage
Female
Suttri vanthu janangalellaamAll the people gathering around
Etti etti paarkkanumMust tip-toe and strain to catch a glimpse
Sollapponaal rasigarellaamIn fact, all the fans
Autograph kekkanumMust ask for an autograph
Paththirikkai editterellaamAll the newspaper editors
Vaasalilae kaakkanumMust wait outside my door
Female
Kodi naattuven vettriI will hoist the flag of victory
Kodi naattuvenI will hoist the flag
Kadhal sogam veeram nadippaenI will act out romance, sorrow, and heroism
Azhagaai naan medaiyilaeBeautifully on the stage
Female
Star-ai pola naanum vanthaalWhen I arrive like a movie star
Ooril yaarum malaikkanumEveryone in town should be astonished
Dancing pose-yil ennaikkanduSeeing me in a dancing pose
Thannaal vanthu mayanganumThey should automatically fall under my spell
Santhosamaai janangalellaamHappily, all the people
Jollyaaga rasikkanum…kadhal venumaaShould enjoy jolly well... Do you want romance?
Female
Aaruyirae preamai amuthavaariyilOh my soul, in the nectar ocean of love
Naamum kalanthu magizhvimLet us blend together and rejoice
Swaami kadhal poigaiyil moozhgiOh Lord, immersed in the stream of love
Sugamadainthae magizhvom…sogam venumaa….Attaining bliss, let us rejoice... Do you want sorrow?
Female
Inbaththiyin ellai idhuthaanaaIs this the utmost boundary of bliss?
En vaazhvilae iruthiyithuthaanaa haa….idhuthaanaaIs this the final end of my life? Ah... is this it?
Anbin mudivu idhuthaanaa naaniniyumIs this the conclusion of love? Will I ever
Aanantham peruvveno naan magizhvenoExperience happiness again? Will I ever rejoice?
Female
Veeram venumaaDo you want heroism?
Sandaala moorkkan tharuthalai madaiyanYou villainous, stubborn, stray fool!
Thadiththana mullathor kodiyanA thick-headed, cruel-hearted rogue!
Thillaanaa venumaaDo you want a Thillana dance rhythm?
Theem naathrutheem theemthananaTheem naathrutheem theemthanana
Thagarathaani udharathom theem thananaThagarathaani udharathom theem thanana
Female
Oorai suttri comming noticeComing notices distributed all around town
Peru pottu parakkanumShould fly with my name printed on them
Oiyyaaramaai stage-yil vanthaalWhen I step gracefully onto the stage
Udane claps kodukkanumThey must immediately shower me with applause
Ullae pogumpothu ellaamWhenever I go backstage
Oncemore ennai ketkanumThey must call out 'Encore' for me
Female
Kodi naattuven vettriI will hoist the flag of victory
Kodi naattuvenI will hoist the flag
Kadhal sogam veeram nadippaenI will act out romance, sorrow, and heroism
Azhagaai naan medaiyilae…Beautifully on the stage...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This meta-theatrical, lively song expresses the grand ambitions of an aspiring performative artist who dreams of theatrical stardom. She boldly proclaims her ability to perform various 'rasas' (emotions) such as romance (kadhal), tragedy/sorrow (sogam), heroism (veeram), and rhythmic classical dance (thillana) on stage. She visualizes a future where crowds gather, fans line up for autographs, journalists wait at her doorstep, and audiences cheer for an 'encore'. Composed by G. Ramanathan and written by Kannadasan for the 1955 film Kathanayaki, the song uniquely blends classical theatrical expressions with modern show-business terminology, showcasing the protagonist's dramatic versatility and charismatic theatrical ambition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Suttri vanthu janangalellaam / Etti etti paarkkanum

Matching of the second consonant across consecutive lines, such as 'Suttri' and 'Etti'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Etti etti paarkkanum ... Autograph kekkanum ... Vaasalilae kaakkanum

Repetition of ending verbal suffixes '-anum' across multiple lines to create a rhythmic cadence ('paarkkanum', 'kekkanum', 'kaakkanum').

Code-Mixing / Loanwords (Manipravalam Style with English)

Star-ai pola naanum vanthaal / Dancing pose-yil ennaikkandu

Early usage of English show-business loanwords ('Autograph', 'Star', 'Dancing pose', 'claps', 'Oncemore', 'comming notice') integrated seamlessly into Tamil lyrical meter.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Kodi naattuven vettri / Kodi naattuven

Repetition of the phrase 'Kodi naattuven' to reinforce confidence and victory.

Did you know?

Trivia

In the 1950s Tamil cinema, incorporating contemporary English loanwords like 'Autograph', 'editor', 'stage', and 'Oncemore' into classical-based musical compositions was a novel technique pioneered by Kannadasan to capture urban theatrical culture and humorously highlight modern stardom ambitions.

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