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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kona Kondakari

From Madha Yaanai Kootam · 2013

Lyricist
Ekadasi
Singer
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Music director
N. R. Raghunanthan
Details
Madha Yaanai Kootam2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………………………………The girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Male
{Kona kondakkari kuthara kannalaShe is killing me and going away
Konnuthaan poraalaeI am not lying down on a mat
Naa paaiyil padukalaI am lying sick in bed
Noiyil kedakurenWho is the reason, folks?
Kaaranam yaarungaIt is the gentle drizzle from Kerala
Keralathu saaralu thaanunga} (2)The girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Male
Dhinam dhinam thiruka kullaShe is killing me and going away
Keppaiyaattam enna thirikiraI am not lying down on a mat
Aiyaiyo kadugu thundu enaiya vachuI am lying sick in bed
Keranga adikiraWho is the reason, folks?
Kumari pulla nesam..It is the gentle drizzle from Kerala
Ada kozhi kulambu vaasamInside the hand mill every single day
Ullukkula olinju kittu usura arukuraShe grinds me like ragi millet
Male
Kona kondakkari kuthara kannalaOh my, using a piece of mustard seed
Konnuthaan poraalaeShe makes me dizzy
Naa paaiyil padukalaThe affection of this young girl..
Noiyil kedakurenIs like the irresistible aroma of chicken curry
Kaaranam yaarungaHiding deep inside, it cuts away my life force
Keralathu saaralu thaanungaThe girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Male
Solaga paakurenShe is killing me and going away
Idhayam pol theriyuthaeI am not lying down on a mat
Aduppu theeya polI am lying sick in bed
Usurum yeriyuthaeWho is the reason, folks?
Kaalula nadukuren..It is the gentle drizzle from Kerala
Manasula parakurenWhen I look at the winnowing basket
Ava mogam paathutaIt looks like a heart to me
Araiyadi valarurenJust like the fire in the hearth
Male
Sethaaram illamaMy life is burning up
Senja thaaru avalaMy legs are trembling..
Ava panjaaram pottu thaanMy mind is flying high
Kavukuraalae aalaWhen I look at her face
Naan aatu puzhukka pola..I grow half a foot taller
Sudum veyilukulla kedakkenWithout any defect or damage
Ava kooti perukum pothu..She was crafted flawlessly like a smooth tar road
Naa kudai kulla ponenPutting me under a chicken coop
Male
{Kona kondakkari kuthara kannalaShe flips and overthrows me completely
Konnuthaan poraalaeLike goat droppings..
Naa paaiyil padukalaI lie in the scorching sun
Noiyil kedakurenWhen she sweeps the floor..
Kaaranam yaarungaI took shelter under her basket umbrella
Keralathu saaralu thaanunga} (2)The girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Chorus
……………………………..She is killing me and going away
Male
Udhattu siripulaI am not lying down on a mat
Usuru karaiyudhaeI am lying sick in bed
Avala nenachuthanWho is the reason, folks?
Vayiru nerayudhaeIt is the gentle drizzle from Kerala
Sola thattathaanThe girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Sumaiya thaangumaaShe is killing me and going away
Aala saaikudhaeI am not lying down on a mat
Allipoo renduthaanI am lying sick in bed
Male
Poraala saavillaWho is the reason, folks?
Maaraalathaan saavuIt is the gentle drizzle from Kerala
Nooraala thaakudhaeIn her lip smile
Usilambatti sevuMy life force melts away
Inga aruvaa thookkathaanaeJust by thinking of her
Namma aalu koranju kidakkuMy stomach feels full
Ava pathu pulla ennapolaWill a slender corn stalk
Peththu kodukkanum………Bear such a heavy burden?
Male
{Kona kondakkari kuthara kannalaIt knocks a man right down
Konnuthaan poraalaeJust two lily flowers like her eyes
Naa paaiyil padukalaNot a death on the front side
Noiyil kedakurenDeath comes from her chest side
Kaaranam yaarungaAttacking like a hundred men
Keralathu saaralu thaanunga} (2)The boundary wall of Usilampatti
Male
Dhinam dhinam thiruka kullaJust by brandishing sickles here
Keppaiyaattam enna thirikiraOur male population has reduced
Aiyaiyo kadugu thundu enaiya vachuShe should give birth to ten children
Keranga adikiraJust like me for our family...
Kumari pulla nesam..Inside the hand mill every single day
Ada kozhi kulambu vaasamShe grinds me like ragi millet
Ullukkula olinju kittu usura arukuraOh my, using a piece of mustard seed
Male
Kona kondakkari kuthara kannalaShe makes me dizzy
Konnuthaan poraalaeThe affection of this young girl..
Naa paaiyil padukalaIs like the irresistible aroma of chicken curry
Noiyil kedakurenHiding deep inside, it cuts away my life force
Kaaranam yaarungaThe girl with the tilted hair bun, with sharp piercing eyes
Keralathu saaralu thaanungaShe is killing me and going away

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kona Kondakkari is an earthy, highly evocative folk love song from the Tamil movie Madha Yaanai Kootam. The protagonist expresses his overwhelming infatuation and lovesickness for a village maiden. He compares her impact on him to a soothing yet feverish illness brought by the cool Kerala drizzle. Using rich agricultural and domestic metaphors from rural Tamil Nadu—such as ragi being ground in a stone mill, winnowing baskets resembling hearts, and the aroma of chicken curry—he details how her beauty floors him completely. In the second half, the lyrics blend romantic devotion with the violent cultural backdrop of Madurai and Usilampatti. The hero notes how local feuds and sickles have diminished the male population of their village, playfully hoping his beloved will marry him and bear ten children to rebuild their family. Written by lyricist Ekadasi, the song captures the raw passion, humor, and localized vocabulary of southern Tamil Nadu folk culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Keppaiyaattam enna thirikira

Compares the crushing sensation of love to ragi millet being ground daily in a stone mill.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Keralathu saaralu thaanunga

Directly compares the girl's cool, alluring presence to the refreshing mist/drizzle from Kerala.

Alliteration & Assonance (Moonaai / Etukai)

Kona kondakkari kuthara kannala / Konnuthaan poraalae

Repetition of the 'Ko' sound across the opening words creates a rhythmic folk tempo.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Ava mogam paathuta Araiyadi valaruren

An exaggeration where the protagonist claims he physically grows half a foot taller simply by catching a glimpse of her face.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madha Yaanai Kootam (2013) was directed by Vikram Sugumaran and produced by acclaimed music composer G. V. Prakash Kumar. The soundtrack was composed by N. R. Raghunanthan, with this popular track sung by V. V. Prasanna and Vandana Srinivasan. Lyricist Ekadasi won praise for employing authentic, unadulterated southern Tamil (Madurai/Usilampatti) slang and domestic rural metaphors throughout the song.

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