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Lyrics & meaning

Kondal Megam

From Naatpadu Theral 2 · 2022

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Simon K King
Details
Naatpadu Theral 22022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paadhadhi kesam kadavulukkuFrom foot to head is how God is worshipped,
Kesadhi paadham kannikaikkuFrom head to foot is how a maiden is adorned and described.
En kiliyaalai tamil kondu poosikkirenI worship my parrot-like maiden using the rich Tamil language.
Kiliyaalai tamil kondu poosikkirenI worship my parrot-like maiden using the rich Tamil language.
Male
Kondal megamondru kondai yeri nindruA rain-bearing dark cloud perched atop her hair bun,
Kondulavum kuzhalaalShe who has dark tresses where clouds hover,
Pirai kondu vaartha nudhalaalShe whose forehead was molded using the crescent moon,
Velli kendai meengal renduLike two silver Kendai fish,
Mundi thaavi vandhu sandai podum vizhiyaalShe whose eyes leap forward and duel with each other,
En rendu kannil azhiyaalShe who will never fade from my two eyes.
Male
Ellin povil ondru thulli neendathendruLike a sesame flower that leaped and swam,
Sollum naasiyudaiyaalShe who possesses a nose shaped like that,
Namami vellum raasiyudaiyaalShe whose innate nature subdues and conquers all,
Mella kollai kollai konduGently plundering and robbing my heart,
Alli thinnamennumDesiring to scoop and savour,
Pillai pilali idhazhaalShe with soft, tender coral-like lips,
Adhil killai konjam kasivaalFrom which a drop of sweet nectar gently trickles.
Male
Ooo sangum pon vilainthaOh, matching the gleam of a conch shell and golden harvest,
Nungum vandhu vandhuThe tender palm fruit comes again and again,
Pangu ketkum kaluthaalShe with a neck so beautiful that even tender palm fruit claims a share,
Adhil pongum manjal kuzhaithaalOn which she smears overflowing, golden turmeric paste.
Avai thangal bagamendruClaiming that those are their rightful shares,
Thsnga paalam renduLike two solid golden bridges,
Thangum tholgal padaithaalShe is blessed with shoulders where comfort rests,
Ennai thangi poga azhaithaalShe invited me to lean on her and journey together.
Male
Kondal megamondru kondai yeri nindruA rain-bearing dark cloud perched atop her hair bun,
Oo kondal megamondru kondai yeri nindruOh, a rain-bearing dark cloud perched atop her hair bun,
Kondulavum kuzhalaalShe who has dark tresses where clouds hover,
Pirai kondu vaartha nudhalaalShe whose forehead was molded using the crescent moon,
Velli kendai meengal renduLike two silver Kendai fish,
Mundi thaavi vandhu sandai podum vizhiyaalShe whose eyes leap forward and duel with each other,
En rendu kannil azhiyaalShe who will never fade from my two eyes.
Male
Ondru pol valarntha rendu therkudangalLike two Southern water-pots grown identically,
Nindru neelum dhanathaalShe with a majestic and shapely bosom,
Karvam kondru pogum gunathaalShe whose gentle nature slays all vanity,
Mudi konda aalilai polLike a banyan leaf adorned with delicate hair,
Minnum mel vayitrilOn her glowing upper abdomen,
Vannam melum valarthaalShe added even more color and radiance,
Thanga kinnam moodi mudithaalCovered neatly like a golden bowl.
Mullai poongodikku pillai pol pirandhaeBorn like a child to the jasmine creeper,
Illai ennum idaiyaalShe who has a waist so slender it seems almost absent,
Adhil thollai seiyum udaiyaalAdorned with garments around it that tease the mind,
Nalla vellai thandham renduLike two pure white ivory tusks,
Velli poonpudithuFramed neatly with silver mountings,
Solli seidha thodaiyaalShe whose smooth thighs look tailor-made,
Sevv valli poovin adiyaalShe with feet soft like the red water-lily bloom.
Chorus
Kondal megamondru kondai yeri nindruA rain-bearing dark cloud perched atop her hair bun,
Kondulavum kuzhalaalShe who has dark tresses where clouds hover,
Male :Kondal megamondruMale: A rain-bearing dark cloud,
Chorus :Pirai kondu vaartha nudhalaalChorus: She whose forehead was molded using the crescent moon,
Male :NudhalaalMale: Forehead,
Chorus :Velli kendai meengal renduChorus: Two silver Kendai fish,
Mundi thaavi vandhu sandai podum vizhiyaalShe whose eyes leap forward and duel with each other,
Male :En rendu kannil azhiyaalMale: She who will never fade from my two eyes.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Vairamuthu's 'Naatpadu Theral 2' album is a classic 'Kesadhi Paadham' (head-to-toe) literary description of a woman's beauty, set to music by Simon C. King and sung dynamically by Shankar Mahadevan. Following traditional Sangam Tamil poetic convention, the lyrics systematically describe the maiden from her cloud-like hair, crescent forehead, and fish-like eyes down to her slender waist, smooth thighs, and water-lily soft feet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Kesadhi Paadham (Traditional Tamil Structure)

Paadhadhi kesam kadavulukku / Kesadhi paadham kannikaikku

A classical literary tradition in Tamil poetry where a poet describes a mortal maiden from head to toe (Kesam to Paadham), contrasting with divine praise which traditionally goes from toe to head (Paadhadhi Kesam).

Uvamaani / Metaphor (Simile & Metaphor)

Pirai kondu vaartha nudhalaal / Velli kendai meengal rendu

Comparing various physical features to nature—forehead to a crescent moon, eyes to silver Kendai fish, nose to a sesame flower, and feet to red water lilies.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kondal megamondru kondai yeri nindru / Kondulavum kuzhalaal

Repetition of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines ('nd' sound in Kondal, Kondulavum; 'll' sound in Velli, Sollum).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naatpadu Theral' is a landmark independent Tamil non-film music album project produced by lyricist Vairamuthu, featuring 100 songs composed by various prominent music directors to enrich contemporary Tamil poetry and independent music culture.

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