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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koodalooru Gundumalli

From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kumbakarai Thangaiah1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Koodalooru gundu malli…Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Female :Koodalooru gundu malli…Female: Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Male
Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vaamaa konjam thalliCome girl, move a little further away
Female :Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Female: Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vandhen konjanthalliI have come, moving a little further away
Male
Yehey koodalooru gundu malli…Hey, round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Chorus :Koodalooru gundu malli…Chorus: Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Male
Maanga marathula maangaava paaruLook at the mango on the mango tree
Naanthaan marachu vecha thaeruI am the hidden temple chariot
Thenga odaikkala serthu araikkalaDidn't break the coconut, didn't grind it together
Thingaama thinga vandhadhaaruWho came to devour without eating?
Female
Vaanga en maapila vaadaadha poovuCome my bridegroom, unfading flower
Nogaama thotteduthu neevuGently touch and stroke without causing pain
Yengum odambula yekkam adangalaThe longing across my body hasn't subsided
Eppodhum vittu vittu thaavuAlways pouncing intermittently
Male
Adi yelamala kaattukkulla solai irukkuHey, inside the Elamalai forest there is a grove
Andha solaiyila vaadi pulla velai irukkuIn that grove, come girl, there is work to do
Female :Harey ho ho hooooohooFemale: Harey ho ho hooooohoo
Chorus
Koodalooru gundu malli…Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Koodalooru gundu malli…Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Female
Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vandhen konjam thalliI have come, moving a little further away
Male :Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Male: Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vaamaa konjam thalliCome girl, move a little further away
Female
Koodalooru gundu malli…Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Male :Koodalooru gundu malli…Male: Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Chorus
Aayaalo… aayaalo… aayalangadi aayaaloFolk refrain (Aayaalo... aayaalo...)
Chorus
Hei seyaalo… seyaloo seyaalangadi seyaaloFolk refrain (Hei seyaalo...)
Chorus
Aayaalo… aayaalo… aayalangadi aayaaloFolk refrain (Aayaalo... aayaalo...)
Seyaalo… seyaloo seyaalangadi seyaaloFolk refrain (Seyaalo...)
Female
Naalaana naalula aalaanen naanuOn an auspicious day, I grew into a woman
Naandhaanae nalla kombu thaenuI am indeed the sweet honey on the high branch
Yelaanu sollunga engeyum allungaSay welcome and gather me anywhere
Eppodhum naanum unga maanuI am always your gentle deer
Male
Mottaana mottula pithaanen keluI became crazy over the budding flower, listen
Thottaada ippo nalla naaluNow is a good day to touch and play
Chittu sirippula retta madippulaIn the sparrow-like smile, in the double folds of saree
Jivvunu thookudhamma meluMy feelings rise up exhilarated
Female
Ada vaarathula orathula serndhukuravaOh, the one who joins in the corner during the week
Oru nerathula vaarathula serthu tharavaShall I gather and give it all at once at a chosen time?
Male :Harey ho ho hooohooMale: Harey ho ho hooohoo
Female
Koodalooru gundu malli…Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Male :Koodalooru gundu malli…Male: Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Vaada pudikka vandha valliValli who came to catch the fragrance
Female
Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vandhen konjanthalli … haanI have come, moving a little further away... haan
Male :Vaasa kothamalli hoi…Male: Fragrant coriander, hey...
Vaamaa konjam thalliCome girl, move a little further away
Chorus
Koodalooru gundu malliRound jasmine of Cuddalore
Female :Yehey ….Female: Yehey...
Chorus :Vaada pudikka vandha valliChorus: Valli who came to catch the fragrance
Male :AhaaMale: Ahaa
Chorus :Koodalooru gundu malli…Chorus: Round jasmine of Cuddalore...
Female :OhoiFemale: Ohoi
Chorus :Vaada pudikka vandha valliChorus: Valli who came to catch the fragrance
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful rural romantic duet between a man and a woman, featuring vibrant folk rhythmic refrains. Using colorful rural metaphors—such as Cuddalore jasmine, fragrant coriander, branch honey, and mangoes—the couple engages in lighthearted banter expressing their mutual affection and longing for intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maanga marathula maangaava paaru / Naanthaan marachu vecha thaeru

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines ('Koodalooru' / 'Vaada' - vowel length and dental consonants, or 'Maanga' / 'Naanthaan').

Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)

Naandhaanae nalla kombu thaenu

Comparing the heroine to round jasmine (Gundu malli), honey on a high branch (Kombu thaenu), and a gentle deer (Maanu).

Onomatopoeia (Onomatopeic sound words)

Jivvunu thookudhamma melu

Use of 'Jivvunu' to denote a sudden surge of exhilaration or thrill.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1991 Tamil rural drama film 'Kumbakarai Thangaiah', starring Prabhu and Kanaka, directed by Gangai Amaran. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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