Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koora Podava

From Koil Maniyosai · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Koil Maniyosai1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nallathu nadakka ammana nenachchuThinking of the Goddess so good things happen,
Kummiyadiyunga pendugalaaClap your hands and play Kummi, womenfolk!
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaananaChorus: Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaaThanthaananana thanthaanaa
Female :Eppavum namakku nimmathi kidaikkumFemale: We will always find peace of mind,
Ammanai nenainga pendugalaaThink of the Goddess, womenfolk!
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaananaChorus: Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaaThanthaananana thanthaanaa
Male
Koora podava katti oora kanna vettiDraped in a bridal silk saree, catching everyone's eye in town,
Thaera pola varum sellammaaComing like a majestic temple chariot, dear girl!
Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kuttiShedding a milky smile, a girl who stuns everyone,
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaaFind an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!
Male
Nee ishttappattaa unna vachchukkiraenIf you like it, I will keep you as mine,
En nenjil vachchu unna thachchukkiraenI will stitch you inside my heart and hold you close.
Female
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa kattiTying a dhoti tightly, composing a fresh new song,
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaaHave you come to check me out, dear sir?
Ada neeyae venna vetti naano vellakkattiAh, you are useless like a slice of butter while I am a block of jaggery,
Veenaa mallukkatta vanthiyaaDid you come here to unnecessarily wrestle with me?
Chorus
………………....
Male
Vaadi radhamae kodhikkuthu manamaeCome, my chariot, my mind is boiling with passion,
Naadi narambuga thudikkuthu thenamaeMy nerves and pulse beat wildly every day,
Kodi sugaththa kodukkiraen nesamaeI will give you endless happiness, truly,
Koodi anaikka vaadi en vasamaeCome to me so we can unite and embrace under my sway.
Female
Maman unakkum vekkamillaUncle, you have no shame at all,
Male :HaeMale: Hae
Female :Vera edhukkum laayakkillaaFemale: You are fit for nothing else!
Male :HaehMale: Haeh
Female :Aasai irukku ullukkullaFemale: Desire brews deep inside me,
Aanaa naanthaan chinnapullaBut I am still a young girl!
Male :Mayilae…Male: Oh my peacock...
Female :Aahaang…Female: Aahaang...
Male :Kuyilae…Male: Oh my cuckoo...
Female :MhumFemale: Mhum
Male :Allavaa killavaa mella vaaMale: Shall I embrace or pinch? Come slowly!
Female
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa kattiTying a dhoti tightly, composing a fresh new song,
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaaHave you come to check me out, dear sir?
Male :Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kuttiMale: Shedding a milky smile, a girl who stuns everyone,
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaaFind an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!
Chorus
……………...
Female
Kamba pudikkira vayasula paaruLook at his age, when he should be holding a walking stick,
Kanniya paaththathum yaeruthu joruYet his energy surges as soon as he sees a young maiden!
Yaaru ennaththaan edhirkkira aaliWho is there to oppose me?
Naan ooru muzhusaiyum muzhungura aaluI am the man who can swallow the whole town!
Male
Yaanai pudikkum aambala naanI am a strong man who can catch an elephant!
Female :HaangFemale: Haang
Female :Maana pudikka kashtamillaFemale: Catching a deer is no tough task!
Female :HaanFemale: Haan
Male :Maanae unna naan thottuputtaaMale: My deer, if I touch you,
Ooril yaarum michchamillaiNothing in this town will remain!
Female :Nesamaa..Female: Is that true?
Male :Aamaa…Male: Yes...
Female :Aiyayaiyo…Female: Oh my goodness!
Male :VaammaaMale: Come on, woman!
Female :Thalliyae nillaiyyaa sellaiyyaaFemale: Stand at a distance, dear sir!
Male
Koora podava katti oora kanna vettiDraped in a bridal silk saree, catching everyone's eye in town,
Thaera pola varum sellammaa…yammaComing like a majestic temple chariot, dear girl... oh woman!
Female :HaangFemale: Haang
Male :YammaaMale: Oh woman!
Female :HaangFemale: Haang
Male :YammaaMale: Oh woman!
Female :Neeyo venna vetti naano vellakkattiFemale: You are useless like a slice of butter, while I am a block of jaggery,
Veenaa mallukkatta vanthiyaaDid you come here to unnecessarily wrestle with me?
Male :Nee ishttappattaa unna vachchukkiraenMale: If you like it, I will keep you as mine,
En nenjil vachchu unna thachchukkiraenI will stitch you inside my heart and hold you close.
Female
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa kattiTying a dhoti tightly, composing a fresh new song,
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaaHave you come to check me out, dear sir?
Male :Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kuttiMale: Shedding a milky smile, a girl who stuns everyone,
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaaFind an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively, folk-style duetting track steeped in rural Tamil traditions, blending devotional festival celebrations (Kummi paattu) with playful romantic banter between a man and a young woman. The song opens with village women singing Kummi folk couplets in praise of the village Goddess (Amman) to seek peace and prosperity. The dialogue then transitions into playful, teasing exchanges between the male and female leads, filled with local idioms, hyperbole, and romantic challenges. The man boasts of his grand strength and romantic charm, while the young woman humorously downplays his swagger, teasing his age and overconfidence. Ultimately, the song captures the joyful spirit of village temple festivals where romantic courting, folk dance, and celebratory banter merge seamlessly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Thaera pola varum sellammaa

Compares the grand, elegant gait of the young woman to a decorated temple chariot (Theru).

Metaphor / Contrast

Ada neeyae venna vetti naano vellakkatti

Contrasts 'venna vetti' (a slice of soft/melting butter) with 'vellakkatti' (a firm block of jaggery) as a humorous metaphor for temperament and strength.

Emonai / Second-letter Rhyme (Etukai)

Vaadi radhamae kodhikkuthu manamae

The second letters 'di' in 'Vaadi', 'Naadi', 'Kodi', and 'Koodi' rhyme harmoniously across consecutive lines.

Anaapora (Repetition)

Mayilae… / Kuyilae…

Endearing poetic metaphors calling the beloved 'Mayil' (peacock) and 'Kuyil' (cuckoo) to express affection.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features classic folk 'Kummi' rhythm elements characteristic of Tamil village temple festivals. Lyricist Gangai Amaran, known for his deep roots in rural Tamil folk compositions alongside his brother Ilaiyaraaja, blends traditional folk cadence with humorous romantic duet dialogue.

Keep listening

More from Koil Maniyosai