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Koil Maniyosai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koora Podava

From Koil Maniyosai · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Koil Maniyosai
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
30 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nallathu nadakka ammana nenachchu
Kummiyadiyunga pendugalaa
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaa
Female :Eppavum namakku nimmathi kidaikkum
Ammanai nenainga pendugalaa
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaa
Koora podava katti oora kanna vetti
Thaera pola varum sellammaa
Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kutti
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaa
Nee ishttappattaa unna vachchukkiraen
En nenjil vachchu unna thachchukkiraen
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa katti
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaa
Ada neeyae venna vetti naano vellakkatti
Veenaa mallukkatta vanthiyaa
……………….
Vaadi radhamae kodhikkuthu manamae
Naadi narambuga thudikkuthu thenamae
Kodi sugaththa kodukkiraen nesamae
Koodi anaikka vaadi en vasamae
Maman unakkum vekkamilla
Male :Hae
Female :Vera edhukkum laayakkillaa
Male :Haeh
Female :Aasai irukku ullukkulla
Aanaa naanthaan chinnapulla
Male :Mayilae…
Female :Aahaang…
Male :Kuyilae…
Female :Mhum
Male :Allavaa killavaa mella vaa
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa katti
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaa
Male :Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kutti
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaa
……………
Kamba pudikkira vayasula paaru
Kanniya paaththathum yaeruthu joru
Yaaru ennaththaan edhirkkira aali
Naan ooru muzhusaiyum muzhungura aalu
Yaanai pudikkum aambala naan
Female :Haang
Female :Maana pudikka kashtamilla
Female :Haan
Male :Maanae unna naan thottuputtaa
Ooril yaarum michchamillai
Female :Nesamaa..
Male :Aamaa…
Female :Aiyayaiyo…
Male :Vaammaa
Female :Thalliyae nillaiyyaa sellaiyyaa
Koora podava katti oora kanna vetti
Thaera pola varum sellammaa…yamma
Female :Haang
Male :Yammaa
Female :Haang
Male :Yammaa
Female :Neeyo venna vetti naano vellakkatti
Veenaa mallukkatta vanthiyaa
Male :Nee ishttappattaa unna vachchukkiraen
En nenjil vachchu unna thachchukkiraen
Vetti varinju katti paatta pudhusaa katti
Nottam paakka vantha sellaiyyaa
Male :Paalai sirippai kotti aala asaththum kutti
Naala paaththu vanthu sollammaa
Thinking of the Goddess so good things will happen,
Clap your hands and dance the Kummi, O women!
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaa
Female :We will always find peace of mind,
Think of the Goddess, O women!
Chorus :Thanthaanaanana thanthaanaanana
Thanthaananana thanthaanaa
Draped in a bridal silk saree, stealing the town's glances,
Here comes Chellamma like a magnificent chariot!
Pouring a milky smile, a girl who dazzles everyone,
Find an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!
If you desire, I will take you as my own,
I will hold you in my heart and keep you close forever.
Tucking in your dhoti tight and composing a fresh song,
Did you come to check me out, dear sir?
Oh, you are a good-for-nothing, and I am a sweet block of jaggery,
Did you come to pick a fight with me in vain?
……………….
Come, my chariot, my mind is boiling with passion,
My pulse and nerves throb with desire every day!
I will truly shower you with millions of pleasures,
Come into my embrace and yield to me!
Uncle, you have no shame at all,
Male :Hey
Female :You are fit for nothing else!
Male :Heh
Female :Desire stirs deep within me,
But I am still just a young girl!
Male :Oh peacock…
Female :Ahaang…
Male :Oh cuckoo…
Female :Mhum
Male :Shall I gather you? Shall I pinch you gently? Come slowly!
Tucking in your dhoti tight and composing a fresh song,
Did you come to check me out, dear sir?
Male :Pouring a milky smile, a girl who dazzles everyone,
Find an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!
……………
Look at him, at an age when he should be holding a walking stick,
The moment he sees a maiden, his vigor surges!
Who is the man who can ever oppose me?
I am the man who can swallow the whole town!
I am a strong man who can wrestle an elephant!
Female :Haang
Female :Is it so hard to catch a deer?
Female :Haan
Male :Oh deer, if I touch you,
No one in town will be left unaffected!
Female :Truly?..
Male :Yes…
Female :Oh my goodness…
Male :Come, girl
Female :Stand at a distance, dear sir!
Draped in a bridal silk saree, stealing the town's glances,
Here comes Chellamma like a magnificent chariot… O girl
Female :Haang
Male :O girl
Female :Haang
Male :O girl
Female :You are a good-for-nothing, and I am a sweet block of jaggery,
Did you come to pick a fight with me in vain?
Male :If you desire, I will take you as my own,
I will hold you in my heart and keep you close forever.
Tucking in your dhoti tight and composing a fresh song,
Did you come to check me out, dear sir?
Male :Pouring a milky smile, a girl who dazzles everyone,
Find an auspicious day and come tell me, dear girl!
Female
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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