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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kothamalli Poove

From Kallukkul Eeram · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kallukkul Eeram1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Lulululu lulululuLulululu lulululu (Folk vocal melody)
Female
Naattraaga ooni vachchenI planted it as a tender sapling
Chorus :Lulululu lulululuChorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female :Naanum dhenam thanni vittaenFemale: I watered it every single day
Chorus :Lulululu lulululuChorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female :Aththa magan ennaththila….aa..Female: With thoughts of my aunt's son in my mind...
Aththanaiyum payiraachuAll of it grew into a thriving crop
Male
Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanaeAe thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae (Folk rhythm refrain)
Thannanaa haeiThannanaa haei
Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaaThaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa
Thana thandhaa naanae naannaaThana thandhaa naanae naannaa
Female
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa….Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa….
Female
Aatthoram kotti vecha malliJasmine blooms heaped along the riverbank
Poo vaasatthilae alliGathering the fragrance in the blossoms
Aagaasam thoovi vitta velliSilver stars sprinkled across the expanse of the sky
En maaman vacha pulliThe bindi placed by my beloved uncle
Nenachaenae illachaenae naanuI pondered and grew lean in longing
En nenjukkullae thaenuHoney filled up inside my heart
Female
Vattam idum poongaaththuThe gentle breeze circling around
Vandhu vandhu modhumComes blowing and strikes me again and again
Thottu thottu soodaagaTouching warmly step by step
Sondha kadhai paesumIt speaks of our personal story
Sondhaththilae bandhaththilae sandhoshamamThere is pure bliss in kinships and emotional bonds
Female
Kotthamalli poovae ae….Oh coriander blossom...
Puththam pudhu kaaththae vaasam veesuOh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance
Vandhu vandhu yaedho paesuCome again and again and whisper something to me
Male
Aaththoram chinnak kuttiThe little darling by the riverbank
Aththai peththa kannuk kuttiThe precious calf born to my aunt
Kaaththaada vandhirukkaaHas come out to catch the cool breeze
Thangam vacha velli pettiA silver box encrusted with fine gold
Thaali kodi pottu vaippaan maaman maamanMy uncle will tie the sacred wedding thread around my neck
En thangaththukku yaeththavanthaan raaman raamanHe is Lord Rama himself, perfect for my golden self
Chorus
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthanaThandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana (Folk refrain)
Thandhaanatthana thaanaaThandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaaThandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaaThandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthanaThandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana
Thandhaanatthana thaanaaThandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaaThandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa
Female
Oo…saetthodu ottikkitta naaththuOh... the sapling that took root in the rich soil
Adhai saeththukkitta kaaththuThe wind that embraced it into its fold
Kooththaadum en manasu paaththuLooking at my heart dancing in joy
Adhu thenna ilang keettruIt sways like a tender coconut frond
Vidhai pottaen unakkaaga naeththuI sowed the seed for your sake yesterday
Naan kanda sugam saerththuGathering all the bliss I experienced
Female
Thottu vitta pinnaalaeEver since you touched me
Thookkam illa maamaaI have lost my sleep, my dear uncle
Thottukkittu onkooda thoonga vaenum mamaI want to cuddle up and sleep with you, uncle
Sorgatthilae pakkatthilae ninnaenaeI stood right beside you in paradise
Female
{Kotthamalli poovae ae….{Oh coriander blossom...
Puththam pudhu kaatthae vaasam veesuOh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance
Vandhu vandhu yaedho paesu……} (2)Come again and again and whisper something...} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Kotthamalli Poovae" from Kallukkul Eeram (1980) is a quintessential Tamil rural folk track that celebrates a village woman's deep love and anticipation for her maternal cousin (maman). Through rich agricultural metaphors—such as planting saplings, nurturing crops, and coriander blossoms—the protagonist conveys how her tender affection was cultivated over time into full romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kotthamalli poovae ae….

The speaker addresses herself/her tender romantic feelings as a delicate 'Kotthamalli poo' (coriander blossom).

Agricultural Metaphor (Vivasaya Uvamai)

Naattraaga ooni vachchen... Aththanaiyum payiraachu

Sowing seeds and watering saplings is used as an allegory for nurturing romantic feelings for her beloved relative.

Rhyme & Assonance (Edhugai / Monai)

Aatthoram kotti vecha malli / Poo vaasatthilae alli

Internal and end rhymes like 'malli' / 'alli' create a rhythmic, catchy musical flow characteristic of Tamil folk melodies.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited in some rural track listings as an unknown production, 'Kallukkul Eeram' (1980) was directed by P. Bharathiraja (who also acted in it alongside Vijayakanth). The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran and vocals performed by S. Janaki.

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