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 lulululu | Lulululu lulululu (Folk vocal melody) |
| Female | |
| Naattraaga ooni vachchen | I planted it as a tender sapling |
| Chorus :Lulululu lulululu | Chorus: Lulululu lulululu |
| Female :Naanum dhenam thanni vittaen | Female: I watered it every single day |
| Chorus :Lulululu lulululu | Chorus: Lulululu lulululu |
| Female :Aththa magan ennaththila….aa.. | Female: With thoughts of my aunt's son in my mind... |
| Aththanaiyum payiraachu | All of it grew into a thriving crop |
| Male | |
| Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae | Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae (Folk rhythm refrain) |
| Thannanaa haei | Thannanaa haei |
| Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa | Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa |
| Thana thandhaa naanae naannaa | Thana thandhaa naanae naannaa |
| Female | |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa…. | Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa…. |
| Female | |
| Aatthoram kotti vecha malli | Jasmine blooms heaped along the riverbank |
| Poo vaasatthilae alli | Gathering the fragrance in the blossoms |
| Aagaasam thoovi vitta velli | Silver stars sprinkled across the expanse of the sky |
| En maaman vacha pulli | The bindi placed by my beloved uncle |
| Nenachaenae illachaenae naanu | I pondered and grew lean in longing |
| En nenjukkullae thaenu | Honey filled up inside my heart |
| Female | |
| Vattam idum poongaaththu | The gentle breeze circling around |
| Vandhu vandhu modhum | Comes blowing and strikes me again and again |
| Thottu thottu soodaaga | Touching warmly step by step |
| Sondha kadhai paesum | It speaks of our personal story |
| Sondhaththilae bandhaththilae sandhoshamam | There is pure bliss in kinships and emotional bonds |
| Female | |
| Kotthamalli poovae ae…. | Oh coriander blossom... |
| Puththam pudhu kaaththae vaasam veesu | Oh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance |
| Vandhu vandhu yaedho paesu | Come again and again and whisper something to me |
| Male | |
| Aaththoram chinnak kutti | The little darling by the riverbank |
| Aththai peththa kannuk kutti | The precious calf born to my aunt |
| Kaaththaada vandhirukkaa | Has come out to catch the cool breeze |
| Thangam vacha velli petti | A silver box encrusted with fine gold |
| Thaali kodi pottu vaippaan maaman maaman | My uncle will tie the sacred wedding thread around my neck |
| En thangaththukku yaeththavanthaan raaman raaman | He is Lord Rama himself, perfect for my golden self |
| Chorus | |
| Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana | Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana (Folk refrain) |
| Thandhaanatthana thaanaa | Thandhaanatthana thaanaa |
| Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa | Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa |
| Thandhaanatthana thaanaa | Thandhaanatthana thaanaa |
| Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana | Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana |
| Thandhaanatthana thaanaa | Thandhaanatthana thaanaa |
| Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa | Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa |
| Female | |
| Oo…saetthodu ottikkitta naaththu | Oh... the sapling that took root in the rich soil |
| Adhai saeththukkitta kaaththu | The wind that embraced it into its fold |
| Kooththaadum en manasu paaththu | Looking at my heart dancing in joy |
| Adhu thenna ilang keettru | It sways like a tender coconut frond |
| Vidhai pottaen unakkaaga naeththu | I sowed the seed for your sake yesterday |
| Naan kanda sugam saerththu | Gathering all the bliss I experienced |
| Female | |
| Thottu vitta pinnaalae | Ever since you touched me |
| Thookkam illa maamaa | I have lost my sleep, my dear uncle |
| Thottukkittu onkooda thoonga vaenum mama | I want to cuddle up and sleep with you, uncle |
| Sorgatthilae pakkatthilae ninnaenae | I stood right beside you in paradise |
| Female | |
| {Kotthamalli poovae ae…. | {Oh coriander blossom... |
| Puththam pudhu kaatthae vaasam veesu | Oh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance |
| Vandhu vandhu yaedho paesu……} (2) | Come again and again and whisper something...} (2) |
லுலுலுலுலு லுலு லுலுலு
Lulululu lulululu (Folk vocal melody)
நாற்றாக ஊனி வச்சேன் ....
குழு :
லுலுலுலுலு லுலு
நானும் தினம் தண்ணி விட்டேன்.....
குழு :
லுலுலுலுலு லுலு
அத்த மகன் எண்ணத்தில....ஆ......
அத்தனையும் பயிராச்சு
I planted it as a tender sapling
Chorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female: I watered it every single day
Chorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female: With thoughts of my aunt's son in my mind...
All of it grew into a thriving crop
ஏ.....தந்தா நானே தந்தா நானே
தன்னன்னா ஹேய்...
தா தந்தா நானே தந்தா நானே நான்னா
தன தந்தா நானே நான்னா
Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae (Folk rhythm refrain)
Thannanaa haei
Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa
Thana thandhaa naanae naannaa
ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ......ஆ....
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ......ஆ....
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa….
ஆத்தோரம் கொட்டி வச்ச மல்லி
பூவாசத்திலே அள்ளி
ஆகாசம் தூவி விட்ட வெள்ளி
என் மாமன் வச்ச புள்ளி
நினைச்சேனே இளைச்சேனே நானு
என் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே தேனு
Jasmine blooms heaped along the riverbank
Gathering the fragrance in the blossoms
Silver stars sprinkled across the expanse of the sky
The bindi placed by my beloved uncle
I pondered and grew lean in longing
Honey filled up inside my heart
வட்டமிடும் பூங்காத்து
வந்து வந்து மோதும்
தொட்டு தொட்டு சூடாக
சொந்தக் கதை பேசும்
சொந்தத்திலே பந்தத்திலே சந்தோஷமாம்
The gentle breeze circling around
Comes blowing and strikes me again and again
Touching warmly step by step
It speaks of our personal story
There is pure bliss in kinships and emotional bonds
கொத்தமல்லி பூவே ஏ....
புத்தம் புது காத்தே வாசம் வீசு..........
வந்து வந்து ஏதோ பேசு......
Oh coriander blossom...
Oh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance
Come again and again and whisper something to me
ஆத்தோரம் சின்னக்குட்டி
அத்தை பெத்த கன்னுக்குட்டி
காத்தாட வந்திருக்கா
தங்கம் வச்ச வெள்ளிப் பெட்டி
தாலிக்கொடி போட்டு வைப்பான் மாமன் மாமன்
என் தங்கத்துக்கு ஏத்தவன்தான் ராமன் ராமன்
The little darling by the riverbank
The precious calf born to my aunt
Has come out to catch the cool breeze
A silver box encrusted with fine gold
My uncle will tie the sacred wedding thread around my neck
He is Lord Rama himself, perfect for my golden self
தந்தானத்தன தந்தானத்தன
தந்தானத்தன தானா
தந்தீ தந்தீ தந்தானனா
தந்தானத்தன தானா
தந்தானத்தன தந்தானத்தன
தந்தானத்தன தானா
தந்தானா தந்தானா தந்தானா
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana (Folk refrain)
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa
ஓ.........சேத்தோடு ஓட்டிகிட்ட நாத்து
அதை சேத்துகிட்ட காத்து
கூத்தாடும் என் மனச பாத்து
அது தென்ன இளங்கீற்று
விதைப் போட்டேன் உனக்காக நேத்து
நான் கண்ட சுகம் சேர்த்து
Oh... the sapling that took root in the rich soil
The wind that embraced it into its fold
Looking at my heart dancing in joy
It sways like a tender coconut frond
I sowed the seed for your sake yesterday
Gathering all the bliss I experienced
தொட்டு விட்ட பின்னாலே
தூக்கம்மில்ல மாமா
தொட்டுகிட்டு உன்கூட தூங்க வேணும் மாமா
சொர்க்கத்திலே பக்கத்திலே நின்னேனே
Ever since you touched me
I have lost my sleep, my dear uncle
I want to cuddle up and sleep with you, uncle
I stood right beside you in paradise
{கொத்தமல்லி பூவே ஏ....
புத்தம் புது காத்தே வாசம் வீசு..........
வந்து வந்து ஏதோ பேசு......} (2)
{Oh coriander blossom...
Oh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance
Come again and again and whisper something...} (2)
Lulululu lulululu
Lulululu lulululu (Folk vocal melody)
Naattraaga ooni vachchen
I planted it as a tender sapling
Chorus :Lulululu lulululu
Chorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female :Naanum dhenam thanni vittaen
Female: I watered it every single day
Chorus :Lulululu lulululu
Chorus: Lulululu lulululu
Female :Aththa magan ennaththila….aa..
Female: With thoughts of my aunt's son in my mind...
Aththanaiyum payiraachu
All of it grew into a thriving crop
Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae
Ae thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae (Folk rhythm refrain)
Thannanaa haei
Thannanaa haei
Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa
Thaa thandhaa naanae thandhaa naanae naannaa
Thana thandhaa naanae naannaa
Thana thandhaa naanae naannaa
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa….
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa….
Aatthoram kotti vecha malli
Jasmine blooms heaped along the riverbank
Poo vaasatthilae alli
Gathering the fragrance in the blossoms
Aagaasam thoovi vitta velli
Silver stars sprinkled across the expanse of the sky
En maaman vacha pulli
The bindi placed by my beloved uncle
Nenachaenae illachaenae naanu
I pondered and grew lean in longing
En nenjukkullae thaenu
Honey filled up inside my heart
Vattam idum poongaaththu
The gentle breeze circling around
Vandhu vandhu modhum
Comes blowing and strikes me again and again
Thottu thottu soodaaga
Touching warmly step by step
Sondha kadhai paesum
It speaks of our personal story
Sondhaththilae bandhaththilae sandhoshamam
There is pure bliss in kinships and emotional bonds
Kotthamalli poovae ae….
Oh coriander blossom...
Puththam pudhu kaaththae vaasam veesu
Oh brand new breeze, spread your fragrance
Vandhu vandhu yaedho paesu
Come again and again and whisper something to me
Aaththoram chinnak kutti
The little darling by the riverbank
Aththai peththa kannuk kutti
The precious calf born to my aunt
Kaaththaada vandhirukkaa
Has come out to catch the cool breeze
Thangam vacha velli petti
A silver box encrusted with fine gold
Thaali kodi pottu vaippaan maaman maaman
My uncle will tie the sacred wedding thread around my neck
En thangaththukku yaeththavanthaan raaman raaman
He is Lord Rama himself, perfect for my golden self
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana (Folk refrain)
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa
Thandhee thatthee thandhaanaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana
Thandhaanatthana thandhaanatthana
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanatthana thaanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa thandhaanaa
Oo…saetthodu ottikkitta naaththu
Oh... the sapling that took root in the rich soil
Adhai saeththukkitta kaaththu
The wind that embraced it into its fold
Kooththaadum en manasu paaththu
Looking at my heart dancing in joy
Adhu thenna ilang keettru
It sways like a tender coconut frond
Vidhai pottaen unakkaaga naeththu
I sowed the seed for your sake yesterday
Naan kanda sugam saerththu
Gathering all the bliss I experienced
Thottu vitta pinnaalae
Ever since you touched me
Thookkam illa maamaa
I have lost my sleep, my dear uncle
Thottukkittu onkooda thoonga vaenum mama
I want to cuddle up and sleep with you, uncle
Sorgatthilae pakkatthilae ninnaenae
I stood right beside you in paradise
{Kotthamalli poovae ae….
{Oh coriander blossom...
Puththam pudhu kaatthae vaasam veesu
Oh 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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