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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kottu Melam Kovilile

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Suratha
Singer
Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Pudhu Vazhvu
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
22 Jul 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kottu melam kovililae
Vaazhai maram thottathilae
Vettrilai paakku kadaithanilae
Saapaadum avunga avunga veetinilae
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam
Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum
Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum
Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam
Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam…
Aaa..aa..aa..
Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam
Vedikkai kondaattam
Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam
Vedikkai kondaattam
Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu
Kandu dundu dundu du
Poikaal kudhirai aattam
Poikaal kudhirai aattam
Pippee pippeee pepepepe
Pipee pipee pepepepe
Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja
Nondi ponn aattam
Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja
Nondi ponn aattam
Vegu joru thaan kalyanam
Vegu joru thaan kalyanam
Aana thaliya than kaanoom
Aana thaliya than kaanoom…
Haa…aa…aa..
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam..
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam..
The wedding drums beat at the temple,
The banana tree stays in the garden,
The betel leaves and nuts remain in the shop,
And the feast is eaten in everyone's own home!
It is a wedding for mother and father,
It is a wedding for mother and father!
For grandma and grandpa...
For grandma and grandpa,
A joyful sixtieth wedding celebration now!
A joyful sixtieth wedding celebration now!
It is a wedding for mother and father...
Aaaa...
Horns, fireworks, and the rhythm of drums,
Fun, spectacle, and celebration!
Horns, fireworks, and the rhythm of drums,
Fun, spectacle, and celebration!
Dundu dundu dundu dududu dududu
Kandu dundu dundudoo
The dummy horse folk dance,
The dummy horse folk dance!
Pee-pee pee-pee pee-pee-pee-pee
Pee-pee pee-pee pee-pee-pee-pee
What a funny sight—with one broken leg,
A limping girl's dance!
What a funny sight—with one broken leg,
A limping girl's dance!
The wedding is so grand and lively,
The wedding is so grand and lively,
Yet the wedding thali (sacred marital thread) is missing!
Yet the wedding thali is nowhere to be found...
Ha... aaa... aa..
It is a wedding for mother and father,
It is a wedding for mother and father....
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and satirical song from the 1957 Tamil film 'Pudhu Vazhvu', penned by poet Suratha and set to music by G. Ramanathan, humorously depicts a quirky wedding celebration. The lyrics mock the absurdity of a grand event where all traditional arrangements are scattered—the music plays at the temple, decorations stay in the garden, and guests are forced to eat at their own homes. The context centers around an elderly couple's 60th wedding anniversary (Sasthiabthapoorthi), portrayed with traditional Tamil folk arts like the Poikaal Kudhirai (dummy-horse dance) and lively pipe instruments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Irony (Nindha Stuthi)

Saapaadum avunga avunga veetinilae

The lyrics present a humorous critique of a grand wedding where essential elements are misplaced, culminating in the punchline that the wedding feast is eaten at home and the sacred thaali is missing.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilaavi / Sound Words)

Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu

Rhythmic phonetic sounds imitating traditional percussion instruments (tavil/mridangam) and wind instruments (nadaswaram) are used to build festive energy.

Iyaibu (Rhyming end syllables)

Kottu melam kovililae

The line endings 'kovililae', 'thottathilae', 'kadaithanilae', and 'veetinilae' create a pleasing locative rhyming pattern (-ilae).

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the acclaimed Tamil poet Suratha (Subburathinadasan), known for his vivid similes and imagery, this track features musical composition by veteran composer G. Ramanathan and highlights traditional Tamil folk dance culture like 'Poikaal Kudhirai Aattam'.

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