Kottu Melam Kovilile
From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957
- Lyricist
- Suratha
- Singer
- Radha Jayalakshmi
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Pudhu Vazhvu1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kottu melam kovililae | Drums are beating at the temple, |
| Vaazhai maram thottathilae | Plantain trees remain in the garden, |
| Vettrilai paakku kadaithanilae | Betel leaf and betel nuts stay at the shop, |
| Saapaadum avunga avunga veetinilae | And everyone eats their meals at their own homes! |
| Female | |
| Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam | It is a wedding for mother and father, |
| Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam | It is a wedding for mother and father! |
| Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum | For grandmother and grandfather, |
| Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum | For grandmother and grandfather, |
| Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam | Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary, |
| Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam | Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary! |
| Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam… | It is a wedding for mother and father... |
| Female | |
| Aaa..aa..aa.. | Aaa..aa..aa.. |
| Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam | Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos, |
| Vedikkai kondaattam | A fun-filled celebration, |
| Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam | Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos, |
| Vedikkai kondaattam | A fun-filled celebration, |
| Female | |
| Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu | Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu, |
| Kandu dundu dundu du | Kandu dundu dundu du, |
| Poikaal kudhirai aattam | The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai), |
| Poikaal kudhirai aattam | The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai), |
| Female | |
| Pippee pippeee pepepepe | Pippee pippeee pepepepe, |
| Pipee pipee pepepepe | Pipee pipee pepepepe, |
| Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja | Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg, |
| Nondi ponn aattam | A limping girl's dance, |
| Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja | Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg, |
| Nondi ponn aattam | A limping girl's dance, |
| Female | |
| Vegu joru thaan kalyanam | The wedding celebration is grand, |
| Vegu joru thaan kalyanam | The wedding celebration is grand, |
| Aana thaliya than kaanoom | But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing! |
| Aana thaliya than kaanoom… | But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing! |
| Haa…aa…aa.. | Haa...aa...aa.. |
| Female | |
| Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam.. | It is a wedding for mother and father.. |
| Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam.. | It is a wedding for mother and father.. |
கொட்டு மேளம் கோவிலிலே
வாழைமரம் தோட்டத்திலே
வெற்றிலை பாக்கு கடைதனிலே
சாப்பாடும் அவுங்க அவுங்க வீட்டினிலே
Drums are beating at the temple,
Plantain trees remain in the garden,
Betel leaf and betel nuts stay at the shop,
And everyone eats their meals at their own homes!
அம்மாவுக்கும் அப்பாவுக்கும் கல்யாணம்
அம்மாவுக்கும் அப்பாவுக்கும் கல்யாணம்
ஆத்தாளுக்கும் தாத்தாவுக்கும்.....
ஆத்தாளுக்கும் தாத்தாவுக்கும்
ஆனந்தமாய் இப்பொழுது அறுபதாங் கல்யாணம்
ஆனந்தமாய் இப்பொழுது அறுபதாங் கல்யாணம்
அம்மாவுக்கும் அப்பாவுக்கும் கல்யாணம்..
It is a wedding for mother and father,
It is a wedding for mother and father!
For grandmother and grandfather,
For grandmother and grandfather,
Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary,
Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary!
It is a wedding for mother and father...
ஆஆஆ...
கொம்பு வானம் மேளத்தாளம்
வேடிக்கை கொண்டாட்டம்
கொம்பு வானம் மேளத்தாளம்
வேடிக்கை கொண்டாட்டம்
Aaa..aa..aa..
Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos,
A fun-filled celebration,
Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos,
A fun-filled celebration,
டுண்டு டுண்டு டுண்டு டுடுடு டுடுடு
கண்டு டுண்டு டுண்டுடூ
பொய்க்கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம்
பொய்க்கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம்
Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu,
Kandu dundu dundu du,
The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai),
The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai),
பிப்பீ பிப்பீ பீபீபீபீ
பிப்பீ பிப்பீ பீபீபீபீ
இது வேடிக்கை ஒரு கால் ஒடிஞ்ச
நொண்டி பொண்ணு ஆட்டம்
இது வேடிக்கை ஒரு கால் ஒடிஞ்ச
நொண்டி பொண்ணு ஆட்டம்
Pippee pippeee pepepepe,
Pipee pipee pepepepe,
Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg,
A limping girl's dance,
Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg,
A limping girl's dance,
வெகு ஜோருதான் கல்யாணம்
வெகு ஜோருதான் கல்யாணம்
ஆனா தாலியத்தான் காணோம்
ஆனா தாலியத்தான் காணோம்..
ஹா ...ஆஆ..ஆ..
The wedding celebration is grand,
The wedding celebration is grand,
But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing!
But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing!
Haa...aa...aa..
அம்மாவுக்கும் அப்பாவுக்கும் கல்யாணம்
அம்மாவுக்கும் அப்பாவுக்கும் கல்யாணம்....
It is a wedding for mother and father..
It is a wedding for mother and father..
Kottu melam kovililae
Drums are beating at the temple,
Vaazhai maram thottathilae
Plantain trees remain in the garden,
Vettrilai paakku kadaithanilae
Betel leaf and betel nuts stay at the shop,
Saapaadum avunga avunga veetinilae
And everyone eats their meals at their own homes!
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam
It is a wedding for mother and father,
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam
It is a wedding for mother and father!
Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum
For grandmother and grandfather,
Aathaalukkum thaathavukkum
For grandmother and grandfather,
Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam
Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary,
Aanandhamaai ippozhudhu arupadhaang kalyaanam
Happily now, it is their sixtieth wedding anniversary!
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam…
It is a wedding for mother and father...
Aaa..aa..aa..
Aaa..aa..aa..
Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam
Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos,
Vedikkai kondaattam
A fun-filled celebration,
Kombhu vaanam mela thaalam
Horns, fireworks, drumbeats and rhythmic tempos,
Vedikkai kondaattam
A fun-filled celebration,
Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu
Dundu dundu dundu du dudu du dudu,
Kandu dundu dundu du
Kandu dundu dundu du,
Poikaal kudhirai aattam
The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai),
Poikaal kudhirai aattam
The dummy-horse dance (Poikaal Kudhirai),
Pippee pippeee pepepepe
Pippee pippeee pepepepe,
Pipee pipee pepepepe
Pipee pipee pepepepe,
Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja
Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg,
Nondi ponn aattam
A limping girl's dance,
Idhu vedikkai oru kaal odinja
Here is a funny sight, with one broken leg,
Nondi ponn aattam
A limping girl's dance,
Vegu joru thaan kalyanam
The wedding celebration is grand,
Vegu joru thaan kalyanam
The wedding celebration is grand,
Aana thaliya than kaanoom
But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing!
Aana thaliya than kaanoom…
But the sacred mangalsutra (thaali) itself is missing!
Haa…aa…aa..
Haa...aa...aa..
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam..
It is a wedding for mother and father..
Ammavukkum appavukkum kalyaanam..
It is a wedding for mother and father..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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