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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kottunga Da

From August 16 1947 · 2023

Lyricist
Mohan Rajan
Singers
Ananthu, Manoj Krishna
Music director
Sean Roldan
Movie name
August 16 1947
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
5 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Thattungada pattu kattungada
Namma malasaami attam poda
Seva kozhi vettungada
Vettu kathida kathida
Pottu thudikudhu
Pattuka thaangatti adungada
Moochu muttida muttida
Aadiyae kathanum
Soorakkaathu onnu podungada
Katti vachu aattu koottam
Thulli kudhikidhada
………………………….
Poongaathu utkaandhu oor parthathilla
Kuruvinga paadatha naalae illai
Kattukku thaal potta adhikaari illa
Soru podum mannukku sorvae illa
Thara paarthu thala keezha vizhundhaalum kooda
Mazha thannikku eppodhum kaayam illa
Kara sera vazhi thedi thavichaalum naanga
Sirikaama oru naalum vaazhndhadhilla
Katcheri meda koopaadu poda
Thullaattam thullaattam thaan
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Thattungada thattungada thattungada
Silvandu kaari
Idhama en nenja keeri
Mela vandhaale oori
Vetkatha meeri
Thandhaale vaari
Aala vizhudhaattum
Usira thaalattum
Oru sondham neethaandi
Arali poonthottam
Adhil un vaasam
Podi vachi kirakkudhadi
Thongattaan polae
Un tholu mela
Ooyama usara aasaiyadi
Sillandhi siripa vekattu murappa
Naal ellaam naan kaana venumadi
En saami needhaandi
Un theri naan thanadi
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Vettu kathida kathida
Pottu thudikudhu
Pattuka thaangatti adungada
Moochu muttida muttida
Aadiyae kathanum
Soorakkaathu onnu podungada
Katti vachu aattu koottam
Thulli kudhikidhada
Beat the drums, beat them, beat the drums!
To the whirlwind of our western wind,
Clap along to the beat!
Clap your hands and compose a song,
For our mountain deity to dance,
Sacrifice the rooster!
As the sacrifice cries out loud,
The bindi on the forehead throbs!
Tie a silk sash tightly and dance!
As breath gets choked and breathless,
We must scream aloud while dancing!
Unleash a whirlwind!
The flock of sheep kept tied up,
Is bouncing and leaping high!
.......................
The gentle breeze has never sat down to watch the town,
There is never a day when the birds do not sing.
There is no officer who can lock up the forest,
The soil that feeds us never grows weary.
Even if we fall headlong facing the ground,
Rainwater never suffers a wound.
Even if we struggle searching for a way to reach the shore,
We have never lived a single day without smiling.
As the concert stage breaks into a roar,
It is pure, ecstatic leaping dance!
Beat the drums, beat them, beat the drums!
To the whirlwind of our western wind,
Clap along to the beat!
Clap your hands, clap your hands, clap your hands!
You, cricket-like lively girl,
Gently scratching my heart,
She welling up and rising,
Transcending all shyness,
She showered her love abundantly!
Like the aerial roots of a banyan tree,
Lulling the soul to sleep,
You are my true kin, my girl!
An oleander flower garden,
In it lies your fragrance,
Casting a spell that intoxicates me, girl!
Like an earring pendant,
Upon your shoulder,
I wish to rest high above tirelessly, girl!
Your spider-like smile and shy glare,
I want to behold them all day long, girl!
You are my deity, my girl,
I am your temple chariot, girl!
Beat the drums, beat them, beat the drums!
To the whirlwind of our western wind,
Clap along to the beat!
As the sacrifice cries out loud,
The bindi on the forehead throbs!
Tie a silk sash tightly and dance!
As breath gets choked and breathless,
We must scream aloud while dancing!
Unleash a whirlwind!
The flock of sheep kept tied up,
Is bouncing and leaping high!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kottungada' from the movie 'August 16 1947' is a vibrant, high-energy Tamil folk celebration song. It captures the raw spirit, resilience, and unbridled joy of rural villagers celebrating their deity and native roots. The lyrics draw heavy inspiration from nature, comparing the villagers' energy to whirlwinds, rain, and leaping herds that remain unbowed by hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Namma merkaatu sooraaliya”

Compares the raw, energetic movement of the villagers to a powerful western whirlwind.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Thongattaan polae un tholu mela”

Compares the protagonist's desire to hang onto his lover's shoulders endlessly to a swinging ear ornament.

Personification / Imagery

“Thara paarthu thala keezha vizhundhaalum kooda mazha thannikku eppodhum kaayam illa”

Attributes human endurance and immunity to injury to falling rain hitting the hard ground.

Alliteration (Emonai / Ethirai)

“Kottungada kottu kottungada / Thaalam pottu thattungada”

Rhythmic repetition of native folk beats and sound patterns ('kottungada', 'thattungada').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'August 16 1947' is set in a fictional remote village in Tamil Nadu during the British Raj. Composed by Sean Roldan, 'Kottungada' utilizes traditional Tamil folk percussion instruments like the Parai and Thavil to create an authentic rural festival atmosphere.

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