Kottunga Da
From August 16 1947 · 2023
- Lyricist
- Mohan Rajan
- Singers
- Ananthu, Manoj Krishna
- Music director
- Sean Roldan
- Details
- August 16 19472023
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kottungada kottu kottungada | Beat the drums, beat them loud! |
| Namma merkaatu sooraaliya | To our western wind whirlwind! |
| Thaalam pottu thattungada | Clap to the rhythm! |
| Male | |
| Thattungada pattu kattungada | Clap and weave songs! |
| Namma malasaami attam poda | For our mountain deity to dance, |
| Seva kozhi vettungada | Sacrifice the rooster! |
| Male | |
| Vettu kathida kathida | As the cut echoes louder and louder, |
| Pottu thudikudhu | The pulse throbs fast! |
| Pattuka thaangatti adungada | Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not! |
| Male | |
| Moochu muttida muttida | Until your breath suffocates and gasps, |
| Aadiyae kathanum | Dance and scream out! |
| Soorakkaathu onnu podungada | Unleash a whirlwind energy! |
| Male | |
| Katti vachu aattu koottam | The tied-up herd of goats, |
| Thulli kudhikidhada | Is jumping and leaping high! |
| Male | |
| …………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Poongaathu utkaandhu oor parthathilla | The pleasant breeze has never sat down to watch the village, |
| Kuruvinga paadatha naalae illai | There is no day when birds do not sing, |
| Kattukku thaal potta adhikaari illa | There is no official to lock up our nature, |
| Soru podum mannukku sorvae illa | The soil that feeds us never grows tired, |
| Male | |
| Thara paarthu thala keezha vizhundhaalum kooda | Even if falling headfirst to touch the ground, |
| Mazha thannikku eppodhum kaayam illa | Rainwater never gets wounded, |
| Kara sera vazhi thedi thavichaalum naanga | Even though we struggle searching for a way to reach the shore, |
| Sirikaama oru naalum vaazhndhadhilla | We have never lived a single day without laughing! |
| Male | |
| Katcheri meda koopaadu poda | Let the musical stage scream with cheer, |
| Thullaattam thullaattam thaan | It is pure high-leaping excitement! |
| Male | |
| Kottungada kottu kottungada | Beat the drums, beat them loud! |
| Namma merkaatu sooraaliya | To our western wind whirlwind! |
| Thaalam pottu thattungada | Clap to the rhythm! |
| Thattungada thattungada thattungada | Clap, clap, clap away! |
| Male | |
| Silvandu kaari | You cricket-like chirping girl, |
| Idhama en nenja keeri | Gently scratching my heart, |
| Mela vandhaale oori | She rose up and seeped into me, |
| Vetkatha meeri | Overcoming all her shyness, |
| Thandhaale vaari | She gave her love abundantly! |
| Male | |
| Aala vizhudhaattum | Like banyan roots supporting a person, |
| Usira thaalattum | Lulling my soul to sleep, |
| Oru sondham neethaandi | You are my true relative, girl! |
| Arali poonthottam | An oleander flower garden, |
| Adhil un vaasam | In it lies your scent, |
| Podi vachi kirakkudhadi | Dizzies me like magic dust! |
| Male | |
| Thongattaan polae | Like an ear pendant hanging, |
| Un tholu mela | On your shoulders, |
| Ooyama usara aasaiyadi | I desire to swing high endlessly! |
| Sillandhi siripa vekattu murappa | Your spider-web smile and stern glare, |
| Naal ellaam naan kaana venumadi | I want to see them all day long! |
| En saami needhaandi | You are my goddess, girl! |
| Un theri naan thanadi | I am your chariot, girl! |
| Male | |
| Kottungada kottu kottungada | Beat the drums, beat them loud! |
| Namma merkaatu sooraaliya | To our western wind whirlwind! |
| Thaalam pottu thattungada | Clap to the rhythm! |
| Male | |
| Vettu kathida kathida | As the cut echoes louder and louder, |
| Pottu thudikudhu | The pulse throbs fast! |
| Pattuka thaangatti adungada | Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not! |
| Male | |
| Moochu muttida muttida | Until your breath suffocates and gasps, |
| Aadiyae kathanum | Dance and scream out! |
| Soorakkaathu onnu podungada | Unleash a whirlwind energy! |
| Male | |
| Katti vachu aattu koottam | The tied-up herd of goats, |
| Thulli kudhikidhada | Is jumping and leaping high! |
கொட்டுங்கடா கொட்டு கொட்டுங்கடா
நம்ம வேற்க்காட்டு சூறாளியா
தாளம் போட்டு தட்டுங்கடா
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
To our western wind whirlwind!
Clap to the rhythm!
தட்டுங்கடா பாட்டு கட்டுங்கடா
நம்ம மலசாமி ஆட்டம் போட
சேவக்கோழி வெட்டுங்கடா
Clap and weave songs!
For our mountain deity to dance,
Sacrifice the rooster!
வெட்டு கத்திட கத்திட
பொட்டு துடிக்குது
பட்டுக்க தங்கட்டி ஆடுங்கடா
As the cut echoes louder and louder,
The pulse throbs fast!
Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not!
மூச்சு முட்டிட முட்டிட
ஆடியே கத்தணும்
சூரக்கூத்து ஒன்னு போடுங்கடா
Until your breath suffocates and gasps,
Dance and scream out!
Unleash a whirlwind energy!
கட்டி வச்ச ஆட்டு கூட்டம்
துள்ளி்க் குதிக்கிதடா
The tied-up herd of goats,
Is jumping and leaping high!
......................
...
பூங்காத்து உட்காந்து ஊர் பாரத்ததில்ல
குருவிங்க பாடாத நாளே இல்லை
காட்டுக்கு தாள் போட்ட அதிகாரி இல்ல
சோறு போடும் மண்ணுக்கு சோர்வே இல்ல
The pleasant breeze has never sat down to watch the village,
There is no day when birds do not sing,
There is no official to lock up our nature,
The soil that feeds us never grows tired,
தர பார்த்து தல கீழே விழந்தாலும் கூட
மழ தண்ணிக்கு எப்போதும் காயம் இல்ல
கர சேர வழி தேடி தவிச்சாலும் நாங்க
சிரிக்காம ஒரு நாளும் வாழ்ந்ததில்ல
Even if falling headfirst to touch the ground,
Rainwater never gets wounded,
Even though we struggle searching for a way to reach the shore,
We have never lived a single day without laughing!
கச்சேரி மேட கூப்பாடு போட
துள்ளாட்டம் துள்ளாட்டம் தான்
Let the musical stage scream with cheer,
It is pure high-leaping excitement!
கொட்டுங்கடா கொட்டு கொட்டுங்கடா
நம்ம வேற்க்காட்டு சூறாளியா
தாளம் போட்டு தட்டுங்கடா
தட்டுங்கடா… தட்டுங்கடா… தட்டுங்கடா…
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
To our western wind whirlwind!
Clap to the rhythm!
Clap, clap, clap away!
......................
You cricket-like chirping girl,
Gently scratching my heart,
She rose up and seeped into me,
Overcoming all her shyness,
She gave her love abundantly!
சில்வண்டுக்காரி
இதமா என் நெஞ்ச கீறி
மேல வந்தாளே ஊறி
வெட்கத்த மீறி
தந்தாளே வாரி
Like banyan roots supporting a person,
Lulling my soul to sleep,
You are my true relative, girl!
An oleander flower garden,
In it lies your scent,
Dizzies me like magic dust!
ஆல விழுதாட்டும்
உசிர தாலாட்டும்
ஒரு செம்பு நீதான்டி
அரளி பூந்தோட்டம்
அதில் உன் வாசம்
பொடி வச்சி கிறக்குதடி
Like an ear pendant hanging,
On your shoulders,
I desire to swing high endlessly!
Your spider-web smile and stern glare,
I want to see them all day long!
You are my goddess, girl!
I am your chariot, girl!
சொக்கட்டான் போலே
உன்தோள் மேல
ஓயமா உரச ஆசையடி
சில்லந்தி சிரிப்ப உய்க்காட்டு முறப்ப
நாளெல்லாம் நான் காண வேணுமடி
என் சாமி நீதானடி
உன் தேரி நான்தானடி
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
To our western wind whirlwind!
Clap to the rhythm!
கொட்டுங்கடா கொட்டு கொட்டுங்கடா
நம்ம வேற்க்காட்டு சூறாளியா
தாளம் போட்டு தட்டுங்கடா
As the cut echoes louder and louder,
The pulse throbs fast!
Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not!
வெட்டு கத்திட கத்திட
பொட்டு துடிக்குது
பட்டுக்க தங்கட்டி ஆடுங்கடா
Until your breath suffocates and gasps,
Dance and scream out!
Unleash a whirlwind energy!
மூச்சு முட்டிட முட்டிட
ஆடியே கத்தணும்
சூரக்கூத்து ஒன்னு போடுங்கடா
The tied-up herd of goats,
Is jumping and leaping high!
கட்டி வச்ச ஆட்டு கூட்டம்
துள்ளி்க் குதிக்கிதடா
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
To our western wind whirlwind!
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Clap to the rhythm!
Thattungada pattu kattungada
Clap and weave songs!
Namma malasaami attam poda
For our mountain deity to dance,
Seva kozhi vettungada
Sacrifice the rooster!
Vettu kathida kathida
As the cut echoes louder and louder,
Pottu thudikudhu
The pulse throbs fast!
Pattuka thaangatti adungada
Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not!
Moochu muttida muttida
Until your breath suffocates and gasps,
Aadiyae kathanum
Dance and scream out!
Soorakkaathu onnu podungada
Unleash a whirlwind energy!
Katti vachu aattu koottam
The tied-up herd of goats,
Thulli kudhikidhada
Is jumping and leaping high!
………………………….
...
Poongaathu utkaandhu oor parthathilla
The pleasant breeze has never sat down to watch the village,
Kuruvinga paadatha naalae illai
There is no day when birds do not sing,
Kattukku thaal potta adhikaari illa
There is no official to lock up our nature,
Soru podum mannukku sorvae illa
The soil that feeds us never grows tired,
Thara paarthu thala keezha vizhundhaalum kooda
Even if falling headfirst to touch the ground,
Mazha thannikku eppodhum kaayam illa
Rainwater never gets wounded,
Kara sera vazhi thedi thavichaalum naanga
Even though we struggle searching for a way to reach the shore,
Sirikaama oru naalum vaazhndhadhilla
We have never lived a single day without laughing!
Katcheri meda koopaadu poda
Let the musical stage scream with cheer,
Thullaattam thullaattam thaan
It is pure high-leaping excitement!
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
To our western wind whirlwind!
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Clap to the rhythm!
Thattungada thattungada thattungada
Clap, clap, clap away!
Silvandu kaari
You cricket-like chirping girl,
Idhama en nenja keeri
Gently scratching my heart,
Mela vandhaale oori
She rose up and seeped into me,
Vetkatha meeri
Overcoming all her shyness,
Thandhaale vaari
She gave her love abundantly!
Aala vizhudhaattum
Like banyan roots supporting a person,
Usira thaalattum
Lulling my soul to sleep,
Oru sondham neethaandi
You are my true relative, girl!
Arali poonthottam
An oleander flower garden,
Adhil un vaasam
In it lies your scent,
Podi vachi kirakkudhadi
Dizzies me like magic dust!
Thongattaan polae
Like an ear pendant hanging,
Un tholu mela
On your shoulders,
Ooyama usara aasaiyadi
I desire to swing high endlessly!
Sillandhi siripa vekattu murappa
Your spider-web smile and stern glare,
Naal ellaam naan kaana venumadi
I want to see them all day long!
En saami needhaandi
You are my goddess, girl!
Un theri naan thanadi
I am your chariot, girl!
Kottungada kottu kottungada
Beat the drums, beat them loud!
Namma merkaatu sooraaliya
To our western wind whirlwind!
Thaalam pottu thattungada
Clap to the rhythm!
Vettu kathida kathida
As the cut echoes louder and louder,
Pottu thudikudhu
The pulse throbs fast!
Pattuka thaangatti adungada
Dance whether you get a silk cloth or not!
Moochu muttida muttida
Until your breath suffocates and gasps,
Aadiyae kathanum
Dance and scream out!
Soorakkaathu onnu podungada
Unleash a whirlwind energy!
Katti vachu aattu koottam
The tied-up herd of goats,
Thulli kudhikidhada
Is jumping and leaping high!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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.
Keep listening
More from August 16 1947
August 16 1947
August 16 1947
August 16 1947