Kottungadi Ketti Melam
From Kanne Radha · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kanne Radha1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kottungadi ketti melam | Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women! |
| Naan irukken pakka melam | I am right here playing the side accompaniment! |
| Kottungadi ketti melam | Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women! |
| Naan irukken pakka melam | I am right here playing the side accompaniment! |
| Ooru mulukka | Throughout the whole village, |
| Satham kaadhu polakka | The noise should resound deafeningly! |
| Adha thattiyavan ketkuradhu | The one playing it hears it, |
| Ettiyavan paakuradhu | The one standing at a distance watches it. |
| Male | |
| Adidaa thammu pididaa | Beat the drum, take a puff! |
| Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Haan kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | Ah, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Male | |
| Paapaa maamaa | Little girl, uncle! |
| Paapaa maamaa pakkathilae | Beside the little girl and uncle, |
| Andha surangalum | Even those musical notes |
| Aaduthu vetkathilae | Are dancing out of sheer shyness! |
| Needhaan maamaa | You are the uncle, |
| Maamaari somaari maamaa | A lazy, foolish uncle! |
| Male | |
| Maaman valartha kili | The parrot raised by the uncle, |
| Manja poosi kulicha kili | The parrot that bathed after applying turmeric, |
| Kaaman kanai erinju | Cupid shot his arrow, |
| Kattazhagan pudicha kili | And the parrot caught the handsome man! |
| Aalaiyitta karumbaattam | Like sugarcane put into a crusher, |
| Angamellaam nogaiyilae | When the entire body aches, |
| Maalaiyittu kondu poga | To garland her and take her away, |
| Maapillai thaan vandhaaraam | The groom has arrived! |
| Male | |
| Appan romba killadi | The father is a clever trickster, |
| Aaththaa periya vaayadi | The mother is a huge blabbermouth, |
| Ippa ingae penn edukka | Now to pick a bride from this house, |
| Thappa vandha appaavi | A naive guy has mistakenly arrived! |
| Therinja varuvaana | Would he come if he knew the truth? |
| Purinjaa thoduvaana | Would he touch her hand if he understood? |
| Ada maanga madaiyan | Oh, what an utter fool! |
| Ivan thaana | Is it really him? |
| Thattungadi mathalathai | Beat the hand drums, women! |
| Kaattungadi kattra vithai | Display all the skills you have learned, women! |
| Male | |
| Adidaa thammu pididaa | Beat the drum, take a puff! |
| Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Haa haa kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | Ha ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Male | |
| Kottungadi ketti melam | Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women! |
| Naan irukken pakka melam | I am right here playing the side accompaniment! |
| Male | |
| Ponnu nalla maina thaan | The bride is a fine myna bird, |
| Polladhavan nainaa thaan | Her father is a tough villain, |
| Nikka vechu kuthu vittaa | If he makes you stand and punches you, |
| Sappa mookku chinathaan | Your flat nose will be ruined! |
| Inimae mariyaadhae | From now on, respect... |
| Unakku kidaiyaadhae | You will not get any! |
| Ada morachaa verachaa nadakkadhae | Hey, glaring and flexing won't work here! |
| Oodhungadi vaathiyatha ootungadi aanavatha | Blow the instruments, women, drive away his arrogance! |
| Male | |
| Adidaa thammu pididaa | Beat the drum, take a puff! |
| Kuthuuravan | The drummer... |
| Ippo kuthuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | Now the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Male | |
| Kottungadi ketti melam | Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women! |
| Naan irukken pakka melam | I am right here playing the side accompaniment! |
| Ooru mulukka | Throughout the whole village, |
| Satham kaadhu polakka | The noise should resound deafeningly! |
| Adha thattiyavan ketkuradhu | The one playing it hears it, |
| Ettiyavan paakuradhu | The one standing at a distance watches it. |
| Male | |
| Adidaa thammu pididaa | Beat the drum, take a puff! |
| Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
| Haan haa kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu | Ah ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu, |
| Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu | And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu! |
கொட்டுங்கடி கெட்டி மேளம்
நான் இருக்கேன் பக்க மேளம்
கொட்டுங்கடி கெட்டி மேளம்
நான் இருக்கேன் பக்க மேளம்
ஊரு முழுக்க
சத்தம் காது பொளக்க
அதை தட்டியவன் கேக்குறது
எட்டியவன் பாக்குறது
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Throughout the whole village,
The noise should resound deafeningly!
The one playing it hears it,
The one standing at a distance watches it.
அடிடா தம்மு பிடிடா
குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
ஹான் குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
Beat the drum, take a puff!
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Ah, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
பாப்பா மாமா
பாப்பா மாமா பக்கத்திலே
அந்த சுரங்களும்
ஆடுது வெட்கத்திலே
நீதான் மாமா
மாமாரி சோமாறி மாமா
Little girl, uncle!
Beside the little girl and uncle,
Even those musical notes
Are dancing out of sheer shyness!
You are the uncle,
A lazy, foolish uncle!
மாமன் வளர்த்த கிளி
மஞ்ச பூசி குளிச்ச கிளி
காமன் கணை எறிஞ்சு
கட்டழகன் புடிச்ச கிளி
ஆலையிட்ட கரும்பாட்டம்
அங்கமெல்லாம் நோகயிலே
மாலையிட்டு கொண்டு போக
மாப்பிள்ளைதான் வந்தாராம்
The parrot raised by the uncle,
The parrot that bathed after applying turmeric,
Cupid shot his arrow,
And the parrot caught the handsome man!
Like sugarcane put into a crusher,
When the entire body aches,
To garland her and take her away,
The groom has arrived!
அப்பன் ரொம்ப கில்லாடி
ஆத்தா பெரிய வாயாடி
இப்ப இங்கே பெண் எடுக்க
தப்பா வந்த அப்பாவி
தெரிஞ்சா வருவானா
புரிஞ்சா தொடுவானா
அட மாங்கா மடையன்
இவன்தானா
தட்டுங்கடி மத்தளத்தை
காட்டுங்கடி கற்ற வித்தை
The father is a clever trickster,
The mother is a huge blabbermouth,
Now to pick a bride from this house,
A naive guy has mistakenly arrived!
Would he come if he knew the truth?
Would he touch her hand if he understood?
Oh, what an utter fool!
Is it really him?
Beat the hand drums, women!
Display all the skills you have learned, women!
அடிடா தம்மு பிடிடா
குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
ஹா ஹா குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
Beat the drum, take a puff!
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Ha ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
கொட்டுங்கடி கெட்டி மேளம்
நான் இருக்கேன் பக்க மேளம்
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
பொண்ணு நல்ல மைனாதான்
பொல்லாதவன் நைனாதான்
நிக்க வச்சு குத்து விட்டா
சப்பை மூக்கு சைனாதான்
இனிமே மரியாதை
உனக்கு கிடையாதே
அட மொறச்சா வெறச்சா நடக்காதே
ஊத்துங்கடி வாத்தியத்தை ஒட்டுங்கடி ஆணவத்தை
The bride is a fine myna bird,
Her father is a tough villain,
If he makes you stand and punches you,
Your flat nose will be ruined!
From now on, respect...
You will not get any!
Hey, glaring and flexing won't work here!
Blow the instruments, women, drive away his arrogance!
அடிடா தம்மு பிடிடா
குத்துறவன்
இப்போ குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
Beat the drum, take a puff!
The drummer...
Now the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
கொட்டுங்கடி கெட்டி மேளம்
நான் இருக்கேன் பக்க மேளம்
ஊரு முழுக்க
சத்தம் காது பொளக்க
அதை தட்டியவன் கேக்குறது
எட்டியவன் பாக்குறது
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Throughout the whole village,
The noise should resound deafeningly!
The one playing it hears it,
The one standing at a distance watches it.
விசில் :
...........................
Beat the drum, take a puff!
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Ah ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
அடிடா தம்மு பிடிடா
குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
ஹான் ஹா குத்துறவன் பத்தமடை செல்லமுத்து
அவன் குத்துறது எப்பவுமே டப்பாங்குத்து
Kottungadi ketti melam
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
Naan irukken pakka melam
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Kottungadi ketti melam
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
Naan irukken pakka melam
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Ooru mulukka
Throughout the whole village,
Satham kaadhu polakka
The noise should resound deafeningly!
Adha thattiyavan ketkuradhu
The one playing it hears it,
Ettiyavan paakuradhu
The one standing at a distance watches it.
Adidaa thammu pididaa
Beat the drum, take a puff!
Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Haan kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
Ah, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Paapaa maamaa
Little girl, uncle!
Paapaa maamaa pakkathilae
Beside the little girl and uncle,
Andha surangalum
Even those musical notes
Aaduthu vetkathilae
Are dancing out of sheer shyness!
Needhaan maamaa
You are the uncle,
Maamaari somaari maamaa
A lazy, foolish uncle!
Maaman valartha kili
The parrot raised by the uncle,
Manja poosi kulicha kili
The parrot that bathed after applying turmeric,
Kaaman kanai erinju
Cupid shot his arrow,
Kattazhagan pudicha kili
And the parrot caught the handsome man!
Aalaiyitta karumbaattam
Like sugarcane put into a crusher,
Angamellaam nogaiyilae
When the entire body aches,
Maalaiyittu kondu poga
To garland her and take her away,
Maapillai thaan vandhaaraam
The groom has arrived!
Appan romba killadi
The father is a clever trickster,
Aaththaa periya vaayadi
The mother is a huge blabbermouth,
Ippa ingae penn edukka
Now to pick a bride from this house,
Thappa vandha appaavi
A naive guy has mistakenly arrived!
Therinja varuvaana
Would he come if he knew the truth?
Purinjaa thoduvaana
Would he touch her hand if he understood?
Ada maanga madaiyan
Oh, what an utter fool!
Ivan thaana
Is it really him?
Thattungadi mathalathai
Beat the hand drums, women!
Kaattungadi kattra vithai
Display all the skills you have learned, women!
Adidaa thammu pididaa
Beat the drum, take a puff!
Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Haa haa kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
Ha ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Kottungadi ketti melam
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
Naan irukken pakka melam
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Ponnu nalla maina thaan
The bride is a fine myna bird,
Polladhavan nainaa thaan
Her father is a tough villain,
Nikka vechu kuthu vittaa
If he makes you stand and punches you,
Sappa mookku chinathaan
Your flat nose will be ruined!
Inimae mariyaadhae
From now on, respect...
Unakku kidaiyaadhae
You will not get any!
Ada morachaa verachaa nadakkadhae
Hey, glaring and flexing won't work here!
Oodhungadi vaathiyatha ootungadi aanavatha
Blow the instruments, women, drive away his arrogance!
Adidaa thammu pididaa
Beat the drum, take a puff!
Kuthuuravan
The drummer...
Ippo kuthuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
Now the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Kottungadi ketti melam
Beat the auspicious wedding drums, women!
Naan irukken pakka melam
I am right here playing the side accompaniment!
Ooru mulukka
Throughout the whole village,
Satham kaadhu polakka
The noise should resound deafeningly!
Adha thattiyavan ketkuradhu
The one playing it hears it,
Ettiyavan paakuradhu
The one standing at a distance watches it.
Adidaa thammu pididaa
Beat the drum, take a puff!
Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
The drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Haan haa kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu
Ah ha, the drummer is Pathamadai Chellamuthu,
Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu
And his drumming style is always energetic Dappangkuthu!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kottungadi Ketti Melam' from the movie Kanne Radha (1982), written by Vaali, is a high-energy folk wedding song featuring playful banter, teasing, and vibrant celebration. The narrator introduces the famous drummer Pathamadai Chellamuthu, whose fast-paced beat gets everyone moving. The lyrics humorously mock the groom and his family, teasing him about entering a household with a sharp father and talkative mother, while celebrating the bride's beauty and the traditional wedding festivities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Maaman valartha kili / Ponnu nalla maina thaan”
Comparing the bride to a parrot ('kili') and a myna ('maina') nurtured lovingly, and comparing life's hardship to sugarcane in a crusher ('Aalaiyitta karumbaattam').
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kottungadi ketti melam / Thattungadi mathalathai”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 't' in consecutive lines (Kottungadi / Thattungadi / Kaattungadi).
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kuthuuravan paththamadai sellamuthu / Avan kuththurathu eppavumae dappaanguthu”
End-rhyming words used to create rhythmic impact (Sellamuthu / Dappaanguthu, Killadi / Vaayadi).
Did you know?
Trivia
Pathamadai Chellamuthu is a folk character reference famous in Tamil rural folklore for lively percussion performance. The song highlights Vaali's mastery in blending colloquial Tamil village folk expressions with theatrical wedding banter.
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