Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kudagumalai Koottamunga

From Boologa Rambai – 1958 · 1958

Lyricist
Puratchi Dasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, A. G. Rathnamala, S. V. Ponnusami
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Movie name
Boologa Rambai – 1958
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
1 Aug 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kudagu malai kootamunga thillaelaelo saami
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaelo
Kudagu malai kootamunga thillaelaelo saami
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaelo
Unga magarasasan raajiyathile thillaelaelo naanga
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaelo saami
Unga magarasasan raajiyathile thillaelaelo naanga
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaelo
Paasip pagalam vaangalingalaa saami
Patchai kuthi paakalingala saami
Saamiyoo
Chorus :Paasip pagalam vaangalingalaa saami
Patchai kuthi paakalingala saami
Thealu patcha meenu patcha kuthi paaruga amme
Jimikki kallu kullanari pallu vaangi paarunga
Thealu patcha meenu patcha kuthi paaruga amme
Jimikki kallu kullanari pallu vaangi paarunga
Jegajaaala vithai ellaam seithiduvom
Enga thittamaana pozhappa keatta asanthiduveenga
Chittu kuruvi ponne adi en
Seenathu kiliye kanne kannu
Chittu kuruvi ponne adi en
Seenathu kiliye kanne neathu
Thittam pottu enga ponadi athai
Enakku thelivaga eduthu solladi
Female :Sollatuma …
Male :Sollu….
Kazhugu malai saaralilae machaan
Kanni vechi kaathirunthen
Kulla nari kaada kauvuthari
Kattoda vilunthiduchi ellaam
Kattoda vilunthiduchi
Chorus :Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaeloo
Aala paaru solai kolla bommae
Udambhu valaaichi velai seidhu
Polaikkanungura akkaraiyae illae
Oora suthi unakku podanum
Male :Ennadhu
Female :Adhilaeyun uruttalukkum adangi nadakkanum
Nee kaala pola thinnu thiriyura
En singamae singam kaavaliyaa oora suthura
En singamae singam kaavaliyaa oora suthura
Kasthuri korojanae javvadhu kuguma poo
Male :Javvadhu kuguma poo
Kamakamakkum punugu vaangi panga
Female :Indhaanga mondhu paarunga vaanga saamiyae
Chorus :Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaeloo
Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaeloo
We are folk from the Kodagu hills, oh master, thillelelo!
We have come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillelelo!
We are folk from the Kodagu hills, oh master, thillelelo!
We have come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillelelo!
In the kingdom of your generous king, thillelelo, we
have come to make a living by telling fortunes, oh master, thillelelo!
In the kingdom of your generous king, thillelelo, we
have come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillelelo!
Won't you buy glass beads and corals, master?
Won't you try getting a tattoo, master?
Oh master!
Chorus: Won't you buy glass beads and corals, master?
Won't you try getting a tattoo, master?
Try getting a scorpion or a fish tattoo, good lady!
Buy shimmering earring stones and lucky jackal teeth!
Try getting a scorpion or a fish tattoo, good lady!
Buy shimmering earring stones and lucky jackal teeth!
We can perform all kinds of wonderful magic tricks!
If you hear how clever our work is, you will be amazed!
My precious little sparrow, hey,
my darling Chinese parrot, my dear!
My precious little sparrow, hey,
my darling Chinese parrot, where did you go yesterday
with such secret plans,
tell me clearly, girl!
Female: Shall I tell you?
Male: Tell me!
On the slopes of Kazhugu hill, my man,
I set a trap and kept watch!
Jackals, quails, and partridges—
they all fell right into the snare,
every single one was caught!
Chorus: In the kingdom of your generous king, thillelelo,
may we find success just as our hearts desire, thillelelo!
Look at this man, just like a scarecrow in the field!
Bending your back to work hard
and earn a living—you don't care about that at all!
I have to roam all over town to feed you,
Male: What did you say?
Female: And on top of that, I have to put up with your bossy ways!
You just eat and roam around like a bull,
wandering the town as a loafer, my so-called lion!
Wandering the town as a loafer, my so-called lion!
Musk, gorojanam (traditional herbal charm), civet perfume, and saffron!
Male: Civet perfume and saffron!
Buy this fragrant civet scent!
Female: Here, take a smell of it and buy, good master!
Chorus: In the kingdom of your generous king, thillelelo,
may we find success just as our hearts desire, thillelelo!
In the kingdom of your generous king, thillelelo,
may we find success just as our hearts desire, thillelelo!
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kudagu Malai Kootamunga is a vibrant folk dance duet from the 1958 Tamil movie Boologa Rambai, composed by C. N. Pandurangan with lyrics by Puratchi Dasan. The song depicts nomadic fortune-tellers and traders (Kuravan and Kurathi) arriving in a prosperous kingdom. They hawk traditional goods such as glass beads, tattoos, charms, and sweet-smelling natural perfumes while engaging in playful, affectionate banter about work, love, and daily life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Folk Refrain (Madai / Thillaelaelo)

Kudagu malai kootamunga thillaelaelo saami

The rhythmic chant 'thillaelaelo' is a traditional oral folk refrain used across Tamil folk music to maintain tempo and audience engagement.

Metaphor (Uvamei / Urvagam)

Seenathu kiliye kanne kannu

Addressing the beloved as 'Seenathu kiliye' (Chinese parrot) and 'Chittu kuruvi' (sparrow) uses nature imagery as endearments.

Assonance and Alliteration (Monai / Ethirai)

Kasthuri korojanae javvadhu kuguma poo

Rhythmic street-vending calls utilizing fast, repeating phonetic sounds (Kasthuri / Korojanae / Javvadhu / Kuguma).

Did you know?

Trivia

Boologa Rambai (1958) starred Gemini Ganesan and Rajasulochana. Kuravan-Kurathi folk song-and-dance duets were standard musical highlights in 1950s Tamil cinema, serving as entertaining subplots showcasing local street culture, fortune-telling customs, and traditional cosmetics.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Boologa Rambai – 1958

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.