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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
Details
Boologa Rambai – 19581958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Kudagu malai kootamunga thillaelaelo saamiWe are the group from Kudagu hills, oh Lord, thillaelaelo
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaeloWe have come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillaelaelo
Kudagu malai kootamunga thillaelaelo saamiWe are the group from Kudagu hills, oh Lord, thillaelaelo
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaeloWe have come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillaelaelo
Unga magarasasan raajiyathile thillaelaelo naangaIn the kingdom of your generous majesty, thillaelaelo, we
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaelo saamiHave come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillaelaelo, oh Lord
Unga magarasasan raajiyathile thillaelaelo naangaIn the kingdom of your generous majesty, thillaelaelo, we
Kuri solli pozhaikka vanthom thillaelaeloHave come to make a living by telling fortunes, thillaelaelo
Male
Paasip pagalam vaangalingalaa saamiWon't you buy glass beads and corals, oh Lord?
Patchai kuthi paakalingala saamiWon't you try getting a tattoo, oh Lord?
SaamiyooOh Lord!
Chorus :Paasip pagalam vaangalingalaa saamiChorus: Won't you buy glass beads and corals, oh Lord?
Patchai kuthi paakalingala saamiWon't you try getting a tattoo, oh Lord?
Female
Thealu patcha meenu patcha kuthi paaruga ammeTry getting a scorpion tattoo or a fish tattoo, oh lady
Jimikki kallu kullanari pallu vaangi paarungaTry buying dangling earrings, jhumkas, and fox teeth
Thealu patcha meenu patcha kuthi paaruga ammeTry getting a scorpion tattoo or a fish tattoo, oh lady
Jimikki kallu kullanari pallu vaangi paarungaTry buying dangling earrings, jhumkas, and fox teeth
Male
Jegajaaala vithai ellaam seithiduvomWe perform all kinds of magical tricks
Enga thittamaana pozhappa keatta asanthiduveengaIf you hear about our well-planned lifestyle, you will be amazed
Male
Chittu kuruvi ponne adi enOh sparrow-like precious girl, my
Seenathu kiliye kanne kannuChinese parrot, my dear eye
Chittu kuruvi ponne adi enOh sparrow-like precious girl, my
Seenathu kiliye kanne neathuChinese parrot, my dear eye, yesterday
Thittam pottu enga ponadi athaiWhere did you go with a plan?
Enakku thelivaga eduthu solladiExplain that clearly to me, my cousin!
Female :Sollatuma …Female: Shall I tell you...
Male :Sollu….Male: Tell me...
Female
Kazhugu malai saaralilae machaanIn the drizzle of Kazhugu hill, my dear cousin
Kanni vechi kaathirunthenI set a trap and was waiting
Kulla nari kaada kauvuthariJackal, quail, and partridge
Kattoda vilunthiduchi ellaamAll fell into the trap completely
Kattoda vilunthiduchiAll fell in completely
Chorus :Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaeloChorus: In your generous king's realm, thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaelooMay we achieve victory according to our heart's desires, thillaelaelo
Female
Aala paaru solai kolla bommaeLook at this man, standing like a scarecrow in a grove
Udambhu valaaichi velai seidhuWorking hard by bending one's body to earn a living
Polaikkanungura akkaraiyae illaeYou have no concern at all to live like that
Oora suthi unakku podanumThe whole town has to feed you while you roam around
Male :EnnadhuMale: What?
Female :Adhilaeyun uruttalukkum adangi nadakkanumFemale: And on top of that, one must submit to your bullying
Nee kaala pola thinnu thiriyuraYou roam around eating continuously like a bull
En singamae singam kaavaliyaa oora suthuraMy lion, roaming around the town like a night guard
En singamae singam kaavaliyaa oora suthuraMy lion, roaming around the town like a night guard
Female
Kasthuri korojanae javvadhu kuguma pooMusk, gorochana, civet, kumkum flower
Male :Javvadhu kuguma pooMale: Civet, kumkum flower
Kamakamakkum punugu vaangi pangaBuy fragrant civet perfume, dear partner
Female :Indhaanga mondhu paarunga vaanga saamiyaeFemale: Here it is, take a smell, come oh Lord
Chorus :Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaeloChorus: In your generous king's realm, thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaelooMay we achieve victory according to our heart's desires, thillaelaelo
Unga magarasan raajiyathilae thillaelaeloIn your generous king's realm, thillaelaelo
Enga manasu pola jeyangkedaikkanum thillaelaelooMay we achieve victory according to our heart's desires, thillaelaelo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

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