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Lyrics & meaning

Kulla Nari Pola

From Deiva Balam · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
K. Rani
Music director
G. Aswathama
Details
Deiva Balam1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes
Kullanari pola kunthikittu neengaSitting crouching like a sly jackal, you
Kullanari pola kunthikittu neengaSitting crouching like a sly jackal, you
Palla killai kaattuvathum yaengaWhy are you grinning and flashing your teeth?
Female
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes
Female
Paththu kanju palikkaathaaWill ten coin tricks not yield results?
Intha pouvusaiyum paaththaa theriyaathaaCan't you see this status and grand show?
Paththu kanju palikkaathaaWill ten coin tricks not yield results?
Intha pouvusaiyum paaththaa theriyaathaaCan't you see this status and grand show?
Ivan sogusaiyum paaththaa puriyaathaaCan't you understand looking at his elegance?
Pattaala raja pachchonthu koojaaOh army king, a chameleon's jug
Nampakittae seiyaathae thaajaaDo not flatter or plead near us
Female
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes
Female
Manalaiyum kayiraa thirikkaathaeDon't attempt the impossible like spinning rope out of sand
Yaei mammuthaa neeyum sirikkaathaeHey Mammatha, don't you laugh either
Manalaiyum kayiraa thirikkaathaeDon't attempt the impossible like spinning rope out of sand
Yaei mammuthaa neeyum sirikkaathaeHey Mammatha, don't you laugh either
Ur manthi pola nee muraikkaathaeDon't glare at me like a baboon
Female
Kokkarikkum domaa vakkarikkum mamaCackling puppet, mocking uncle
Kokkarikkum domaa vakkarikkum mamaCackling puppet, mocking uncle
Kodaali pallaandi raama…Oh Rama with axe-like teeth...
Female
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes
Female
Paarththaalae pasi theeraathuMere staring will not satisfy hunger
Un pagattaalae idhu kaayaathuThis won't dry up from your showy boastfulness
En aaththaadi idhu unakku asaiyaathuOh goodness, this will not yield to you
Jallikkattu soi soiBull taming cheers, soi soi
Jallikkattu soi soiBull taming cheers, soi soi
Jaadaiyaaga poe koiGo away quietly through subtle hints
Thullikkittu nikkaathu doi doiIt won't stand still while leaping around
Female
Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaaKumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa (rhythmic beats)
Jumjum jummaa aamaamJumjum jummaa yes yes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and upbeat folk song features rhythmic sound syllables and humorous banter mocking someone's antics. The speaker lightheartedly ridicules a person who is posturing, grinning slyly like a jackal, and trying to pull off impossible feats like twisting sand into rope. The song warns the target that empty flattery, showy grandeur, and staring will yield nothing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kullanari pola kunthikittu neenga

Compares the person crouching slyly to a jackal ('Kullanari pola kunthikittu').

Metaphor / Idiom

Manalaiyum kayiraa thirikkaathae

Uses the ancient idiom 'Manalaiyum kayiraa thirikkaathae' (spinning sand into rope) to represent attempting the impossible.

Onomatopoeia (Edaichol / Sandhi Rhythms)

Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa

Uses rhythmic nonsense vocalizations like 'Kumkum kummaa dumdum dummaa' to create folk musicality.

Rhyme (Edhugai / Monnai)

Ivan sogusaiyum paaththaa puriyaathaa

End rhymes and internal rhymes across lines such as 'palikkaathaa', 'theriyaathaa', and 'puriyaathaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Deiva Balam' (1959) is a classic Tamil fantasy-adventure film with music composed by G. Aswathama. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was known for incorporating earthy Tamil folk idioms, rhythmic gibberish, and humorous proverbs seamlessly into cinema songs.

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