Skip to content
Isaimozhi
New album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kumbakonam Santhayile

From New · 2004

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Nithyasree Mahadevan, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
New
Movie release year
2004
Lyrics added on
28 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaa
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaa
Kumbakonam sandhaiyilae…
Gundumalli vaanghayilae..
Naan pachcha kodi kaattayilae
En machchaan vandhu paartha dhenna
Hey meniyadi undhan meniyadi
Melam polae meniyadi
Sorgam pogum yenippadi
Selai katti nikkuthadi
Ada dada kovakaaya paathirukken
Paavakaaya paathirukken
Aadai katti aadugira
Aavakaaya paathadhillae
Ada kaara saaram ullathada
Kanjikkidhu nallathadaa
Konja konjam thottukada
Hey… hey… hey hey…
Poosaikinnu muzhu poosanikkaa
Poosaikinnu poosanikkaa
Venummunnu naal kanakkaa
Ninnu ninnae kaal valikka
Indru naanae kandeduththen
Yennam pola maatti kichchu
Maatti kichchu
Male :Vanthirukken poosaari naan
Poosaari naaan…..
Vanthirukken poosaari naan..
Vanthirukken poosaari naan
Mandhirikka aasai pattu
Thatatuma pambai athaan
Kattatuma rambhai ya thaan
Aan onnum pen onnum nerungi vara
Aasaigal nenjinil ottathaa…
Adhiyum andhamum kilukilukka
Aanandham paal mazhai kottadha
Hey kollunu kollunu kolluriyae
Enna nee melluriyae
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaa
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaa
Aaa….aaaaa….aaa…..
Hey meniyadi undhan meniyadi
Melam polae meniyadi
Sorgam pogum yenippadi
Selai katti nikkuthadi
Maarkandeyaa…aaa…
Nee varuvaayaa
Male :Ohhh…haa..
Oh Markandeya, will you come to me?
Oh Markandeya, will you come to me?
In the market of Kumbakonam...
While buying round jasmine buds...
When I gave you the green light,
Why did my man come and gaze at me like that?
Hey, look at your body, your stunning body!
Your body is shaped tight like a drum!
A ladder leading straight to heaven...
...stands right here, draped in a saree!
Ah, I have seen ivy gourds,
I have seen bitter gourds,
Dressed up in clothes and dancing around,
I've never seen spicy mango pickle like you!
Hey, it is really hot and spicy,
It goes so well with simple porridge!
Just taste a little bit at a time!
Hey... hey... hey hey...
A whole ash gourd for the prayer ritual...
An ash gourd for the prayer ritual...
Wishing for one for days on end,
Standing till my legs ached,
Today, I found it all by myself!
It got caught, just as I wished!
It got caught!
Male: Here I come, the ritual priest!
I am the priest...!
Here I come, the ritual priest...
Here I come, the ritual priest,
Longing to cast a spell on you!
Shall I beat the ritual drum, darling?
Shall I wrap my arms around this dancing beauty?
When a man and a woman come close together,
Won't desire cling to their hearts?
With thrills tingling from head to toe,
Won't joy pour down like a shower of milk?
Hey, you're killing me, utterly killing me,
You are chewing me up completely!
Oh Markandeya, will you come to me?
Oh Markandeya, will you come to me?
Aah... aahh... aah...
Hey, look at your body, your stunning body!
Your body is shaped tight like a drum!
A ladder leading straight to heaven...
...stands right here, draped in a saree!
Markandeya... aah...
Will you come?
Male: Ohhh... haa...
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maarkandeyaa is a high-energy flirtatious duet from the 2004 Tamil sci-fi romantic comedy film 'New', directed by S. J. Suryah with music composed by A. R. Rahman. Written by legendary lyricist Vaali, the song uses vibrant folk imagery, food metaphors, and playful banter to capture the passion and romantic teasing between the lead characters. The lyrics use culinary items like Kumbakonam jasmines, bitter gourds, and spicy mango pickles alongside temple imagery like priests and offerings to metaphorically depict attraction and intimacy. The female lead teases her lover while presenting herself as an irresistible presence, while the male lead responds in kind, expressing his eager desire through upbeat rhythm and energetic wordplay.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Melam polae meniyadi

Compares the woman's body and beats to a traditional temple drum (Melam).

Metaphor (Uruvagandhu)

Sorgam pogum yenippadi / Selai katti nikkuthadi

Metaphorically describes the draped woman as a ladder leading to heaven.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ada dada kovakaaya paathirukken / Paavakaaya paathirukken / Aadai katti aadugira / Aavakaaya paathadhillae

Use of rhyming ending syllables with vegetable names (kovakaaya, paavakaaya, aavakaaya).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by A. R. Rahman and was sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Vasundhara Das. Written by Vaali, the track became a chartbuster for its unique blend of traditional folk rhythm and modern arrangement.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from New

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.