Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kumbakonam Santhayile

From New · 2004

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Nithyasree Mahadevan, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
New2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaaMarkandeya, will you come?
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaaMarkandeya, will you come?
Female
Kumbakonam sandhaiyilae…In the market of Kumbakonam...
Gundumalli vaanghayilae..While buying round jasmine flowers...
Naan pachcha kodi kaattayilaeWhen I showed the green flag,
En machchaan vandhu paartha dhennaWhy did my beloved come and look?
Male
Hey meniyadi undhan meniyadiHey, your body tone, your body tone!
Melam polae meniyadiYour body tone is like a drum beat!
Sorgam pogum yenippadiA ladder that goes to heaven
Selai katti nikkuthadiIs standing draped in a saree!
Male
Ada dada kovakaaya paathirukkenOh my, I have seen scarlet gourds,
Paavakaaya paathirukkenI have seen bitter gourds,
Aadai katti aadugiraBut wearing clothes and dancing,
Aavakaaya paathadhillaeI have never seen a mango pickle!
Female
Ada kaara saaram ullathadaWow, it is spicy and flavorful,
Kanjikkidhu nallathadaaIt is good as a side dish for rice porridge,
Konja konjam thottukadaTouch and taste it little by little!
Hey… hey… hey hey…Hey... hey... hey hey...
Male
Poosaikinnu muzhu poosanikkaaA whole pumpkin for the ritual offering,
Poosaikinnu poosanikkaaA pumpkin for the ritual offering,
Venummunnu naal kanakkaaWanting it for days on end,
Ninnu ninnae kaal valikkaStanding continuously until my feet hurt,
Indru naanae kandeduththenToday I found it myself,
Female
Yennam pola maatti kichchuIt got hooked just as I wished,
Maatti kichchuGot hooked!
Male :Vanthirukken poosaari naanMale: I have come as the priest,
Poosaari naaan…..As the priest...
Vanthirukken poosaari naan..I have come as the priest...
Male
Vanthirukken poosaari naanI have come as the priest
Mandhirikka aasai pattuDesiring to chant incantations,
Thatatuma pambai athaanShall I strike the drum, my cousin?
Kattatuma rambhai ya thaanShall I tie down this celestial nymph?
Female
Aan onnum pen onnum nerungi varaWhen a man and a woman come close,
Aasaigal nenjinil ottathaa…Won't desires stick to the heart?
Male
Adhiyum andhamum kilukilukkaAs the beginning and the end jingle with joy,
Aanandham paal mazhai kottadhaWon't bliss pour down like a rain of milk?
Female
Hey kollunu kollunu kolluriyaeHey, you are killing me, killing me!
Enna nee melluriyaeYou are chewing me up slowly!
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaaMarkandeya, will you come?
Maarkandeyaa nee varuvaayaaMarkandeya, will you come?
Aaa….aaaaa….aaa…..Aaa....aaaaa....aaa.....
Male
Hey meniyadi undhan meniyadiHey, your body tone, your body tone,
Melam polae meniyadiYour body tone is like a drum beat,
Sorgam pogum yenippadiA ladder that goes to heaven
Selai katti nikkuthadiIs standing draped in a saree!
Female
Maarkandeyaa…aaa…Markandeya...aaa...
Nee varuvaayaaWill you come?
Male :Ohhh…haa..Male: Ohhh...haa..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

More from New