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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kummalam Pottathellam (Female)

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. V. Rathinam, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Aaravalli1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kummaalam raja kummaalamRevelry, O king, revelry!
Aiyya kummaalamSir, your revelry!
Neenga kummaalam pottathellaam adangiyathaaHas all the revelry you made come to an end?
Onga kottamellaanth thannaalae odungiyathaaHas all your arrogance subdued on its own?
Female
Chumma moraikkaathaeDon't glare at us aimlessly,
Soranai ketta aambalaeYou shameless man!
Chumma moraikkaathaeDon't glare at us aimlessly,
Soranai ketta aambalaeYou shameless man!
Ammaanai aadiduvaa enga naattu pombalaeThe women of our land can play juggling games with you,
Ammaanai aadiduvaa enga naattu pombalaeThe women of our land can play juggling games with you,
Female
Semmaiyaaga maattikittu veenaana vambulaCaught up thoroughly in unnecessary trouble,
Semmaiyaaga maattikittu veenaana vambulaCaught up thoroughly in unnecessary trouble,
Seerazhinju nikkuthaiyaa meesaikkaara kumbalaeLook at this moustached crowd standing utterly ruined!
Female
Kummaalam raja kummaalamRevelry, O king, revelry!
Aiyya kummaalamSir, your revelry!
Neenga kummaalam pottathellaam adangiyathaaHas all the revelry you made come to an end?
Onga kottamellaanth thannaalae odungiyathaaHas all your arrogance subdued on its own?
Female
Kattupaattai meeraathaeDo not violate the discipline,
Mattaiyadi vaangaathaeLest you get beaten with palm fronds!
Kattupaattai meeraathaeDo not violate the discipline,
Mattaiyadi vaangaathaeLest you get beaten with palm fronds!
Female
Enga kaavalulae ketkkaamaeWithout permission under our guard,
Moochchu vidamudiyaathaeYou cannot even catch a breath!
Enga kaavalulae ketkkaamaeWithout permission under our guard,
Moochchu vidamudiyaathaeYou cannot even catch a breath!
Female
Sattaththittam meerinaaIf you break the law and rules,
Un thalaikkudumi irukkaathuYour tuft of hair on the head won't remain!
Sattaththittam meerinaaIf you break the law and rules,
Un thalaikkudumi irukkaathuYour tuft of hair on the head won't remain!
Female
Kummaalam raja kummaalamRevelry, O king, revelry!
Aiyya kummaalamSir, your revelry!
Neenga kummaalam pottathellaam adangiyathaaHas all the revelry you made come to an end?
Onga kottamellaanth thannaalae odungiyathaaHas all your arrogance subdued on its own?
Female
Nikkaathae nelikkaathaeDon't stand there squirming,
Niminthu pogum mudhukelumbaeO spine that once stood straight!
Nikkaathae nelikkaathaeDon't stand there squirming,
Niminthu pogum mudhukelumbaeO spine that once stood straight!
Female
Akkaavum paaththuputtaaIf our elder sister spots you,
Arunthu pogum vedi narambuYour explosive nerves will snap!
Enga akkaavum paaththuputtaaIf our elder sister spots you,
Arunthu pogum vedi narambuYour explosive nerves will snap!
Female
Ekkachakkamaaga ingaeTerribly here,
Elagi pogum un udambuYour body will break down completely!
Ekkachakkamaaga ingaeTerribly here,
Elagi pogum un udambuYour body will break down completely!
Female
Ittathuthaan sattamWhatever we dictate is the law,
Neenga engalukku thurumbuYou are nothing more than a speck of straw to us!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kummaalam Raja Kummaalam' from the 1957 film Aaravalli is a high-spirited, mocking anthem sung by female guards in the kingdom ruled by powerful women. Directed at captive men, the song taunts male arrogance, boasting how their male pride and grand swagger ('kummaalam') have been squashed under female authority. With sharp wit and assertive rhythm, the women proclaim that their kingdom's law is supreme and that the men are as insignificant as specks of straw ('thurumbu').

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Repetition

Kummaalam raja kummaalam

The chorus lines mocking male revelry are repeated periodically to reinforce the dominant, celebratory tone of female authority over the captive men.

Metaphor

Neenga engalukku thurumbu

Comparing the powerful men to a tiny straw ('thurumbu') highlights their loss of power and total insignificance before the female rulers.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Nikkaathae nelikkaathae

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'N' creates rhythmic flow and emphasis.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kattupaattai meeraathae / Mattaiyadi vaangaathae

Matching second consonants ('k') in adjacent words produces a pleasant cadence characteristic of classical and folk Tamil verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aaravalli (1957) is a Tamil historical fantasy film based on the popular folk tale of 'Aaravalli Sooravalli', which depicts a matriarchal kingdom where seven powerful sisters held sway and humiliated male warriors, including the Pandavas. The music composed by G. Ramanathan heavily features folk theatrical motifs to complement the story's mythical scale.

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