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Aaravalli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kummalam Pottathellam (Male)

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Aaravalli
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kummaalam pottathellaam adangiyathaa
Amma kummaalam pottathellaam adangiyathaa
Onga kottamellaanth thannaalae odungiyathaa
Chummaa moraikkaathae thuppu ketta pombalae
Chummaa moraikkaathae thuppu ketta pombalae
Ammaanai aadiduvaan enga naattu aambalae
Ammaanai aadiduvaan enga naattu aambalae
Semmaiyaaga maattikittu veenaana vambulae
Semmaiyaaga maattikittu veenaana vambulae
Paadaa paduththineenga pambaramaa aattuneenga
Paadaa paduththineenga pambaramaa aattuneenga
Maadaa nenachchu onga vallamaiya kaattuneenga
Maadaa nenachchu onga vallamaiya kaattuneenga
Odaaga thaeya vachchu uruk kolachchu vaattuneenga
Odaaga thaeya vachchu uruk kolachchu vaattuneenga
Onga kaalam odi pochu enga kaalam thirumbiyaachchu
Kaththigalae uruvuneenga
Ada kannaalaethaan karuvuneenga
Kaththigalae uruvuneenga
Ada kannaalaethaan karuvuneenga
Kandapadi pesuneenga
Kaiyakkaala veedsuneenga
Kattupattu kuttupatta
Kaalam maari pochchunga
Naanga kattupattu kuttuppatta
Kaalam maari pochchunga
Has all your wild swagger finally quieted down?
Hey woman, has all your wild swagger quieted down?
Has all your bullying arrogance shrunk away on its own?
Don't just glare at me, you shameless woman!
Don't just glare at me, you shameless woman!
The men of our land will toss you around like play-balls!
The men of our land will toss you around like play-balls!
You got yourselves completely trapped in foolish trouble!
You got yourselves completely trapped in foolish trouble!
You tormented us and spun us around like tops!
You tormented us and spun us around like tops!
Treating us like cattle, you showed off your power!
Treating us like cattle, you showed off your power!
You ground us down to dust, broke our spirit, and tortured us!
You ground us down to dust, broke our spirit, and tortured us!
Your time has run out, and our time has finally returned!
You drew your sharp swords,
and burned with rage in your eyes!
You drew your sharp swords,
and burned with rage in your eyes!
You spoke whatever reckless words you pleased,
and threw your hands and legs around!
When we stayed quiet and took your blows,
those days have completely changed!
The days when we obeyed and suffered your abuse,
those times have completely changed!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic folk-style song from 'Aaravalli' (1957) captures the victory of men over the former tyranny and arrogance of dominant female rulers. The men mock the defeated women, questioning where their former pride and haughtiness have gone. They recall the days when women treated men like cattle, spun them like tops, and brandished swords and glares. The song celebrates a complete reversal of fortune, declaring that the era of men's suppression is over and their time of triumph has arrived.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Paadaa paduththineenga pambaramaa aattuneenga

Comparing the way men were manipulated to spinning tops ('pambaramaa aattuneenga') and treating men like cattle ('Maadaa nenachchu').

Monorhyme / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Paadaa paduththineenga pambaramaa aattuneenga / Maadaa nenachchu onga vallamaiya kaattuneenga

Repetition of the ending suffix '-neenga' across multiple consecutive lines to create rhythmic impact.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Kaththigalae uruvuneenga / Ada kannaalaethaan karuvuneenga

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words in consecutive lines ('Kaththigalae', 'kannaalaethaan', 'Kandapadi', 'Kaiyakkaala', 'Kattupattu').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aaravalli' (1957) is a popular Tamil mythological fantasy film based on the folk legend of Aaravalli-Sooravalli, who were powerful princesses skilled in magic. Music director G. Ramanathan composed the soundtrack, and lyricist A. Maruthakasi penned these high-spirited theatrical dialogue-like lyrics sung dynamically by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and Thiruchi Loganathan.

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