Kunguma Kolam
From Iravum Pagalum · 1965
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Iravum Pagalum1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae | Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks? |
| Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae | Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn? |
| Kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae | Why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks? |
| Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae | Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn? |
| Female | |
| Mangaiyarkku perumai irukku azhagilae | Women hold great pride in their beauty. |
| Male :Ho hoo | Male: Ho hoo |
| Female :Adhai madhithidaatha manidhar yedhu ulagilae | Female: Which man in this world does not respect that? |
| Male :Hmm | Male: Hmm |
| Female | |
| Mangaiyarkku perumai irukku azhagilae | Women hold great pride in their beauty. |
| Adhai madhithidaatha manidhar yedhu ulagilae | Which man in this world does not respect that? |
| Male | |
| Naanamillaa pengalidam azhagu irukkumaa | Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty? |
| Ha haa haahan | Ha haa haahan |
| Naanamillaa pengalidam azhagu irukkumaa | Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty? |
| Indha naagareegam kudumbathukku adangi nadakkuma | Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions? |
| Indha naagareegam kudumbathukku adangi nadakkuma | Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions? |
| Female | |
| Aanavathai valarpathu thaan aangalin gunama | Is fostering arrogance the true character of men? |
| Aanavathai valarpathu thaan aangalin gunama | Is fostering arrogance the true character of men? |
| Pennai adimaiyaaga nadathum koodam arakkarin inama | Is the group that treats women like slaves a race of demons? |
| Arakkarin inama | A race of demons? |
| Male | |
| Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae | Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks? |
| Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae | Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn? |
| Female | |
| Kannai vittu pennai thurathum pazhakkam yaarukku | Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes? |
| Male :Kandavar nenjai katti izhukkum pagattu yaarukku | Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers? |
| Female :Kannai vittu pennai thurathum pazhakkam yaarukku | Female: Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes? |
| Male :Kandavar nenjai katti izhukkum pagattu yaarukku | Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers? |
| Female :Pennum aanum pottiyittaal tholvi yaarukku..tholvi yaarukku | Female: If a woman and a man compete, who faces defeat... who faces defeat? |
| Male :pandhalilaeFemale :Aaahaa pandhalilae | Male: Under the canopy... Female: Ah under the canopy... |
| Male :Manapandhalilae thaali sumakkum nilamai yaarukku | Male: Under the wedding canopy, who bears the burden of the mangalsutra? |
| Chorus :Ha ha ha | Chorus: Ha ha ha |
ஹையோ குங்குமக் கோலம் போடுவதென்ன கன்னத்திலே
சாந்தைக் குழைத்து குழைத்து வரைவதெந்த எண்ணத்திலே
குங்குமக் கோலம் போடுவதென்ன கன்னத்திலே
சாந்தைக் குழைத்து குழைத்து வரைவதெந்த எண்ணத்திலே
Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
Why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
மங்கையருக்கு பெருமை இருக்கு அழகிலே
ஹோ ஹோ
அதை மதித்திடாத மனிதர் ஏது உலகிலே.....
ஹ்ம்ம்
Women hold great pride in their beauty.
Male: Ho hoo
Female: Which man in this world does not respect that?
Male: Hmm
மங்கையருக்கு பெருமை இருக்கு அழகிலே
அதை மதித்திடாத மனிதர் ஏது உலகிலே.....
Women hold great pride in their beauty.
Which man in this world does not respect that?
நாணமில்லா பெண்களிடம் அழகு இருக்குமா
ஹா ஹா ஹான்
நாணமில்லா பெண்களிடம் அழகு இருக்குமா
இந்த நாகரீகம் குடும்பத்துக்கு அடங்கி நடக்குமா
இந்த நாகரீகம் குடும்பத்துக்கு அடங்கி நடக்குமா
Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty?
Ha haa haahan
Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty?
Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions?
Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions?
ஆணவத்தை வளர்ப்பதுதான் ஆண்களின் குணமா
ஆணவத்தை வளர்ப்பதுதான் ஆண்களின் குணமா
பெண்ணை அடிமையாக நடத்தும் கூடம் அரக்கரின் இனமா
அரக்கரின் இனமா.....
Is fostering arrogance the true character of men?
Is fostering arrogance the true character of men?
Is the group that treats women like slaves a race of demons?
A race of demons?
ஹையோ குங்குமக் கோலம் போடுவதென்ன கன்னத்திலே
சாந்தைக் குழைத்து குழைத்து வரைவதெந்த எண்ணத்திலே
Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
கண்ணை விட்டு பெண்ணைத் துரத்தும் பழக்கம் யாருக்கு
கண்டவர் நெஞ்சை கட்டி இழுக்கும் பகட்டு யாருக்கு
கண்ணை விட்டு பெண்ணைத் துரத்தும் பழக்கம் யாருக்கு
கண்டவர் நெஞ்சை கட்டி இழுக்கும் பகட்டு யாருக்கு
பெண்ணும் ஆணும் போட்டியிட்டால் தோல்வி யாருக்கு
பந்தலிலே......பெண் :
ஆஹா....பந்தலிலே.......
மணப்பந்தலிலே தாலி சுமக்கும் நிலைமை யாருக்கு
குழு :
ஹா.....ஹா.....ஹா....
Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes?
Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers?
Female: Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes?
Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers?
Female: If a woman and a man compete, who faces defeat... who faces defeat?
Male: Under the canopy... Female: Ah under the canopy...
Male: Under the wedding canopy, who bears the burden of the mangalsutra?
Chorus: Ha ha ha
Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae
Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
Kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae
Why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
Mangaiyarkku perumai irukku azhagilae
Women hold great pride in their beauty.
Male :Ho hoo
Male: Ho hoo
Female :Adhai madhithidaatha manidhar yedhu ulagilae
Female: Which man in this world does not respect that?
Male :Hmm
Male: Hmm
Mangaiyarkku perumai irukku azhagilae
Women hold great pride in their beauty.
Adhai madhithidaatha manidhar yedhu ulagilae
Which man in this world does not respect that?
Naanamillaa pengalidam azhagu irukkumaa
Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty?
Ha haa haahan
Ha haa haahan
Naanamillaa pengalidam azhagu irukkumaa
Can there be beauty in women who lack modesty?
Indha naagareegam kudumbathukku adangi nadakkuma
Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions?
Indha naagareegam kudumbathukku adangi nadakkuma
Will this modern fashion bow down and yield to family traditions?
Aanavathai valarpathu thaan aangalin gunama
Is fostering arrogance the true character of men?
Aanavathai valarpathu thaan aangalin gunama
Is fostering arrogance the true character of men?
Pennai adimaiyaaga nadathum koodam arakkarin inama
Is the group that treats women like slaves a race of demons?
Arakkarin inama
A race of demons?
Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae
Oh my, why draw a decorative kumkum design on the cheeks?
Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae
Mixing sandalwood paste over and over, with what thought is it drawn?
Kannai vittu pennai thurathum pazhakkam yaarukku
Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes?
Male :Kandavar nenjai katti izhukkum pagattu yaarukku
Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers?
Female :Kannai vittu pennai thurathum pazhakkam yaarukku
Female: Who has the habit of pursuing women with their eyes?
Male :Kandavar nenjai katti izhukkum pagattu yaarukku
Male: Who has the ostentation that captivates the hearts of onlookers?
Female :Pennum aanum pottiyittaal tholvi yaarukku..tholvi yaarukku
Female: If a woman and a man compete, who faces defeat... who faces defeat?
Male :pandhalilaeFemale :Aaahaa pandhalilae
Male: Under the canopy... Female: Ah under the canopy...
Male :Manapandhalilae thaali sumakkum nilamai yaarukku
Male: Under the wedding canopy, who bears the burden of the mangalsutra?
Chorus :Ha ha ha
Chorus: Ha ha ha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a classic 'patti mandram' (playful debate) track where male and female voices challenge each other's views on beauty, modesty, tradition, and gender dynamics. The woman defends female vanity and self-expression as natural source of pride while calling out male chauvinism and arrogance. The man counters by questioning modern fashion trends, arguing for modesty, and teasingly reminding her about who ultimately bears the commitment of marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emona / Rhyme (Etukai)
“Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae / Saandhai kuzhaithu kuzhaithu varaivadhendha ennathilae”
Matching second letter in consecutive lines creating rhythm: 'poduvadhenna' and 'kuzhaithu' / 'kannathilae' and 'ennathilae'.
Rhetorical Question
“Aanavathai valarpathu thaan aangalin gunama”
The lyrics consist heavily of back-and-forth rhetorical questions designed to challenge each gender's point of view.
Imagery / Metaphor
“Haiyoo kunguma kolam poduvadhenna kannathilae”
Using 'kunguma kolam' (vermilion pattern) on cheeks as a visual metaphor for female makeup and beauty enhancements.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Iravum Pagalum' (1965) is famous for being the debut film of legendary Tamil actor Jaishankar, who was later hailed as the 'South Indian James Bond'. The film was scored by T. R. Pappa, and lyricist Aalangudi Somu was renowned for embedding sharp philosophical arguments into lighthearted duet songs.
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