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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuppamma Petha Raasa

From Alai Osai · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Alai Osai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hae…ae….Hae...ae...
Hmmkuhmm mmmHmmkuhmm mmm
Female :Hae hey eyy eyy eyyFemale : Hae hey eyy eyy eyy
Hmmkuhmm mmmHmmkuhmm mmm
Female
Hae…ae….Hae...ae...
Chorus :Bimbi dim dimChorus : Bimbi dim dim
Hmmkuhmm mmmHmmkuhmm mmm
Female :Hae hey eyy eyy eyyFemale : Hae hey eyy eyy eyy
Chorus :Bimdidi dim dimChorus : Bimdidi dim dim
Hmmkuhmm mmmHmmkuhmm mmm
Chorus
Bimbi dim dimBimbi dim dim
Bimdidi dim dimBimdidi dim dim
Bimbi dim dimBimbi dim dim
Bimdidi dim dimBimdidi dim dim
Female
Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaaThakadhimi thakadhimi thaa
Chorus :Thaka thakadhimiChorus : Thaka thakadhimi
Female :Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaaFemale : Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaa
Chorus :Hae ae…Chorus : Hae ae...
Female
Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaaThakadhimi thakadhimi thaa
Chorus :Thaka thakadhimiChorus : Thaka thakadhimi
Female :Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaaFemale : Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaa
Chorus :Hae ae…Chorus : Hae ae...
Thakadhimi thakadhimiThakadhimi thakadhimi
Thakadhimi thakadhimiThakadhimi thakadhimi
Thalaangu thaka thalaangu thakaThalaangu thaka thalaangu thaka
Thakadhimi thaaThakadhimi thaa
Female
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaIs a girl that light or easy to handle?
Chorus
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaIs a girl that light or easy to handle?
Female
Kannammaa ponnammaaDear Kannamma, golden girl,
Chinnammaa meesa vecha ponnammaaLittle lady, mustache-bearing golden lady,
Venuminnaa kettukkollammaaIf you want, just listen to me lady,
Chorus
HaehaehaeHae hae hae
Kannammaa ponnammaaDear Kannamma, golden girl,
Chinnammaa meesa vecha ponnammaaLittle lady, mustache-bearing golden lady,
Venuminnaa kettukkollammaaIf you want, just listen to me lady,
Female
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Chorus :Hei heiChorus : Hei hei
Female :Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaFemale : Is a girl that light or easy to handle?
Female
Ponnoda pottiyittuCompeting with a girl,
Peychu ennangaWhy speak like that?
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus : Hoi hoi hoi
Female :Poovodu modhi vittuFemale : Bumping into a flower,
Paarvai ennangaWhat kind of look is that?
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus : Hoi hoi hoi
Female
Ammaadiyo aasaiyum ennaOh my, what kind of desire is this?
Aathaadiyo aathiram ennaOh goodness, what kind of haste is this?
Chorus :Ammaadiyo aasaiyum ennaChorus : Oh my, what kind of desire is this?
Aathaadiyo aathiram ennaOh goodness, what kind of haste is this?
Female
Vaattam ulla vaaliba pullaHandsome young fellow,
Vachaaru kannu ippo pombalaikkullaHas now set his eyes on women.
Chorus :AahaaChorus : Aahaa
Female :Manja poosi vidungaFemale : Apply turmeric to him,
Maala onnu kodungaGive him a garland to wear,
Chorus :Manja poosi vidungaChorus : Apply turmeric to him,
Maala onnu kodungaGive him a garland to wear,
Female
Mayakkura maappilaFemale : Let this charming bridegroom
Kulikkattum vidungaTake his bath first, let him be.
Chorus
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaIs a girl that light or easy to handle?
Female
Aiyaavin aasaikkoru paadhaiyumillaeThere is no set path for master's desires,
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus : Hoi hoi hoi
Female :Aatthoram ponnu maelaFemale : He is intoxicated,
Bodhaiyum ullaBy the girl at the riverbank.
Chorus :Hoi hoi hoiChorus : Hoi hoi hoi
Female
Machaan illa maaman illeengaThere is no brother-in-law, no uncle,
Maappillainga yaarum illeengaThere are no grooms around,
Chorus :Machaan illa maaman illeengaChorus : There is no brother-in-law, no uncle,
Maappillainga yaarum illeengaThere are no grooms around,
Female
Achaaram thaan poda vandheengaYou came to give an advance token,
Hae akkam pakkam ippa yaarum illaingaHey, there is no one around right now.
Chorus :AahaaChorus : Aahaa
Female :Kotti vacha pavazhamFemale : Corals heaped together,
Gundu gundu vairamPlump and round diamonds,
Chorus :Kotti vacha pavazhamChorus : Corals heaped together,
Gundu gundu vairamPlump and round diamonds,
Female :Koduthaa kodungaFemale : If you want to give, give them,
Illainnaa vidungaOtherwise leave it be.
Chorus
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaIs a girl that light or easy to handle?
Female
Kannammaa ponnammaaDear Kannamma, golden girl,
Chinnammaa meesa vecha ponnammaaLittle lady, mustache-bearing golden lady,
Venuminnaa kettukkollammaaIf you want, just listen to me lady,
Chorus
HaehaehaeHae hae hae
Kannammaa ponnammaaDear Kannamma, golden girl,
Chinnammaa meesa vecha ponnammaaLittle lady, mustache-bearing golden lady,
Venuminnaa kettukkollammaaIf you want, just listen to me lady,
Chorus
Kuppammaa peththaThe king born to Kuppamma,
Raasaa raasaaOh king, oh king,
Ponnunnaa enna laesaa laesaaIs a girl that light or easy to handle?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and rhythmic folk-inspired song revolves around witty teasing and playful banter between local villagers and a young man seeking romance. The female lead taunts the young man (metaphorically referred to as 'Kuppamma's king'), warning him that women are not easy to win over or take lightly. Through rhythmic dance syllables ('Thakadhimi') and catchy folk refrain, the lyrics mock his haste, desire, and boldness in approaching the girl near the riverbank.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kuppammaa peththa / Raasaa raasaa

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('Kuppammaa' / 'Ponnunnaa' and 'Ammaadiyo' / 'Aathaadiyo') creates rhythmic folk symmetry.

Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)

Kannammaa ponnammaa / Chinnammaa meesa vecha ponnammaa

Matching initial consonant sounds in words like 'Kannammaa' and 'Chinnammaa' or 'Manja' and 'Maala'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Thakadhimi thakadhimi thaa

Repetition of rhythm sounds like 'Thakadhimi' and phrases like 'Raasaa raasaa' to emphasize dance tempo and folk playful mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

Alai Osai (1985) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song incorporates traditional Tamil folk rhythm syllables ('Jathi') merged with lively chorus vocalizations, typical of 1980s Tamil rural cinematic dance sequences.

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