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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuthadi Kuthadi

From Manipur Mamiyar · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Manipur Mamiyar
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
11 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka
Kuninju kuthadi sailakka
Valaiyudha neliyudha
Vanji odambu vaattam edukutha
Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka
Kuninju kuthadi sailakka
Valaiyudha neliyudha
Vanji odambu vaattam edukutha
Kuthalarisi kuthi vidammma
Pacha arisi alli edamma
Nimurndhu ninnu ozhaikkanum
Nallapadiya pozhaikkanum
Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka
Kuninju kuthadi sailakka
Valaiyudha neliyudha
Vanji odambu vaattam edukutha
Adhikaaram thimiru irundha
Adhanaalae laabam illae
Valaiyaadha odambiruntha
Odinjaalum paavamilla
Suyama oru velaiya paaru
Tholilaalinga madhipadha paaru
Pudhiya vachum pozhaikanum
Kathiya vachum pozhaikanum
Nithamum nedhamum
Ozhaipadhaanae nee madhikanum
Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka
Kuninju kuthadi sailakka
Valaiyudha neliyudha
Vanji odambu vaattam edukutha
Ae….ae…ae…aaaaa……
Pound, pound the grain, Sailakka!
Bend down and pound it, Sailakka!
Is it bending? Is it swaying?
Is your slender body getting into shape?
Pound, pound the grain, Sailakka!
Bend down and pound it, Sailakka!
Is it bending? Is it swaying?
Is your slender body getting into shape?
Pound and husk the paddy, girl!
Scoop up the raw rice, girl!
Stand tall and work hard,
And make a good, honest living!
Pound, pound the grain, Sailakka!
Bend down and pound it, Sailakka!
Is it bending? Is it swaying?
Is your slender body getting into shape?
If you are full of arrogance and bossy pride,
There is no gain in that.
If a body refuses to bend and work,
There is no pity even if it breaks.
Do some work with your own hands,
And see how the workers respect you!
You must make a living using your wits,
You must know how to survive with a knife too!
Every single day,
It is honest labor that you must respect!
Pound, pound the grain, Sailakka!
Bend down and pound it, Sailakka!
Is it bending? Is it swaying?
Is your slender body getting into shape?
Ae... ae... ae... aah...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kuthadi Kuthadi Sailakka' is a traditional folk-style song from the 1982 movie Manipur Mamiyar, written by Gangai Amaran. Structured as a folk work-song sung during grain pounding, it combines rhythmic dance instructions with philosophical commentary on physical work and social ethics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka / Kuninju kuthadi sailakka”

Repetition of the initial 'Ku' sound in adjacent lines to establish the rhythmic pace.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Pudhiya vachum pozhaikanum / Kathiya vachum pozhaikanum”

Matching line endings with '-ozhaikanum' emphasizing imperative social advice.

Refrain / Burden

“Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka”

The repeated core chorus ('Kuthadi kuthadi sailakka...') characteristic of traditional rural folk work-songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates authentic Tamil rural folk work-song rhythms ('Nellu Kuthu Pattu') historically sung by village women while manual grain-pounding to reduce the physical fatigue of hard labor.

Keep listening

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