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Kulama Gunama album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maathuru Ramakka

From Kulama Gunama · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, S. Janaki
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kulama Gunama
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
28 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maathooru raamakka
Mappillai yaarakka
Aathukku pakkama
Alainjathu yen akka
Maathooru raamakka
Mappillai yaarakka
Aathukku pakkama
Alainjathu yen akka
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Aathooram yaarumillae chinnakka
Naan ariyaatha appavi pennakka
Aathooram yaarumillae chinnakka
Naan ariyaatha appavi pennakka
Yendi ponaaal enna parthaal enna
Pombalathaanae sollakka
Maathooru raamakka
Mappillai yaarakka
Aathukku pakkama
Alainjathu yen akka
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Vellai vaetti paiyan vandhu
Kaiyai thottu paarthaana
Kallan pola angum ingum thottaana
Illai vendam vendam endraen
Kaiyai paadhiyil vittaana
Idhaiyum vandhu unidathil sonnaanaa
Chorus :Sonnaana
Kaariyam ambalam aagaatha
Female :Ungakitta sonnadhu podhaadha
Kaariyam ambalam aagaatha
Female :Ungakitta sonnadhu podhaadha
Ponaa poguthu kalyaanatha
Pottunnu mudikka koodaatha
Maathooru raamakka
Mappillai yaarakka
Aathukku pakkama
Alainjathu yen akka
Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Malligai poopol mella eduthu
Madiyil unnai vaiththaana
Maanae endrum maambalam endrum
Sonnaana
Sonnadhu onnaa rendaa adiyae
Sorgam paarka ponnen naan
Vetkam naanam ellam
Konjam marandhen naan
Innoru thadavai sollakka
Female :Ellam therinjava neeyakka
Female :Innoru thadavai sollakka
Female :Ellam therinjava neeyakka
Female :Thaaliyai pottu mudikkira varaikkum
Vaeliyai pottu veiyakka
Akka akkaChorus :Aahaa ahaa haa
Female :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Female :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Chorus :Hoo hoo ooo ooo hoo ooo oo
Ramakka of Mathoor,
who is the bridegroom, sister?
Down near the river,
why were you wandering about, sister?
Ramakka of Mathoor,
who is the bridegroom, sister?
Down near the river,
why were you wandering about, sister?
Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Chorus: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
There was no one by the riverbank, little sister!
I'm just an innocent, simple girl, sister!
There was no one by the riverbank, little sister!
I'm just an innocent, simple girl, sister!
Why, what's wrong if I went, what's wrong if I saw him?
After all, aren't I just a woman, tell me, sister?
Ramakka of Mathoor,
who is the bridegroom, sister?
Down near the river,
why were you wandering about, sister?
Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Chorus: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Did that boy in the white veshti come,
and try holding your hand?
Did he touch you here and there like a cheeky rogue?
I told him, "No, please don't!"
Did he let go of your hand halfway?
Did he come and tell you this as well?
Chorus: Did he tell you?
Won't this secret come out in the open?
Female: Isn't it enough that I told you?
Won't this secret come out in the open?
Female: Isn't it enough that I told you?
Oh well, let it be—the wedding,
can't you just get it settled right away?
Ramakka of Mathoor,
who is the bridegroom, sister?
Down near the river,
why were you wandering about, sister?
Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Chorus: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Lifting you gently like a jasmine flower,
did he sit you on his lap?
Calling you "my deer" and "my sweet mango,"
did he whisper sweet words?
Did he say just one or two things, girl?
I felt like I was in heaven!
All my shyness and hesitation,
I forgot them for a little while!
Tell it to me one more time, sister!
Female: You already know everything, sister!
Female: Tell it to me one more time, sister!
Female: You already know everything, sister!
Female: Until the thaali (sacred wedding thread) is tied,
keep a protective fence around me, sister!
Sister, sister! Chorus: Aaha aaha haa!
Female: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Chorus: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Female: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Chorus: Hoo hoo oo oo hoo oo oo oo
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maathooru Raamakka is a playful folk-style conversational song from the 1971 film Kulama Gunama. The track features village women teasing each other about romantic secret encounters by the riverbank. One sister playfully inquires about the lover, while the other coyly recounts the romantic gestures and sweet terms of endearment expressed by her suitor. Toward the conclusion, the elder sister offers loving advice, cautioning her to maintain boundaries and protect her reputation until the marriage is formally solemnized with the sacred thread (thaali).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maathooru raamakka / Mappillai yaarakka / Alainjathu yen akka

The line endings rhyme playfully with 'akka' (sister) to establish a conversational rhythmic folk tone.

Upamai (Simile)

Malligai poopol mella eduthu

Using 'poopol' (like a flower) and 'pola' (like a) to compare gentle touch and secretive movements.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Maanae endrum maambalam endrum

Repetition of the 'm' sound across words creates a soft melodious flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the movie Kulama Gunama (1971), starring Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Padmini, and Vanisri, featuring music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics written by Kannadasan.

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