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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madura Kulunga Kulunga

From Subramaniyapuram · 2008

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Velmurugan, Suchitra
Music director
James Vasanthan
Details
Subramaniyapuram2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kallu malamela kalluruttiRolling stone upon stone up the mountain
Andha kallukkum kallukkum anaipottuAnd building a dam connecting stone to stone
Madurai gopuram theriya katti..ee…ee..Building it high so the Madurai tower can be seen...
Namma mannavaru vaaradha paarungadiLook girls, our king is coming!
Male
Madura kulunga kulungaMaking Madurai shake and tremble
Nee naiyaandi paatu paaduSing a lively Naiyaandi song
Puzhuthi parakka parakkaMaking the dust fly everywhere
Nee podatha aatam poduDance a dance that has never been danced before
Male
Intha mannu manakkuraThis jasmine flower
Malligai pooThat smells of this earth
Namma manasa eduthu chollumSpeaks out what is in our heart
Vanthu ninnu rasikkira ooru sanamThe village people who come to stand and admire
Intha thera izhuthu chellumWill pull this grand temple chariot forward
Male
Vanthaarai vaazha vecha ooruThis is the town that embraced and nourished all who came
Puyal vanthaalum asaiyaathu paaruSee, it remains unshaken even when a storm hits
Enga thennaatu singam vanthuOur lion of the southern land arrived
Munnettri kondu vanthaAnd brought us progress
Ponnana kadhai undu keluListen to this golden tale
Male
AnnaeOh brother
Ponnana kadhai undu keluListen to this golden tale
Male
Koyil kulam thaanIt is the temple and the temple tank
Ooruku azhaghuThat give beauty to a village
Koyil illaa oora vilakkuAvoid living in a village that has no temple
Female
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thannae nannae naaneThannae nannae naane (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Chorus
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Female
Amma veeramaakaaliMother Veeramakaali
Enga azhaghu veeramaakaaliOur beautiful Veeramakaali
Amma veeramaakaaliMother Veeramakaali
Enga azhaghu veeramaakaaliOur beautiful Veeramakaali
Aval aanandhamaai kovil kondaalShe joyfully took residence in her temple
Annai veeramaakaaliMother Veeramakaali
Chorus
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Female
Subramaniyapuram kaathavalaeThe guardian goddess of Subramaniyapuram
Enga veeramaakaaliOur Veeramakaali
Subramaniyapuram kaathavalaeThe guardian goddess of Subramaniyapuram
Indha veeramaakaaliThis Veeramakaali
Andha sundarrajan thangai avaShe is the sister of Lord Sundarrajan
Amma veeramaakaaliMother Veeramakaali
Andha sundarrajan thangai avaShe is the sister of Lord Sundarrajan
Amma veeramaakaaliMother Veeramakaali
Chorus
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thannae nannae naanaeThannae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)
Thana naanae nannae naanaeThana naanae nannae naanae (Folk chorus refrain)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a traditional Tamil folk narrative track (Oyilattam/Naiyaandi Melam style) performed during village festival processions. It celebrates the pride, culture, and resilience of the Madurai region and praises the local deity, Goddess Veeramakaali, who protects the locality of Subramaniyapuram. The lyrics highlight local cultural symbols such as the famous Madurai jasmine, temple chariots, and hospitality, while interweaving traditional maxims like 'Koyil illaa oora vilakku' (avoid living in a town without a temple).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis / Rhythm)

Madura kulunga kulunga

The words 'kulunga kulunga' and 'parakka parakka' are repeated back-to-back to convey intensity of movement and rhythm.

Edhai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil poetic structure)

Kallu malamela kallurutti

The second letters 'llu' in 'Kallu' and 'Andha' share phonetic harmony across the opening stanzas.

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Koyil illaa oora vilakku

References the classical proverb 'Koyil illaa ooril kudiyirukka vendaam' (Do not live in a town that lacks a temple).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track serves as authentic diegetic folk music in the critically acclaimed 2008 period film 'Subramaniapuram' directed by M. Sasikumar. The music for the film was composed by James Vasanthan, and the folk rendition captures the late-1980s Madurai temple festival atmosphere perfectly.

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