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Anbin Mugavari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mathaalam Podudhu

From Anbin Mugavari · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbin Mugavari
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
13 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aehae haehae haehae haehae hae hae
Aehae… aehae…
Aehae haehae haehae haehae hae hae
Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi
Machaana thaedudhu vithaara kuruvi
Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi
Machaana thaedudhu vithaara kuruvi
Muthaadha yelaneera kothoda thazhuvi
Mutham ittu pogum kaathu ottaama nazhuvi
Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi
Machaana thaedudhu vithaara kuruvi
……………………………
Mandhaara kannazhagi
Marudhaani kaiyazhagi
Sendhoora dhega kalli
Sri ranga vaasa malli
Ottu thinnaiyila
Oru naal pazhakkatthula
Ottikkitta em manasu
Vittu piriyaladi
Gaana mayilae adi karpagavalli
Onna kai vida maattaennu
Sathiyam solli
Velavar koyilu vaasalilae
En vaettiya pottu naan thaanduraendi
Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi
Machaana thaedudhu vithaara kuruvi
Muthaadha yelaneera kothoda thazhuvi
Mutham ittu pogum kaathu ottaama nazhuvi
Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi
Machaana thaedudhu vithaara kuruvi…eh
(Thandhaanae naanaanae
Thandhaanae naanaanae
Male : Aehae hae hae
Chorus :Thandhaanae naanaanae
Thandhaanae naanaanae
Male : Aahaa haa aaa
Chorus :Thandhaanae naanaanae
Thandhaanae naanaanae
Male : Aehae hae hae
Chorus :Thandhaanae naanaanae
Thandhaanae naanaanae
Male :Aahaa haa aaa
Ehey heyhey heyhey heyhey hey hey
Ehey... ehey...
Ehey heyhey heyhey heyhey hey hey
The Courtallam waterfall beats like a drum,
And the clever little sparrow searches for her sweetheart.
The Courtallam waterfall beats like a drum,
And the clever little sparrow searches for her sweetheart.
Embracing clusters of tender coconuts,
The breeze kisses them and slips away without lingering.
The Courtallam waterfall beats like a drum,
And the clever little sparrow searches for her sweetheart.
...
Girl with eyes like mandhara flowers,
Girl with pretty henna-painted hands,
Playful girl with glowing radiant skin,
Fragrant jasmine of Srirangam,
Sitting on the front veranda,
From knowing you for just one day,
My heart got attached to you,
And it refuses to part from you, girl!
Oh wild peacock, my sweet Karpagavalli,
To promise that I will never let you go,
Making a solemn vow,
At the entrance of Lord Murugan's temple,
I will lay my dhoti on the ground and swear upon it!
The Courtallam waterfall beats like a drum,
And the clever little sparrow searches for her sweetheart.
Embracing clusters of tender coconuts,
The breeze kisses them and slips away without lingering.
The Courtallam waterfall beats like a drum,
And the clever little sparrow searches for her sweetheart... eh!
(Thanthane naanane
Thanthane naanane
Male: Ehey hey hey
Chorus: Thanthane naanane
Thanthane naanane
Male: Aaha ha aa
Chorus: Thanthane naanane
Thanthane naanane
Male: Ehey hey hey
Chorus: Thanthane naanane
Thanthane naanane
Male: Aaha ha aa
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi is a vibrant rural Tamil folk-style romantic song penned by Gangai Amaran. The song vividly captures the joy of rustic romance by drawing parallels with nature's beauty—describing the crashing Courtallam waterfalls as beating drums and the gentle breeze as stealthily kissing tender coconuts. The male protagonist expresses his deep affection for his beloved, praising her henna-dyed hands, beautiful eyes, and sweet presence. He recalls how a brief acquaintance on a porch transformed into deep love, leading him to take a sacred vow at the local deity's temple to remain loyal to her forever.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Mutham ittu pogum kaathu ottaama nazhuvi

Nature is given human attributes: the waterfall beats drums (Mathaalam podudhu) and the wind kisses tender coconuts (Mutham ittu pogum kaathu).

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mathaalam podudhu kuthaala aruvi

The second consonant sound 'tha' repeats in consecutive lines ('Mathaalam' and 'Machaana').

Metaphor

Sri ranga vaasa malli

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as fragrant Srirangam jasmine and a singing peacock.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran, this track exemplifies his characteristic style of blending traditional Tamil folk rhythms, local dialect phrases, and vivid natural imagery to portray rural romance.

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