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En Uyir Kannamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mathalam Kotta

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Uyir Kannamma
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
26 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naalu thirunaalu…
Angu nikkiraa nammaalu…
Kelu themmaangu…
Idha kaadhula nee vaangu…
Punnaga sindhudhu pongudhae paalaaru…
Mathalam kotta poren
Oru mainaava katta poren
Kuthaalam poga poren
Angu kummaalam poda poren
Thottaal odum pattaampoochi
Kannaal pesaama pesum neram
Thaanae maanae
Mathalam kotta poraan
Oru mainaava katta poraan
Salanga oru sodi thaan
Adhu kulungum isai paadi thaan
Puriyum adhan osa thaan
Adhil theriyum oru aasa thaan
Naan aadum podhu
Nee aada venum
Aattam paattam oor paakkanum
Naan aadum podhu
Nee aada venum
Aattam paattam oor paakkanum
Themmaangu raasaa …
Thullaadhae laesaa …
Ennadi aathaa
Naalu per paathaa
Ennadi kannadi padumaa
Ada mathalam kotta poraan
Oru mainaava katta poraan
Kuthaalam poga poraan
Angu kummaalam poda poraan
Parakkum pudhu thaavani
Adhu padikkum pudhu laavani
Kodhikkum mani thaeru nee
Ola kodhikkum pudhu soru nee
Soraakkiyaachu verenna pechu
Sogusaa sugamaa parimaaranum
Soraakkiyaachu verenna pechu
Sogusaa sugamaa parimaaranum
Achacho paavam …
Romba thaan vegam …
Achacho paavam …
Romba thaan vegam …
Acham thaan vekkam thaan vidumaa
Ada mathalam kotta poren
Oru mainaava katta poren
Kuthaalam poga poren
Angu kummaalam poda poren
Female :Thottaal odum pattaampoochi
Kannaal pesaama pesum neram
Thaanae maanae
Mathalam kotta poraan
Oru mainaava katta poraan
Female :Kuthaalam poga poraan
Angu kummaalam poda poraan
It's a joyful festival day...
And standing right there is my girl...
Listen to this rustic tune...
Take it in and listen closely...
Her smile spills over like an overflowing river of milk...
I'm going to beat the wedding drums,
and marry my sweet myna bird!
I'm going to Courtallam,
and celebrate with pure joy!
Like a butterfly that darts away when touched,
now is the time to speak silently with our eyes,
isn't it, my sweet deer?
He's going to beat the wedding drums,
and marry his sweet myna bird!
Just a pair of anklets,
shaking and singing a sweet melody,
their ringing sound is clear,
revealing a hidden longing inside!
When I dance,
you must dance too,
the whole village should watch our song and dance!
When I dance,
you must dance too,
the whole village should watch our song and dance!
Oh king of folk tunes...
don't leap around so eagerly...
What is it, my girl?
If people look at us,
will their watchful eyes really cast a curse on you?
Look, he's going to beat the wedding drums,
and marry his sweet myna bird!
He's going to Courtallam,
and celebrate with pure joy!
Her new half-saree flutters in the wind,
singing a brand new playful folk song.
You are like a radiant temple chariot,
you are like freshly cooked rice simmering in the pot!
The meal is ready, what more is there to say?
It must be served with ease and pure delight!
The meal is ready, what more is there to say?
It must be served with ease and pure delight!
Oh, poor thing...
you are in such a rush...
Oh, poor thing...
you are in such a rush...
Will fear and shyness ever let you go?
Hey, I'm going to beat the wedding drums,
and marry my sweet myna bird!
I'm going to Courtallam,
and celebrate with pure joy!
Female: Like a butterfly that darts away when touched,
now is the time to speak silently with our eyes,
isn't it, my sweet deer?
He's going to beat the wedding drums,
and marry his sweet myna bird!
Female: He's going to Courtallam,
and celebrate with pure joy!
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat Tamil folk duet expresses the joyful anticipation of courtship, marriage, and love. The male protagonist eagerly announces his plans to celebrate his upcoming marriage, comparing his beloved to a delicate bird ('Mainaa') and expressing his desire to dance together for the entire town to see. The female protagonist responds with playful hesitation, warning him not to jump ahead of himself and teasing him about his eagerness while expressing her own timid affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Oru mainaava katta poren

Comparing the heroine to a Myna bird ('Mainaa') and a butterfly ('Pattaampoochi') to emphasize her delicate nature and beauty.

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Emonai)

Mathalam kotta poren / Oru mainaava katta poren

The repetitive ending '-poren' creates a rhythmic cadence characteristic of folk songs (Themmaangu).

Hyperbole

Punnaga sindhudhu pongudhae paalaaru…

Describing her smile overflowing like a river of milk.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features classical folk elements (Themmaangu rhythm) written by lyricist Vaali for the 1988 film 'En Uyir Kannamma', directed by Sivachandran and starring Prabhu and Radha.

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