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Ondru Engal Jadhiye album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Meenu Meenu Meenu

From Ondru Engal Jadhiye · 1987

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Ondru Engal Jadhiye
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
28 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Meenu meenu… meenu meenu.. meenu
Kooda neriaya meenu ..kondu vandhen naanu
Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Oru thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Aaha kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Naan thekku seemai aalu
En sarakku eppavum joru
Idha vithu pogum munnae oru velaya solli kelu
Naan thekku seemai aalu
En sarakku eppavum joru
Idha vithu pogum munnae oru velaya solli kelu
Ippa idha vuttuputtaa..aa..aa..
Ippa idha vuttuputtaa
Appuram thirumbhi vandhurumaa
Vaaikki rusi venumunna
Vanjira meenaiyum vangungamma
Mamanukku vaayila varuthu ootungamma
Kooda neriaya meenu …mm mm mm
Kondu vandhen naanu..mm..mm..mm
Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Oru thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Kooda neriaya meenu …mm mm mm
Kondu vandhen naanu..mm..mm..mm
Yei ingae paaru thaara idhu
Inniki pudicha aara
Nee kannula kandaa podhum
Un naakula etchiyum oorum
Yei ingae paaru thaara idhu
Inniki pudicha aara
Nee kannula kandaa podhum
Un naakula etchiyum oorum
Sathu ketta aambalaikku
Sathu ketta aamabalaikku
Nethili kolambhu vaiyungamma
Pulla petha pombalainga
Suraa puttaiyum thinungammaa
Raasiyulla kaiyila vaangi paarungamma
Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Ada kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Oru thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Thuniya pottu moodi vechen koodaiyilae
Adhu thoranthu vacha vaadi pogum veyililae
Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Aaha kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu
Fish, fish... fish, fish... fish!
I have brought a basket full of fish!
I have brought a basket full of fish!
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
I have brought a basket full of fish!
Aha, I have brought a basket full of fish!
I am from the southern land,
My goods are always top quality!
Before it is sold out, ask for the price and buy!
I am from the southern land,
My goods are always top quality!
Before it is sold out, ask for the price and buy!
If you let this go now... ah... ah...
If you let this go now,
Will you ever get it back again?
If you want something tasty for your tongue,
Buy some seer fish, ladies!
Fry it up and feed your man!
A basket full of fish... mmm mmm mmm
I have brought... mmm mmm mmm
I have brought a basket full of fish!
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
A basket full of fish... mmm mmm mmm
I have brought... mmm mmm mmm
Hey, look right here,
This is fresh eel caught today!
Just laying your eyes on it is enough,
Your mouth will start watering!
Hey, look right here,
This is fresh eel caught today!
Just laying your eyes on it is enough,
Your mouth will start watering!
For a man who lacks stamina,
For a man who lacks stamina,
Cook some anchovy curry, ladies!
And mothers who just had a baby,
Eat steamed shark mince!
Buy from my lucky hands and see!
I have brought a basket full of fish!
Oh, I have brought a basket full of fish!
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
I covered the basket with a cloth,
Because if left open, it will spoil in the sun.
I have brought a basket full of fish!
Aha, I have brought a basket full of fish!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Meenu Meenu is a lively folk hawker song from the 1987 Tamil film Ondru Engal Jadhiye, composed by Gangai Amaran and sung dynamically by S. Janaki. The song captures the playful street-vibe of a female fishmonger hailing from southern Tamil Nadu as she calls out to customers in a rural neighborhood to sell her daily fresh catch.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sathu ketta aambalaikku / Nethili kolambhu vaiyungamma

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic cadence typical of Tamil folk songs.

Anaphora (Refrain)

Kooda neriaya meenu kondu vandhen naanu

Repetition of the main refrain throughout the song to simulate authentic street hawking.

Sensory Imagery

Nee kannula kandaa podhum / Un naakula etchiyum oorum

Evokes visual and taste sensations to describe fresh fish watering the mouth.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates traditional Tamil folk beliefs regarding the nutritional and medicinal values of various fish species, such as shark scrambles (sura puttu) recommended for lactating mothers and anchovy gravy (nethili) for physical vitality.

Keep listening

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