Meladai Kaatrada
From Kadhal Paduthumpadu · 1966
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Kadhal Paduthumpadu1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada | As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm, |
| Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada | As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm, |
| Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai | For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required, |
| Thevaiyoru poomedai | A flower stage is required. |
| Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada | As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm, |
| Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai | For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required, |
| Thevaiyoru poomedai | A flower stage is required. |
| Female | |
| Kandavargal nenjaada kaalirandum thindaada | Making the hearts of onlookers flutter and their legs stumble, |
| Vandha naan thaenaadai vanna mugam paalaadai | I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk, |
| Vandha naan thaenaadai vanna mugam paalaadai | I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk, |
| Vanna mugam paalaadai | A colorful face soft as cream of milk. |
| Female | |
| Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada | As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm, |
| Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai | For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required, |
| Thevaiyoru poomedai | A flower stage is required. |
| Female | |
| Maandhalir udalodu malligai manathodu | With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine, |
| Maandhalir udalodu malligai manathodu | With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine, |
| Aan kulam pithaaga aada vandha pattaadai | I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire, |
| Aan kulam pithaaga aada vandha pattaadai | I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire, |
| Aada vandha pattaadai | A silk garment that came to dance. |
மேலாடை காற்றாட மின்னலிடை கூத்தாட
மேலாடை காற்றாட மின்னலிடை கூத்தாட
பாவை நான் பந்தாட தேவையொரு பூமேடை
தேவை ஒரு பூ மேடை.........
மேலாடை காற்றாட மின்னலிடை கூத்தாட
பாவை நான் பந்தாட தேவையொரு பூமேடை
தேவை ஒரு பூ மேடை.........
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
A flower stage is required.
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
A flower stage is required.
கண்டவர்கள் நெஞ்சாட காலிரெண்டும் திண்டாட
வந்த நான் தேனோடை வண்ண முகம் பாலாடை
வந்த நான் தேனோடை வண்ண முகம் பாலாடை
வண்ண முகம் பாலாடை....
Making the hearts of onlookers flutter and their legs stumble,
I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk,
I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk,
A colorful face soft as cream of milk.
மேலாடை காற்றாட மின்னலிடை கூத்தாட
பாவை நான் பந்தாட தேவையொரு பூமேடை
தேவை ஒரு பூ மேடை.........
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
A flower stage is required.
மாந்தளிர் உடலோடு மல்லிகை மணத்தோடு
மாந்தளிர் உடலோடு மல்லிகை மணத்தோடு
ஆண் குலம் பித்தாக ஆட வந்த பட்டாடை
ஆண் குலம் பித்தாக ஆட வந்த பட்டாடை
ஆட வந்த பட்டாடை......
With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine,
With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine,
I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire,
I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire,
A silk garment that came to dance.
மேலாடை காற்றாட மின்னலிடை கூத்தாட
பாவை நான் பந்தாட தேவையொரு பூமேடை
தேவை ஒரு பூ மேடை.........
Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
Thevaiyoru poomedai
A flower stage is required.
Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
Thevaiyoru poomedai
A flower stage is required.
Kandavargal nenjaada kaalirandum thindaada
Making the hearts of onlookers flutter and their legs stumble,
Vandha naan thaenaadai vanna mugam paalaadai
I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk,
Vandha naan thaenaadai vanna mugam paalaadai
I arrived like a layer of honey, with a colorful face soft as cream of milk,
Vanna mugam paalaadai
A colorful face soft as cream of milk.
Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada
As my upper garment dances in the breeze and my lightning-like waist sways in rhythm,
Paavai naan pandhaada thevaiyoru poomedai
For a maiden like me to play with a ball, a flower stage is required,
Thevaiyoru poomedai
A flower stage is required.
Maandhalir udalodu malligai manathodu
With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine,
Maandhalir udalodu malligai manathodu
With a body tender like mango shoots and the fragrance of jasmine,
Aan kulam pithaaga aada vandha pattaadai
I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire,
Aan kulam pithaaga aada vandha pattaadai
I am a silk garment that came to dance, driving all mankind mad with desire,
Aada vandha pattaadai
A silk garment that came to dance.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
"Melaadai Kaatraada" is a vibrant and sensual classic Tamil song from the movie Kadhal Paduthumpadu (1966), performed by P. Susheela. The song expresses the playful allure, grace, and confidence of a young woman reveling in her youth and beauty. She describes her delicate features—her waist like lightning, her body soft as tender mango leaves, her fragrance like jasmine, and her face like sweet milk cream—while boasting about how her captivating dance spellbinds all who watch her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor
“Melaadai kaatraada minnalidai koothada”
Compares her slender waist to a bolt of lightning ('minnal idai').
Metaphor & Imagery
“Vandha naan thaenaadai vanna mugam paalaadai”
Uses delicious and delicate rich metaphors like 'thaenaadai' (layer of honey) and 'paalaadai' (cream of milk) to describe her fairness and sweet charm.
Simile / Visual Metaphor
“Maandhalir udalodu malligai manathodu”
Compares her youthful body to tender, reddish mango leaves ('maandhalir').
Iyaibu (Rhyming End Suffixes)
“Kandavargal nenjaada kaalirandum thindaada”
Panchu Arunachalam extensively uses rhythmic '-aada' rhyming verbs across the song (kaatraada, koothada, pandhaada, nenjaada, thindaada) creating a dancing rhythm.
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Trivia
"Melaadai Kaatraada" was written by Panchu Arunachalam during the earlier phase of his legendary songwriting career before he became a dominant writer-producer in Tamil cinema. Composed by T. R. Pappa, the track stands out for P. Susheela's captivating vocals and intricate rhythmic phrasing tailored to a seductive, expressive solo dance.
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