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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadanthu Kaattu

From Konjum Kumari · 1963

Lyricist
Nalla Thambi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Konjum Kumari1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nadanthu kaatu tritriyaWalk and show me, tri-tri-ya
Nadanthu kaattu hai haiyaaWalk and show me, hai haiyaa
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you
Female
Nagathadiyil agapadaamal irukkudhu paaruLook, it escapes without getting caught under claws
Idhu nerunghi vandha poongodiyai verukkudhu paaruLook, it dislikes the flower-creeper that approaches near
Nagathadiyil agapadaamal irukkudhu paaruLook, it escapes without getting caught under claws
Idhu nerunghi vandha poongodiyai verukkudhu paaruLook, it dislikes the flower-creeper that approaches near
Idhu merattudhu paaru kanna uruttudhu paaruLook at it threatening, look at it rolling its eyes
Idhu merattudhu paaru kanna uruttudhu paaruLook at it threatening, look at it rolling its eyes
Than manasukulale palavidhama nenaikkudhu paaruLook at it thinking many different thoughts within its mind
Than manasukulale palavidhama nenaikkudhu paaruLook at it thinking many different thoughts within its mind
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you
Female
Kudumbam endra vandiyilae pootida venumIt must be yoked to the cart called family
Idhai kurukkum nedukkumaaga dhinam ottida venumIt must be driven daily through every length and breadth
Kudumbam endra vandiyilae pootida venumIt must be yoked to the cart called family
Idhai kurukkum nedukkumaaga dhinam ottida venumIt must be driven daily through every length and breadth
Edukku pannikitta nalla vaattida venum hae haeIf it resists, it must be roasted and tamed well, hae hae
Edukku pannikitta nalla vaattida venumIf it resists, it must be roasted and tamed well
Naan edhukkum thuninja pombalainnu kaatida venumI must show that I am a woman daring enough for anything
Naan edhukkum thuninja pombalainnu kaatida venumI must show that I am a woman daring enough for anything
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you
Female
Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattuWalk and show me, walk and show me
Enakku munnalaeIn front of me
Naan varuven naan varuvenI will follow, I will follow
Unakku pinnalaeBehind you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nadanthu Kaatu is a playful and upbeat song from the 1963 film Konjum Kumari, composed by S. Vedhachalam and rendered delightfully by P. Susheela. The song features a bold female protagonist teasingly asking the hero to walk ahead of her so she can follow him. She playfully mocks his stubbornness and aloofness, comparing his hesitation to a timid creature trying to avoid a soft flower-creeper, while pointing out his glaring eyes and inner scheming. As the song progresses, the heroine boldly proclaims her intent to harness his spirit into the 'cart of domestic family life.' She humorously asserts that if he tries to oppose or fight back, she is daring and tough enough to handle him, showing that she is a resolute woman ready to take control of their future together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Metaphor)

Kudumbam endra vandiyilae pootida venum

Family life is directly conceptualized as a cart ('Kudumbam endra vandi') that needs to be yoked and driven daily across life's roads.

Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Nadanthu kaatu nadanthu kaattu

Words like 'Nadanthu kaatu' and 'Naan varuven' are repeated successively to build rhythm and accentuate playful insistence.

End Rhyme (Eyaipu)

Idhai kurukkum nedukkumaaga dhinam ottida venum

The deliberate end-rhyming suffixes '-ida venum' across consecutive lines (pootida venum, ottida venum, vaattida venum, kaatida venum) create a strong musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Konjum Kumari (1963) is notable for featuring legendary actress Manorama in her first lead role as a courageous, action-oriented heroine alongside R. S. Manohar. The song perfectly highlights the heroine's feisty and independent personality.

Keep listening

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