- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singers
- Sujatha, T. L. Maharajan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Pudhiya Mannargal
- Movie release year
- 1994
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Sept 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee kattum selai madippula
Naan kasangi ponendi
Un elumibichampazha nira iduppula
Kirangi ponendi
Nee kattum selai madippula
Naan kasangi ponendi
Un elumibichampazha nira iduppula
Kirangi ponendi
Adiyae soodana mazhaiye
Kodaikkul nanaijukkalama
Kodiyae vethala kodiyae
Sunnambu naan tharalama
Azhagae thaavani poovae
Thaenai eduthukkalaama
Kolusu potta kaalilae
Thaalam pottukkalaama
Nee kattum vetti madippula
Naan mayangi ponenae
Un kattazhagu meesaiyila
Kirangi ponenae
Nee kattum vetti madippula
Naan mayangi ponenae
Un kattazhagu meesaiyila
Kirangi ponenae
Vandu saamanthi poovil
Nayanam oodhudhu mama
Manasu aasaiyinaalae
Oonjal aaduthu mama
Malarum thaavani poovil
Thaenai eduthukka mama
Kolusu potta kaalila
Thaalam pottukka mama
Nee vetti vetti
Podum nagathil ellaam
Aae.. kutti kutti
Nilavu theriyuthadi
Un iduppazhagil
Urasum koonthalilae
Ah.. pathikkittu
Manasu eriyuthadi
Sikki mukki kalla polae
Ennai sikkalilae maattathae
Thaali onnu podum varai
Ennai verethuvum ketkathae
Antha vaanam boomi
Ellaam ingae romba romba pazhasu
Adi neeyum naanum sernthirukkum
Kaathal thaandi puthusu
Vandu saamanthi poovil
Nayanam oodhudhu mama
Manasu aasaiyinaalae
Oonjal aaduthu mama
Malarum thaavani poovil
Thaenai eduthukka mama
Kolusu potta kaalila
Thaalam pottukka mama
Nee kattum selai madippula
Naan kasangi ponendi
Un elumibichampazha nira iduppula
Kirangi ponendi
Nee kattum selai madippula
Naan kasangi ponendi
Un elumibichampazha nira iduppula
Kirangi ponendi
Adiyae soodana mazhaiye
Kodaikkul nanaijukkalama
Kodiyae vethala kodiyae
Sunnambu naan tharalama
Azhagae thaavani poovae
Thaenai eduthukkalaama
Kolusu potta kaalilae
Thaalam pottukkalaama
Maama neenga
Thoongum methaiyilae
Ennoda porvai servatheppo
Maama neenga
Vangum moochinilae
Ennoda thudippai ketpatheppo
Yen aayul regai ellaam
Un ullangaiyil ooduthadi
Un ullangai azhaginilae
Aasai uchi varai ooruthudai
Naan soodum poovil
Unga vaasam sernthu
Vanthu veesuthu
Yen kazhuthukitta mutham thandhu
Mayiliraga kusuthu
Adiyae soodana mazhaiye
Kodaikkul nanaijukkalama
Kodiyae vethala kodiyae
Sunnambu naan tharalama
Azhagae thaavani poovae
Thaenai eduthukkalaama
Kolusu potta kaalilae
Thaalam pottukkalaama
Nee kattum vetti madippula
Naan mayangi ponenae
Un kattazhagu meesaiyila
Kirangi ponenae
Nee kattum vetti madippula
Naan mayangi ponenae
Un kattazhagu meesaiyila
Kirangi ponenae
Adiyae soodana mazhaiye
Kodaikkul nanaijukkalama
Kodiyae vethala kodiyae
Sunnambu naan tharalama
Azhagae thaavani poovae
Thaenai eduthukkalaama
Kolusu potta kaalilae
Thaalam pottukkalaama
{Thana naa thaananananaa
Thana naa thanna nanaanaa
Thana naa thaananananaa
Thana naa thanna nanaanaa} (2)
In the folds of the saree you drape,
I was crushed completely, girl!
At the sight of your lemon-bright waist,
I got dizzy and swooned, girl!
In the folds of the saree you drape,
I was crushed completely, girl!
At the sight of your lemon-bright waist,
I got dizzy and swooned, girl!
Hey there, my warm summer rain,
Shall we get drenched under an umbrella?
Oh slender vine, my betel vine,
Shall I offer you the lime paste?
My beauty, flower in a half-saree,
Shall I taste your sweet honey?
To the steps of your anklet-wearing feet,
Shall I tap along to the beat?
In the folds of the dhoti you wear,
I fell completely in a daze!
At the sight of your handsome moustache,
I got dizzy and swooned!
In the folds of the dhoti you wear,
I fell completely in a daze!
At the sight of your handsome moustache,
I got dizzy and swooned!
On the marigold flower, the beetle
plays a sweet melody, my love!
With all its longing desire,
my heart is swinging like a cradle, my love!
From this blossoming half-saree flower,
take the sweet honey, my love!
To the steps of my anklet-wearing feet,
tap along to the beat, my love!
In every single clipping
of the nails you trim,
hey, tiny little
crescent moons appear, girl!
Brushing against your lovely waist,
your long flowing hair
ah, catches fire
and burns my heart, girl!
Like sparks from flintstones striking,
don't get me trapped in trouble!
Until you tie the sacred wedding knot,
don't ask me for anything else!
The sky and the earth
are all so very old,
but girl, this love between you and me
is something brand new!
On the marigold flower, the beetle
plays a sweet melody, my love!
With all its longing desire,
my heart is swinging like a cradle, my love!
From this blossoming half-saree flower,
take the sweet honey, my love!
To the steps of my anklet-wearing feet,
tap along to the beat, my love!
In the folds of the saree you drape,
I was crushed completely, girl!
At the sight of your lemon-bright waist,
I got dizzy and swooned, girl!
In the folds of the saree you drape,
I was crushed completely, girl!
At the sight of your lemon-bright waist,
I got dizzy and swooned, girl!
Hey there, my warm summer rain,
Shall we get drenched under an umbrella?
Oh slender vine, my betel vine,
Shall I offer you the lime paste?
My beauty, flower in a half-saree,
Shall I taste your sweet honey?
To the steps of your anklet-wearing feet,
Shall I tap along to the beat?
My love, on the mattress
where you go to sleep,
when will my blanket join yours?
My love, in the deep breath
that you draw in,
when will you hear my heartbeat?
All the lifelines of my fate,
run across your palm, girl!
In the beauty of your soft palm,
desire surges straight to the peak!
In the flowers that I wear,
your sweet fragrance blends
and wafts in the air!
Planting a kiss near my neck,
it tickles me like a peacock feather!
Hey there, my warm summer rain,
Shall we get drenched under an umbrella?
Oh slender vine, my betel vine,
Shall I offer you the lime paste?
My beauty, flower in a half-saree,
Shall I taste your sweet honey?
To the steps of your anklet-wearing feet,
Shall I tap along to the beat?
In the folds of the dhoti you wear,
I fell completely in a daze!
At the sight of your handsome moustache,
I got dizzy and swooned!
In the folds of the dhoti you wear,
I fell completely in a daze!
At the sight of your handsome moustache,
I got dizzy and swooned!
Hey there, my warm summer rain,
Shall we get drenched under an umbrella?
Oh slender vine, my betel vine,
Shall I offer you the lime paste?
My beauty, flower in a half-saree,
Shall I taste your sweet honey?
To the steps of your anklet-wearing feet,
Shall I tap along to the beat?
{Thana naa thaananananaa
Thana naa thanna nanaanaa
Thana naa thaananananaa
Thana naa thanna nanaanaa} (2)
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Nee Kattum Selai Madippula' is a playful and romantic folk duet from the film 'Pudhiya Mannargal' (1994). The song portrays a playful banter between two lovers expressing their deep physical attraction and romantic adoration for each other using vibrant rural Tamil metaphors—referencing saree folds, traditional dhotis, lemons, betel leaves, peacocks, and musical rhythms. Throughout the track, the male and female voices exchange poetic compliments about physical beauty and the sweet anticipation of marriage. The lyrics weave traditional rural imagery with passionate romantic expressions, showcasing the unique cultural flavor of Tamil folk-pop love duets.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)
“Un elumibichampazha nira iduppula”
Comparing the heroine's bright yellow waist to a lemon ('elumibichampazha nira iduppu') and comparing trimmed fingernails to tiny crescent moons ('kutti kutti nilavu').
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nee kattum selai madippula / Naan kasangi ponendi”
Classic Tamil rhyming convention where second letters match across consecutive lines ('kattum' / 'kasangi' / 'elumibichampazha').
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Sikki mukki kalla polae”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Sikki mukki kalla polae / Ennai sikkalilae').
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