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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oothungada Pippippee

From Naagam · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Latha, Ramesh
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Naagam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adingaddaa molaththa…Beat the drums!
Male
Oodhungaddaa pippipee kottungadaa dumdudmdumBlow the pipes, beat the drums with a 'dum-dum-dum'!
Onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamIt's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Chorus :Haa….onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamChorus: Haa... It's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Female
Ada podungadaa saappaadu thadapudalaa yaerpaaduHey, serve the feast! Make grand arrangements!
Bench melae nikka vacchhu oorkolamA procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus :Haa….bench melae nikka vachchu oorkolamChorus: Haa... A procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Female
PoduPlay it!
Chorus
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!
Male
Oodhungaddaa pippipee kottungadaa dumdudmdumBlow the pipes, beat the drums with a 'dum-dum-dum'!
Onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamIt's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Chorus :Haa….onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamChorus: Haa... It's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Female
Ada podungadaa saappaadu thadapudalaa yaerpaaduHey, serve the feast! Make grand arrangements!
Bench melae nikka vacchhu oorkolamA procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus :Haa….bench melae nikka vachchu oorkolamChorus: Haa... A procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Male
Kovaalu payaththaan maala kattaKovalu boy is there to weave the garland!
Namma govindhan irukkaan melam kottaOur Govindhan is there to beat the drums!
Male
Sappaani neethaan jaldra thattuSappani, you clash the cymbals!
Ada mannaaru neethaan medai kattuHey Mannaru, you erect the stage!
Female
Maappilla ponnu kaaththiruppaangaThe groom and bride will be waiting!
Maalaiyai poda paaththirupaangaThey will be eagerly waiting to exchange garlands!
Male
Vaayaendaa aalukkoru velaiya mudippimCome on, guys, let's each finish our task!
Anjaaru naal namakku leavaachchu haeiWe got five or six days of holidays, hey!
Male
Oodhungaddaa pippipee kottungadaa dumdudmdumBlow the pipes, beat the drums with a 'dum-dum-dum'!
Onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamIt's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Chorus :Haa….onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamChorus: Haa... It's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Female
Ada podungadaa saappaadu thadapudalaa yaerpaaduHey, serve the feast! Make grand arrangements!
Bench melae nikka vacchhu oorkolamA procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus :Haa….bench melae nikka vachchu oorkolamChorus: Haa... A procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!
Male
Thoodhaaga vantha naagam idhu yaarumThis snake came as a messenger, and if anyone...
Thottaalae thulangum yogamidhu...touches it, it brings shining good fortune!
Male :Kalyaanam mudichcha kairaasithaan idhuMale: Getting married brings great luck!
Vaayaalae koduththa kaduthaasithaanIt's a word-of-mouth letter of promise!
Male
Paal koduththaalaam paambukkuththaanaeShe fed milk to the snake!
Thaernthedutthaalaam purushanaiththaanaeShe chose her husband for herself!
Male
Amma un poongazhuththil moonu mudichchuOh girl, on your flower-like neck, three knots...
Podaththaan naal kezhama paaththaachchu...to tie, the auspicious day and time have been fixed!
Female
Oodhungaddaa pippipee kottungadaa dumdudmdumBlow the pipes, beat the drums with a 'dum-dum-dum'!
Onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamIt's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Chorus :Haa….onnaang class-u vaaththikkuththaan kannaalamChorus: Haa... It's the wedding of the first-grade teacher!
Male
Podungadaa saappaadu thadapudalaa yaerpaaduServe the feast! Make grand arrangements!
Bench melae nikka vacchhu oorkolamA procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus :Haa….bench melae nikka vachchu oorkolamChorus: Haa... A procession carrying him standing on a bench!
Chorus
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!
Mukkaalum kaalum onnuThree-quarters plus a quarter makes one!
Ungakkaalum sirum onnuYour leg and Sir's leg are one!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat folk track from the movie 'Naagam' (1985) captures the joyous celebration surrounding the wedding of a beloved first-grade school teacher. Sung from the perspective of enthusiastic young students and village locals, the song blends elementary school arithmetic rhymes with lighthearted wedding banter. Characters from the village are playfully assigned various responsibilities—from weaving garlands and playing cymbals to setting up the marriage stage—all in anticipation of a grand feast and a school holiday.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oliyinukan)

Oodhungaddaa pippipee kottungadaa dumdudmdum

Words like 'pippipee' (pipe horn sound) and 'dumdudmdum' (drumbeats) imitate real musical sounds to evoke a celebratory atmosphere.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Kovaalu payaththaan maala katta / Namma govindhan irukkaan melam kotta

End-rhyming structure using matching verbal endings ('katta' and 'kotta') creates a rhythmic, folk-like cadence.

Wordplay / Pun (Siledai)

Mukkaalum kaalum onnu / Ungakkaalum sirum onnu

Cleverly plays with the double meaning of 'kaal'—which signifies both 'a quarter' in arithmetic (3/4 + 1/4 = 1) and 'a leg' in Tamil.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Amma un poongazhuththil moonu mudichchu

'Poongazhuththu' compares the bride's soft neck to a delicate flower.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naagam' (1985) is an action-drama starring Arjun Sarja and Radha, directed by Karthik Raghunath. The music score was composed by the popular duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Vaali ingeniously integrated classroom arithmetic rhymes into a folk celebration song to reflect the teacher protagonist's profession.

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